Set in the 17th century, Sexing the Cherry celebrates the power of the imagination as it playfully juggles with our perception of history and reality. It is a story about love and sex; lies and truths; and twelve dancing princesses who lived happily ever after, but not with their husbands.
Sexing The Cherry
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Amazon Review
Set in 17th century London, Sexing the Cherry is about the journeys taken by the boisterous Dog-Woman and her son Jordan: journeys across seas to find bananas and pineapples; journeys through time that weave snatches of the present with tales of Charles 1 and Oliver Cromwell; journeys in search of the self. As mothers go, the Dog-Woman takes some beating. She's a giant, wrapped in a skirt that could "serve as a sail for some wartorn ship" and strong enough to fling an elephant into the air. She's hideous too, with smallpox scars on her face where fleas live, a flat nose and black, broken teeth. To top it all, she's a "fantasist, a liar and a murderer". But her son, Jordan, is proud of her--who else has a mother who can hold a dozen oranges in her mouth at once?
Like the best of Winterson's writing, such as Oranges are not the Only Fruit and The Passion, the novel is engaging, ambitious and contrary. Alongside a hearty historical realism, young girls swoon in locked towers that don't exist, islands slip sideways in time and mysterious diseases wipe out towns and cities. Even though Sexing the Cherry is short, it is impossible to read it in a straight line--fairy tales and dreams run in and out of the text and it's hard to resist chasing them. There is an exceptional playfulness at work too--an unravelling of the most solid of historical facts and fantastically unconventional fairy tales in which princesses smash the skulls of their princes with silver candlesticks or become worn and grey "like old sweaters". --Jane Honey
Review
A book of innocence and bawdiness, fury and joy...needs to be read and re-read (The Times )
Read it and marvel. Jeanette Winterson's voice is startlingly original, and her imaginative feats are utterly dazzling (Cosmopolitan )
Simple prose shows the subtlest of minds behind it, swift, confident and dazzling (Financial Times )
Winterson juggles past and present, fantasy and reality, to produce an original and entertaining novel which invites us to re-examine our own perceptions of time (Sunday Times )
Her stories and characters levitate off the page into dancing life... A bold, bizarre and timely book (Independent )
Read it and marvel. Jeanette Winterson's voice is startlingly original, and her imaginative feats are utterly dazzling (Cosmopolitan )
Simple prose shows the subtlest of minds behind it, swift, confident and dazzling (Financial Times )
Winterson juggles past and present, fantasy and reality, to produce an original and entertaining novel which invites us to re-examine our own perceptions of time (Sunday Times )
Her stories and characters levitate off the page into dancing life... A bold, bizarre and timely book (Independent )
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Jeanette Winterson's "Sexing the Cherry" is a genuinely original novel. A short, incredibly dense collection of interwoven tales that never fail to amuse, amaze and enrich your understanding of the English language. This is Winterson's great gift - her wonderful command of the language which allows her to pull off 'tour de force' linguistic tricks that will leave you begging for more. The main part of the novel concerns the Rabelasian character of a 17th century giant woman in London, but there are frequent asides and passages set in the modern day. This book will change the boundaries of what you previously thought prose writing could convey.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By S. Rankin
Format:Paperback
This is msot definitly a book to make you think. Though it is blessed with Winterson's always spectacular writing, the style is very different. If you are looking for a basic structured novel simple telling a story, then this is not for you.
Sexing The Cherry is an unusual book, filled with numerous little tales that all add to the brilliance of the book.
Interesting characters, fantastic writing, and ideas to play on your mind, this book is truely unique.
Sexing The Cherry is an unusual book, filled with numerous little tales that all add to the brilliance of the book.
Interesting characters, fantastic writing, and ideas to play on your mind, this book is truely unique.
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you've never read any Jeanette Winterson before, this is a great place to start. It is very indicative of her style and will lure you into her unique literary world. The narrative is split between two very likeable, magical characters who let you explore their fantastically bizarre lives. Don't be afraid of the idea of a fantasy read; Winterson's dry, cynical humour and visual characterisation grounds the book in a way that means even if you start to think 'erm, just what's going on here' your laughter will drown it out. The novel tackles issues on time, gender and history and I would certainly recommend it to all English Literature students (particularly those studying magic realism and the Fantastic). Even if you're not academically involved, read this book to sweep you away from whatever you are involved in.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 47 reviews
3.7 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Different, in a good way
Parts of this book are written as historical novel, about Jordan who becomes assistant to the King's gardener, Tradescant, and travels the world bringing home exotic fruits (such... Read more
Published 10 months ago by neverendings
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not the greatest, not the worst
Sexing The Cherry is just one of those books you probably have to read twice to start appreciating its style. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Epu
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic of Post-Modernism
Sexing the Cherry is a post-modern classic of the highest order. Winterson mixes allegory and complex philosophy with such art that, even having read the novel four or five times,... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Anwen Peng
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sexing the Cherry
This was a present for my wife - the content did not appeal to me personally. I must say though, it was a much shorter book than I was expecting.
Published 17 months ago by K Magee
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointment Flowed From Every Page
Having just finished this sexist "novel" I suspect that the author was influenced more by "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" than by her own life experience. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr. Mark H. Gallacher
1.0 out of 5 stars
OMG, the worst book I have ever read....
If I could give 0 stars I would... This book was set as a book club read and, to be frank, that was the only reason I completed it! Read more
Published 19 months ago by Rachel L
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful surprise
I was unsure what this title would offer but it was like nothing I have read before.
Filled with unbridled imagination, crammed with imagery and colour, this book is... Read more
Filled with unbridled imagination, crammed with imagery and colour, this book is... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Psipsina
3.0 out of 5 stars
Speedy delivery, good condition, bad book
There wasn't any problems with Amazon at all. The book itself isn't great, I have to read it for Uni but I don't like it.
Published on 28 Mar 2011 by RockchikBecky
4.0 out of 5 stars
A meditation on imagination
If you are literal minded and like a story to have a beginning, middle and end (and in that order), I would give this a miss. Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2010 by Woolgatherer
1.0 out of 5 stars
THIS IS OFFENSIVE TO ME AND I AM NOT MALE
This book sexing the cherry is so offensive . I cannot understand why it is a set book on my course. Have we not moved on to an age where men and women are equal ? Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2009 by Julia.Julia
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
