I started working on the 1001 books you MUST read before you die list last year, and through it was encouraged to read a few of Jeanette Winterson's books. The first of them was actually Sexing the Cherry, which arrived as a bookring and therefore got listed at higher priority than both Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and The Passion (which I had purchased at library book sales completely unwitting of my future need for them.)

I really enjoyed that book! I mean, I liked it so much, I may have to buy another copy just so I can own it. While I was reading it, I actually exclaimed, "I'm so sorry I don't actually own this!"

So, since I enjoyed it so much, I went looking for information about the author. She's got her own webpage, of course, but especially interesting is this: she writes a short holiday story every year and posts it! You can find this year's (and the previous years') right here.

I'd be really interested to know what any other bxers thought of Jeanette Winterson and her works!

In November I bought Written on the Body, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and The Passion at a library sale. Thank heavens for library sales! :)
I read Sexing the Cherry and Oranges are not the Only Fruit many many years ago, but aim to re-read them.
I'll have a look at her website when I get a chance.

I think the 1001 list is great at introducing people to authors that they may never come across otherwise - I know I've discovered a few good ones. :)

I just discovered her for the first time this year as well - I read Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit a few months ago and have since acquired a couple more of her books. She's really an original character and her writing is very engaging; looking forward to reading more of her this year.

I read Written on the Body for a class back in college, and thought it was wonderfully done. It literally had me both crying tears of laughter and just outright sobbing at various times. I'm not normally a lit/fic reader on my own, but I'd highly recommend that one as a very interesting read, especially if you are interested in gender studies.

Since then I've been surprised by how often I've seen reviews by people who obviously just didn't "get" what my entire class considered to be the main starting point of the whole book. Which makes an interesting commentary on the reviewers' mind-sets and rather underscores the premise... :whistle:

I'm interested to see this thread. I read Lighthousekeeping recently, which I really liked, though I read that the critics don't think it's one of her best books. I have Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit on Mt. TBR and am expecting a copy of Sexing the Cherry from one of the swaps. If both of those are better than Lighthousekeeping, I'll be very happy.

I'll have to keep an eye out for Written on the Body as well.

I was on a bookring for The.Powerbook ages ago and loved it.

daemonwolf's ring

I picked up Weight last year and it languishes on Mt. TBR.

Looks like both the ring you joined and its replacement have gone missing. Too bad!

:spin: :bananadance: Hurrah! :bananadance: :spin:

So pleased to see that she's well enjoyed by others as well! :wub: