847. Written on the Body

Written on the Body
Jeanette Winterson
1992
Around 190 pages

Jeanette Winterson could have had one novel on this List, and that would have been enogugh. But the List likes to overexpose certain authors to keep their ranks tight. So she ended up getting four novels on this blog. And since this is her last entry, we are due a ranking. 

1. The Passion
2. Written on the Body
3. Oranges are Not the Only Fruit
4. Sexing the Cherry

Truthfully, the two of us never clicked, so I'm not attached to this order. Written on the Body is a story of an affair between a married woman with cancer and an unnamed narrator, whose gender is not disclosed. I don't like it when major plot points in romantic stories hinge on one character deciding what's "best" for the other person, and they withhold major information and rob the other one of any agency. It's not necessarily a sin of the story, it's just annoying.

But I do applaud Winterson for writing a story like this and not coming across as overly sentimental or sappy. Another okay, but not particularly memorable work. 

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

In 2012, Winterson succeeded Colm Tóibín as Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Manchester. 

UP NEXT: The Crow Road by Iain Banks

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

788. The Passion

The Passion
Jeanette Winterson
1987
Around 160 pages

After a string of bangers, we get something more in the middle of the road. But I'll take it, I know there is much worse in the pipeline.

Henri is a young French man who joins Napoleon's army and becomes Napoleon's personal chef. We delve into the past of Henri, who participated in the French invasion of Russia, and Villanelle, a young woman who helped them with the Russian villagers.

It was interesting how Winterson contrasted the placidity of Henri's culture with the passion of Villanelle's. I don't think the magic realism was very seamless, but everything moved along swiftly enough, and she chose an intriguing historical backdrop for a setting.

Unfortunately, I can't muster up much passion for The Passion.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

On 5 November 2019, BBC News listed The Passion on its list of the 100 'most inspiring' novels.

UP NEXT: The Afternoon of a Writer by Peter Handke

766. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Jeanette Winterson
1985
Around 180 pages

Although it is sometimes referred to as a "lesbian novel," Winterson objected to this label and said "I've never understood why straight fiction is supposed to be for everyone, but anything with a gay character or that includes gay experience is only for queers." Fair point, although I don't blame anybody for getting hyped about novels that include queer characters. They are few and far between.

The book is semi-autobiographical and is based on Winterson's life growing up in Accrington, Lancashire. The main character, Jeanette, is adopted by evangelists, so her coming to terms with her sexuality predictably isn't met with empathy and understanding.

The novel is divided into eight sections, each named after the first eight books in the Bible. I enjoyed these allusions, and all the literary references (my girls Charlotte Bronte and George Eliot both got shoutouts). 

Still, it was a frustrating read with frustrating characters who I did not spend any time with. Not terrible, but not an essential novel either.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Adapted by the BBC for a television series in 1990.

UP NEXT: The Parable of the Blind by Gert Hofmann