Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
by Jeanette Winterson
Published 2012 by Grove Press
Review e-book sent by publisher via Netgalley
Read September 2012
224 pages
Along the way to reading this book, I joined a book club.
I had been trying (well, “trying,” I kept getting distracted by other things) to read Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal for a few weeks without luck, never getting past page two. Then I told myself I had to read Winterson’s classic semi-autobiographical novel Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit before I could read her actual memoir. Some time went by, I bought the Oranges e-book, read it, and didn’t particularly care for it, so I went back to ignoring the memoir. A few months later I received an email from a local organization that happens to also run a queer book club and lo and behold, their title for September was Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
I’d never been to a book club meeting before, although I’ve always been really interested. The best thing about this particular book club is that they specifically focus on LGBTQ titles, which, as you may have noticed, is a specialty of mine.
I’m so incredibly thankful that my new book club chose Winterson’s memoir because despite my reservations about Oranges and how long it took me to delve into Why Be Happy, it ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year.
It’s a book that I could just quote over and over again:
Books, for me, are a home. Books don’t make a home–they are one, in the sense that just as you do with a door, you open a book, and you go inside. Inside there is a different kind of time and a different kind of space.
There is warmth there too–a hearth. I sit down with a book and I am warm. (614/2245, Kindle edition)
Or
Black is all the colours and Shakespeare is all the alphabet (1137/2245, Kindle edition)
Or
Reading yourself as a fiction as well as a fact is the only way to keep the narrative open–the only way to stop the story running away under its own momentum, often towards an ending no one wants. (1171/2245, Kindle edition)
For anyone who was affected by Oranges, it’s fascinating to read about what “really happened” and how it was actually much worse. For anyone who loves books, it’s heart-warming to be reminded how important books can be to someone who is otherwise all alone. For anyone who has ever looked for love and worried they weren’t strong enough for it, or for anyone who continues that endless search for home, there is so much in this memoir to love and think over.
Grade: A
Recommended: To anyone who has ever found an escape in literature.
This book and post count toward the Literary Others event hosted by Adam at Roof Beam Reader in honor of LGBT History Month.
I think that is the best description of a book I’ve ever read!! I love it. I’m glad that once you got into it, the memoir ended up being wonderful. I know I heard about this one before but had forgotten about it. It is going on the list now thanks to you!
Oh, thank you! I’m glad I could get it onto your list.
I’m interested by the title, as it’s pretty much the reverse of what is usually proposed, though from what you’ve described it is very fitting and surely full of depth and detail. Loving the first quote especially.
The title of the book is what Winterson’s mother said to her after she came out to her and told her that being with women made her happy. It’s quite heartbreaking.
I thought it was witty and cute at first uuuuntil I read the bit about where it actually came from and it was like Whomp Whomp.
Ahh, thanks Casey!
She sounds like a woman after my own heart. I’d like to read this memoir, but I think I’ll read Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit first.
http://eclecticbooksandmovies.blogspot.com
I support that decision.
Sounds like a very interesting writer… I’ve never read anything by her (nor did I know much about her). Her story, though, sounds like one that could make an impact. Thanks for sharing!
She’s a pretty big deal! Very influential since Oranges came out in the 1980s.
Hah. How coincidental… I’m working on my Ph.D. right now & one of my seminar courses this semester is on Narratology. The Professor started talking about how Feminist Narratology has been “in development” since the late-70s but hasn’t really hit a home-run, yet.. the closes they’ve come is, in his opinion, Winterson. So, I brought up this book (and others brought up Written on the Body, Sexing the Cherry, etc.) and he was quick to stop us: “I’M SO TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT HER AND HER DAMN BOOKS!” Lol. I think his point was, there’s room for someone else to break in and really knock out some new ideas.
I’m even more excited to finally get some of her texts under my belt, now!
I loved Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, when I read it in college, and Winterson’s memoir looks very appealing. I haven’t loved any of Winterson’s other fiction as much as Oranges but I have high hopes for this one.
I’m interested to hear what you think of it!
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I too pretty much wanted to underline or circle most of the book. It’s so wise!
Lots of really good stuff.
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I love those quotes! Thanks for sharing this interesting book.
I’m participating in the LGBT Reading Event to! It would be great if you could stop by sometime.
Sarika @ The Readdicts