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Written on the Body [Paperback]

Jeanette Winterson (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars So desperately close to greatness May 27 2001
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Lyrical, poignant and utterly honed perfection until somewhere in the middle where it sunk with the weight of artifice. I, more than most, did not want the genderless narrator to matter, because, yes, it shouldn't. But, unfortunately I found it an unnecessary, indulgent, clunky conceit. And Winterson came close to pulling it off, but ultimately the novel, that was destined to be winged, sunk swathed, adled in all its post-modern clothes. The anatomical descriptions are beautiful, achingly so, but redundant, unlikely. Ah, so desperately close to greatness, and it would have been had it not been for its "experiential" nature. Kudos for stylistic bravery though. But, damnation, with my hopes so soaring, the landing was a bruise.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant and beautiful breakdown of stereotypes and love Nov 12 1998
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Assigned this book in a Recent British Literature course, I can't tell you how disappointed I was that I had to wait all the way until the *end* of the semester to read it. I was so eager, I had to finally learn patience just to wait three weeks before we discussed it.

This has to be one of (I should say *the*) best books I have ever read. I suggest it to everyone. For its writing, its content, its beauty, its magic. To use the art of a genderless narrator is absolutely divine and original. I can't think of any other piece of literature that has even tried to break from the stereotypes of love, of gender.

Instead of getting the stereotypes, we really get to experience *LOVE* for what it truly is: an intense emotion. Rather than worrying if the boy is going to "stand up" the girl, or the girl is going to be late, Winterson analyzes love by tissue. By the body. By the spirit.

So many books have tried to tell love stories, whether it be a Disney Cinderella, or a Dickens Pip and Estella. But they have not succeeded completely, impeded, stopped by the normal beliefs of everyday society.

Rather than boring the life out of anyone that reads this review, I'll stop at this, the first line of the book:

"Why is the measure of love loss?"

Tell me, do you know? Either way, you should read this book and truly experience love in a way you never thought possible: with purity.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking Dec 27 2001
By Robert Ortiz
Format:Paperback
This is an extraordinary narrative that focuses on the pleasure and the pain associated with being in love. An individual who has no name, no gender and no age tells the story to us. We as readers can easily relate to the narrator's feelings despite the fact that there is nothing distinctive or tangible about the narrator for us to relate to. The fact is the narrator is swimming in a sea of beautiful emotions where I'm sure many of us would love to drown. We hear about the narrator's intense relationship with Louise, a beautiful woman with flaming red hair who is married to a stodgy, fuddy-duddy named Elgin. The writing is so descriptive and captivating, one can really understand how it must feel to love someone with every last ounce of their existence. Jeanette Winterson takes us to a sensual place where many of us have visited at one time or another or would love to visit again. With beautifully descriptive and insightful writing, wry wit and splashes of comedy, "Written on the Body" is a book you'll want to read over and over again! Highly recommended!
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Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly inspiring
A beautiful discourse on love, it inspired me so much when I read it.

I must warn everyone, I think this is Winterson's best, If you're going to read all of Winterson, I don't... Read more

Published on May 23 2005 by Angie
2.0 out of 5 stars And the last age should show your heart
In the mid 17th century, Andrew Marvell wrote: "An hundred years should go to praise/Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze/Two hundred to adore each breast/But thirty thousand to the... Read more
Published on April 25 2002
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good
Excellent reading and an original love story, related to the universal feelings of love and suffering.. Read it! Read more
Published on Jan 22 2002 by Janus
5.0 out of 5 stars The book I think about when I'm not reading it
This book reads like a dream! I have read Written on the Body twelve times and passed on several copies that have been passed on again and again. Read more
Published on Dec 3 2001 by sharon vrla
2.0 out of 5 stars Review
Thought it was interesting to read, but did not like it in general.
Published on Nov 13 2001 by Mark Hopkins
5.0 out of 5 stars Never, ever read this book.
Because you will fall in love with it and love always ends in loss.
Published on Nov 9 2001 by lmr
5.0 out of 5 stars Magic
I packed up my sling back chair, tossed it in the back of my Jeep Wrangler and headed for the Red River to read this book. Read more
Published on Oct 25 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Possibly my favorite by Winterson. Her insight into her protagonist's pain was astounding.
Published on Sep 17 2001 by "sielaff68"
5.0 out of 5 stars "written on the body," writ large on my mind
i finished this book a few days ago, and still i can't get it out of my head. jeanette winterson has created a world in which love and passion and longing and despair are... Read more
Published on Aug 20 2001 by Angela B. Hayes
5.0 out of 5 stars Why is the measure of love, loss?
Jeanette will tell you in a way that you will see, perhaps for the first time. Pass it on don't put it on a library.
Published on July 26 2001
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