Written on the Body

by Jeanette Winterson
Written on the Body cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 5949
  • Added: 2025-10-27
  • Updated: 2025-10-27
  • ISBN: 9780099193913
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 1993-01-01
  • Reviews: 3

Jeanette Winterson's 'Written on the Body' is a profound and intimate exploration of love, identity, and the human body. The narrator, whose gender remains a mystery, recounts a passionate affair with Louise, a married woman, delving into the complexities of desire and the physical manifestation of emotions. This novel is not just a love story but a philosophical meditation on the body as the repository of our deepest feelings and experiences. /n/n The narrative style is as fluid and enigmatic as the themes it explores, challenging readers to question their own perceptions of love, gender, and the self. Winterson's lyrical prose and unconventional storytelling make this a unique and unforgettable reading experience.

Reviews
Deedi Reads · Deedi · 2025-01-25
intense 4.50

The novel is a scorching, poetic exploration of desire, told through a gender-ambiguous narrator. It captures the raw and desperate nature of love and relationships.

This book is a wild ride through the complexities of desire and love. The narrator's gender ambiguity adds a layer of intrigue, making the story feel both intimate and universal. The prose is poetic and intense, perfectly capturing the desperation and passion of the characters' relationships. It's a book that will make you feel deeply and think even more deeply about the nature of love and the human body.

Quick quotes

    A scorching, poetic, desperate novel about desire.

    It's told through the eyes of a gender-ambiguous narrator having an affair.

    The raw and desperate nature of love and relationships is captured beautifully.

Think About Reading · 2016-10-11
thoughtful 4.00

The book humorously nails relationships of convenience, where passion is often lacking. It's a thoughtful exploration of love and its many facets.

Winterson's writing is both witty and insightful, particularly when it comes to relationships of convenience. The book makes you laugh out loud while also making you think about the nature of love and passion. It's a thoughtful exploration of how people settle and what they expect from their relationships. The humor is well-balanced with poignant moments, making it a rewarding read.

Quick quotes

    Winterson made me laugh out loud with the way she nailed relationships of convenience.

    The two parties settle and don't expect passion.

    It's a thoughtful exploration of love and its many facets.

The New York Times · Michiko Kakutani · 1993-02-14
ambitious 4.20

The novel is an ambitious work that blends a love story with philosophical musings on the body. It's both erotic and thoughtful, with humor and poignancy woven throughout.

Kakutani highlights the ambitious nature of Winterson's work, which seamlessly blends a love story with deep philosophical reflections on the body. The novel is erotic in parts, thoughtful in others, and humor and poignancy are threaded throughout. It's a rich tapestry of emotions and ideas, making it a compelling read. The prose is beautiful and romantic, though at times it can feel a bit over the top with its poeticism.

Quick quotes

    "Written on the Body" is an ambitious work, at once a love story and a philosophical meditation on the body.

    The prose was beautiful and romantic.

    At first I thought it was a little over the top with its poeticism.

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