In this, her first collection of short stories, Winterson reveals all the facets of her extraordinary imagination. In prose that is full of imagery and word-play, she creates physical and psychological worlds that are at once familiar and yet shockingly strange.
The World And Other Places
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Amazon Review
In Jeanette Winterson's first collection of short stories, we are confronted with characters so at odds with themselves and the world--whether our own, familiar world or one of the author's invention--that it is difficult to truly empathize with any of them.
The first story, "The 24 Hour Dog", is a lullaby of a tale compared to those that follow, yet still manages to leave behind the disconcerting notion that a human being who cannot even take responsibility for a tiny puppy has little chance of survival in the big, bad world.
From the voluptuous "The Poetics of Sex", so flush with earthy imagery and erotically charged word-play that the fever of desire rises from the page in an uncomfortable steam, to the frigidity of the "Stepford-Wife-like Newton", Winterson spins us around a breathless, off-centre world, leaving the reader dizzy and disturbed.
This challenging collection from the acclaimed author of Oranges are not the Only Fruit and Sexing the Cherry is a kaleidoscope of people and places, with some just a tad out of the reach of reality and others just within the boundaries of dreams. Yet all somehow manage to tug at the soul. --Amazon.com
Review
A greatly gifted and original writer...there is an exhilarating freshness and energy to this collection (Observer )
This first book of short stories will delight her fans with their daring. Whether in a world where sleep is illegal or on an island of diamonds where the rich wear coal jewellery, Winterson is the mistress of the short story (Jessica De Rothschild Tatler )
The quality of her writing has remained constant: precise, fluent, perfectly judged. This collection is another refinement of that art, studded with metaphors and unexpected asides (Independent on Sunday )
The short story form was made for Jeanette Winterson...mesmerising prose poems (The Times )
Her stories transport us into the dizzyingly fertile mind of one of Britain's most prodigiously gifted authors...breathtaking (Scotland on Sunday )
This first book of short stories will delight her fans with their daring. Whether in a world where sleep is illegal or on an island of diamonds where the rich wear coal jewellery, Winterson is the mistress of the short story (Jessica De Rothschild Tatler )
The quality of her writing has remained constant: precise, fluent, perfectly judged. This collection is another refinement of that art, studded with metaphors and unexpected asides (Independent on Sunday )
The short story form was made for Jeanette Winterson...mesmerising prose poems (The Times )
Her stories transport us into the dizzyingly fertile mind of one of Britain's most prodigiously gifted authors...breathtaking (Scotland on Sunday )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first collection of short stories of Winterson. As always in her writings, they are about love- different kinds of love, different objects of love, different love attitudes. Her imagination is powerful, she creates bizarre worlds
where sleep is illegal, or an island full of diamonds; or she sees a whole world in the eyes of her new brand dog. Winterson paints a piece of art with each story, using emotions as brushes and colors. In "Atlantic Crossing" a man meets a young woman he had to share his room with her due to mistake. In "O`Brien`s First Christmas" a woman is visited by a fairy for Christmas and is given a new blond hair. It makes her look with new confidence and earns her first date for Christmas.In "Disappearance II" a man opens every summer his family house to guests. He is moved to offer hospitality to an unexpected woman visitor. He accomodates here in his mother`s room which stays untouched for years. Then the room disappears and he tries to find it, calling his mother`s name but in vain. "Turn of the World" is a poetical vision of the four Greek Gods of wind. "Psalms" reminiscens her first book, "Oranges are not the only fruit".It`s a funny and compassionate story about a turtoise called "Psalms".
I read the book in one evening. Jeanette Winterson writes with her heart. Her works are real works of love, not only of well trained skill."These are the compass points of my life, and my life is my heart,my imagination,waht is inside as well as waht is invisible.Using my compass I write to you"- Jeanette Winterson.
where sleep is illegal, or an island full of diamonds; or she sees a whole world in the eyes of her new brand dog. Winterson paints a piece of art with each story, using emotions as brushes and colors. In "Atlantic Crossing" a man meets a young woman he had to share his room with her due to mistake. In "O`Brien`s First Christmas" a woman is visited by a fairy for Christmas and is given a new blond hair. It makes her look with new confidence and earns her first date for Christmas.In "Disappearance II" a man opens every summer his family house to guests. He is moved to offer hospitality to an unexpected woman visitor. He accomodates here in his mother`s room which stays untouched for years. Then the room disappears and he tries to find it, calling his mother`s name but in vain. "Turn of the World" is a poetical vision of the four Greek Gods of wind. "Psalms" reminiscens her first book, "Oranges are not the only fruit".It`s a funny and compassionate story about a turtoise called "Psalms".
I read the book in one evening. Jeanette Winterson writes with her heart. Her works are real works of love, not only of well trained skill."These are the compass points of my life, and my life is my heart,my imagination,waht is inside as well as waht is invisible.Using my compass I write to you"- Jeanette Winterson.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Wintersons use of the English language is always enticing, but in "The World and Other Places" it is her fascinating mix of dreams, fantasies and the essence of real people and experiences which truly captivates. Let Winterson take you on this fabulous fairground ride, whether you're a 'can't put it down' reader, or a 'chapter at bedtime' person, you won't want this book to end.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent collection of stories: but note that the book's appearance is not as advertised
18 Nov 2011
By L.Moore
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A good example of how short stories can show a writer at their best. These date from the late 90s as far as I can tell, and are imaginative, with rich imagery and depth of feeling. One or two stories are wholly or partly autobiographical, but most don't seem to be.
It seems unfair on Winterson to downgrade the review because of the structural quality of the book, so I won't... but the copy I received doesn't have the attractive cover shown in the Amazon page, and the paper it's printed on is only just above toilet-roll in the family tree of paper quality. I can see it getting dogeared and grotty quite quickly. That's a shame as I would like to hang onto this book, which deserves a nicer imprint (e.g. the one illustrated). Whilst I applaud the use of FSC paper I know that they can do better than this - it's not as if it's even actually recycled paper (which I might have forgiven!).
It seems unfair on Winterson to downgrade the review because of the structural quality of the book, so I won't... but the copy I received doesn't have the attractive cover shown in the Amazon page, and the paper it's printed on is only just above toilet-roll in the family tree of paper quality. I can see it getting dogeared and grotty quite quickly. That's a shame as I would like to hang onto this book, which deserves a nicer imprint (e.g. the one illustrated). Whilst I applaud the use of FSC paper I know that they can do better than this - it's not as if it's even actually recycled paper (which I might have forgiven!).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great stories and great service
I love this book and it is my second copy. I enjoyed it immensely and still pick it up from time to time and re-read the stories. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Jj
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Oh and when I say fantastic I mean in the true sense of the word. Her short stories are truly delicious especially 'The Poetics of Sex' which draws on ideas I first encountered... Read more
Published on 20 April 2001 by pipsytip
5.0 out of 5 stars
Contemporary British prose of the highest calibre.
An eclectic collection of contemporary prose. Whity, intelligent, poignant observations on the world and the diverse souls that inhabit it. Read more
Published on 30 July 1999
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