The F-word discussion

I'm really looking forward to this after our June group read of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. This is supposed to be the autobiography that lies behind that novel. Who has already read this? Who has started it? Who is planning on reading it this month?

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Winterson herself. I loved hearing her voice read the memoir, it felt so much more personal.

Started reading it and I'm already hooked. Will be going out and buying all of her novels. As a fan of all things British and a fan of writers in general, this is going to be an excellent read. I love how she mixes in the history of the area and it's influence on the people who live there. A sad tale but one that needs to be shared. She has a rather unique story, but one that I feel a lot of people can relate to.

Will be reading this as soon as I grab a copy from the library. I haven't read anything else this author, and have absolutely no expectations going in. I hope it is a good read :)

I read this a year or so ago. Fantastic writing, and just gripping. Loved it. Five stars from me.

Anita, many many people have told me that they are glad (or wished) they read Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit first. That was absolutely wonderful and you might want to grab that one first if you can. That's the novel that she wrote first, about her childhood, while this is the later autobiographical account.

Alexa, that might be a good idea. Thanks for offering that up. I just read Bad Feminist and kind of got feeling that I may have enjoyed it if I was already a fan of Roxane Gay, but I hadn't read any of her other work prior to reading it... I think I'll join this one a little late then and go after Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit first.
Thank you!

Here's the conversation we had about Oranges, which you can still comment on anytime (and there may still be lots of folks willing to discuss it still): https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
And I also know there's a group currently reading it over here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

So, I'm a little bit nervous to get started on this - I loved Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit so much that I'm a little bit afraid this will be a disappointment after that. One of the things that I loved most about Oranges were the fantasy elements, and I can only assume that there won't be any of those here.

Alexa wrote: "One of the things that I loved most about Oranges were the fantasy elements, and I can only assume that there won't be any of those here."

Correct. But it is so wonderfully written that it grabbed me from the first sentence.

I am immediately grateful that I followed your recommendation and read Oranges first, Alexa. Especially since it is fresh on my mind, I think it is already making all the difference. Why Be Happy is answering some questions that arose from reading Oranges, and they are definitely intertwined.

So far I'm quite enjoying this! I'm fascinated that she's still interweaving her own story with other bits, but unlike Oranges, where the other bits were fantasy, here the other bits tend to be contemplations of issues like why fantasy matters. It's almost as if this is a critical analysis of Oranges. Still, it's the same voice coming through loud and clear, and I love it!

Oh goodness! I had no idea that was where this story was going! It makes me want to go back and read Oranges again and then read this again, back-to-back!

What a great heart-felt memoir. I literally flew through the pages! I'm going to have to read Oranges now!

Yes, I definitely want to read more Winterson! I just loved both of these.

I have a copy of the Stone Gods by Winterson I am sooo excited to read.

I think I'm going to try The Passion next.