Rating: 
Summary: Another great book by Winterson
Review: If you liked "Written on the Body" you'll love this one. If you haven't read "Written" then buy them both. If you have ever struggled with family or religious issues then you will feel this one in your soul. "Oranges" may not be the only fruit but it is the best book!
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Summary: genius at work
Review: imagine someone decided to just do something completely different. write an autobiography, as an individual. break the mould. tear down the barriers of prose and poetry. play around with time cycles. throw in some fairytales to remind the reader that fantasy and reality are completely interchageable concepts. pose some good questions about sexuality, whilst we're there. social influences on individual identity. creativity. sanity..perhaps? interested? go and read.
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Summary: A gorgeous novel with autobiographical elements!
Review: It didn't take me long to realize that Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit was really about this wonderful author. What kept this book from being a memoir was Winterson's signature poetic prose and magic realism. Jeanette has always been a faithful Christian, but her way of worshipping the Lord is rather particular. Her family and the congregation have a hard time coming to terms with Jeanette's sexual preference and unique desires. What transpires is an unconventional and beautiful coming-of-age tale about a young woman standing for what she believes in. As said earlier, this novel, though somewhat autobiographical, is full of Jeanette Winterson's poetic and philosophical prose, thought-provoking metaphors, magic realism and unflinching wit. This was her first novel and patting out of better things to come. I couldn't put this wonderful book down. Winterson's literary offerings are true treasures. Highly recommended...
Rating: 
Summary: good
Review: It is a very interesting book, with many issues discussed and brought to the public eye. I give a big thumbs-up!! Not to be missed.
Rating:
Summary: A waste of time
Review: It starts off interesting but the rambling almost stream of conciousness style eventually drags the book down. I think its one of those books that would make more sense after seeing the film, rather than the other way around.
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Summary: Yes it was good, but enough fruit puns, fellow reviewers!
Review: It was good.
However: each word did not resonate in my brain endlessly, it was not the most beautiful thing ever written or read, it did not reveal universal truths that had been hidden to me before.
On the other hand: I didn't find the characters cartoons, you cannot dismiss it as simply being a "fruitcake" novel, and the writing was not just quirky, it was truly original and memorable. I wouldn't rush out to read another of her books, but neither would I avoid them. It was a nice, thoughful, well written book that was sensible short and to the point--so many novelists just don't know how to edit--and I really liked those fables that were woven into the story.
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Summary: Impressive but flawed debut from a fresh new voice
Review: Jeanette Winterson is a fresh new voice in what the book business would call "alternative literature" and "Orange Is Not The Only Fruit" (OINTOF), her Whitbread Prize winning first novel, is a striking if not altogether satisfying work which heralds the arrival of an impressive literary talent. This is a coming-of-age tale of young Jeanette who outgrows the religious fanaticism of her adoptive family to discover her own wayward sexuality in small town England. In my opinion, OINTOF could have been a more confident and intimate piece of work if Winterson hadn't used a tone of voice or style that tended towards caricature than realism. The people who made her growing up years such a horror - especially her mother and the priest - are so demented you can't quite take them seriously. Maybe they are genuine nutcases. Certainly, Jeanette saw them that way. Maybe it's down to Winterson's style which is inherently quaint and quirky, but by painting the landscape this shade of purple, she creates a strangely distancing effect that negates the heartbreak and poignance that lies beneath. The use of fables to break up the narrative is also a technique that doesn't work for me. They interrupt the flow, confuse and obscure rather than enlighten or add to the overall effect. I don't mean to pan the book because I rather enjoyed it. I just felt it could be better.
Rating: 
Summary: Unimpressive piece of writing
Review: Jeanette Winterson tried very hard to connect the flaws she observed throughout her life to the biblical stories. A lot of biblical knowledge is required before reading this book, otherwise, this isn't a recommanded book for readers who aren't familiar with the Bible. Winterson intentionally uses the Old Testament's titles as the chapter names in the story, just to briefly describe every chapter by a glance of the chapter names; the problem is, if the reader isn't familiar with the Bible, the title is absolutely meaningless and it leads to confusions just like the context of the story. There are a lot of fables and tales to compare the protagonist's situation, which is the only part that doesn't make this book so boring. The rest of the story is purely boring; depicted how a homosexual girl changes throughout her life while being discriminated by the religious people, and how her mother finally changes to accept her daughter at the end of story!? I would only recommand anyone who is deeply regilious or having a sleepless night to read this book, because it has an fascinating effect that is to make the readers to fall asleep. P.S.I wonder why couldn't the story itself be fascinating but the effect of it is!?
Rating:
Summary: Not a very impressive orange-perhaps apple is a bettr choice
Review: Jeanette Winterson tried very hard to connect the flaws she observed throughout her life to the biblical stories. A lot of biblical knowledge is required before reading this book, otherwise, this isn't a recommanded book for readers who aren't familiar with the Bible. Winterson intentionally uses the Old Testament's titles as the chapter names in the story, just to briefly describe every chapter by a glance of the chapter names; the problem is, if the reader isn't familiar with the Bible, the title is absolutely meaningless and it leads to confusions just like the context of the story. There are a lot of fables and tales to compare the protagonist's situation, which is the only part that doesn't make this book so boring. The rest of the story is purely boring; depicted how a homosexual girl changes throughout her life while being discriminated by the religious people, and how her mother finally changes to accept her daughter at the end of story!? I would only recommand anyone who is deeply regilious or having a sleepless night to read this book, because it has an fascinating effect that is to make the readers to fall asleep. P.S.I wonder why couldn't the story itself be fascinating but the effect of it is!?
Rating:
Summary: What I like about: Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Review: Jeanette Winterson's "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit" is this amazing, bizarre story written with dialogue that reaks of reality, juxtoposed with ethereal myths that seem far too interesting for meer symbolism. I read it five times. I recommended it to every one of my friends. It is an honest-to-goodness fabulous book.
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