816. Sexing the Cherry

Sexing the Cherry
Jeanette Winterson
1989
Around 170 pages

I was interested in this novel based on the title alone, although the cover is even more intriguing than the name. So far, I've been pretty underwhelmed by Jeanette Winterson, but it might be one of those "when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life" things.

The story follows the journey of a mother, known as The Dog Woman, and her protégé, Jordan. They journey in a space-time flux, across the seas to find exotic fruits such as bananas and pineapples; and across time. The mother is a giant and marked by hideous, flea-ridden smallpox scars but her son is proud of her. Oh, and it includes the fairy tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Because we are wacky and postmodern, we also get tiny drawings of fruit throughout the story. I enjoy any novel that incorporates fairy tales, so that was fun. But it was a little too surreal and hallucinogenic for me. Time travel makes me queasy.

The Listmakers love Winterson, so we'll be seeing more of her down the line.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Winterson came out as a lesbian at 16 and left home.

UP NEXT: A Disaffection by James Kelman