WHY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU COULD BE NORMAL?

Winterson has told bits of her own story through her novels, such as ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUIT. Here she tells it straight on as a memoir that shows how her relationship with her parents, particularly her adopted mother, has shaped her. She narrates with raw but controlled emotion that puts her squarely in the midst of the events but leaves her still able to observe them with a degree of detachment. Her recounting of some of her mother’s favorite expressions, such as “ask not for whom the bell tolls,” are delivered in a tone of depressive conviction that contrasts with the overall tone of resilience and hope that is found in Winterson’s examination of her life. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2012]