Sexing The Cherry, A Novel With Words That Are Worth A Thousand Pictures

Sexing the Cherry is a post-modern novel originally published in 1989. Apart from it's less than 200 page count, here are other tempting reasons for why it is a must read for any literature enthusiast!
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Perhaps the most striking feature of modern lives is the sheer variety of sensations and perspectives that we encounter in a day. After the pandemic, most of them have shifted into the digital realm, but the variety is still overwhelming.

Early morning, you see memes from one American, one English, one Australian, and five Indian pages on your Instagram feed. Then there will be a photograph of the sunset and pebbles by your newly christened freelancer photographer friend.

Then some quote about motivation or success, another about relationships, and suddenly a gory post about a sinister crime in some corner of the national capital. You start with your classes/work from home. You come across ten kinds of people, with ten kinds of maturity level, personalities, and opinions. And each of them has a vast sensational life of their own.

Then you look for entertainment on various OTT platforms. And you'll find stimulations ranging from Dark to Game of Thrones to The Big Bang Theory in the background while you are working on a mature psychology assignment. And you somehow manage to muster enough mental bandwidth to watch and absorb all of them.

Imagine every kind of mental stimulation you experience in the day is a color. Imagine all those colors splashed on a canvas with the respective force of each thought. Imagine this painting made into the written word and a novel. Now, you are on a scale, continued progress on which might lead you to grasp the beauty of this verbal pastiche - Sexing the Cherry. Mind you, as the movement of time in the novel, that scale is also not linear. 

colour riot; pastiche; sexing the cherry
Source: DNA India

A major chunk of the novel Sexing the Cherry is set in 1649 and the following English Civil War. There are two major characters - Dog Woman and Jordan. And that's pretty much all you can define about them. I would argue they are not people at all. They are two consciousnesses. Those are not limited by time, gender, or society. They are the truth of what it means to be human - that all of us have consciousness. 

The themes of the novel Sexing The Cherry are palpable by any modern reader. There is religion, there is politics, there is gender, feminism, literature, myth, and fantasy.

But the question is - How do you create a poem out of them? How do you create a fictional world out of a world which is itself defined by more fiction than reality? Jeanette Winterson shows us how in Sexing the Cherry. If I could articulate it, I would probably be Winterson myself, because why not? We are all conscious. And in a vision of ultimate equality, no consciousness is more important or superior to another. 

sexing the cherry themes

The most attractive reason, however, for which I would suggest everyone to read that novel is for its treatment of fairy tales. Winterson uses the backdrop of Twelve Dancing Princesses to reinterpret and sometimes, create twelve new fairy tales. In doing so, she redefines literature, womanhood, gender, relationships, and Story itself. 

You should read the novel if you are interested in poetry, in prose, in feminism, and most importantly, in an emancipated vision of gender and what it means to be a woman. You should read the novel if you before sleeping because it can be a lullaby; in that early morning lethargy because it can be a splash of vitality on your face; and for the evening excitement because partying in the pandemic seems like the plot of a dystopian novel.

Reading Sexing the Cherry is like taking a plunge into a lake of a million colors. There is no way you're coming out without becoming a canvas yourself. And each painting is different.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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Salma99 commented Salma99 3 years ago

The way it handles time and consciousness is mind-expanding.

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Raven_Moon commented Raven_Moon 3 years ago

Looking forward to exploring the various layers in this book.

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StudioGhibli_Addict_55 commented StudioGhibli_Addict_55 3 years ago

The article's analysis of digital life is spot on.

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NeonDreamscape commented NeonDreamscape 3 years ago

Interesting how it reflects our fragmented modern existence.

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Vibe-With_Nature_17 commented Vibe-With_Nature_17 3 years ago

The fairy tale element adds a magical quality to serious topics.

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KyleP commented KyleP 3 years ago

Wonder how different readers interpret the same passages.

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ConnorCooks commented ConnorCooks 3 years ago

The consciousness theme seems particularly relevant today.

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Natalia commented Natalia 3 years ago

Really appreciate how it tackles complex themes through accessible means.

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CineAddictMia commented CineAddictMia 3 years ago

The blend of historical and contemporary is fascinating.

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OwenMitchell commented OwenMitchell 3 years ago

Love how it questions our assumptions about storytelling.

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ChristinaVibes commented ChristinaVibes 3 years ago

The article captures the essence of modern digital life perfectly.

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Ingraham_Insights commented Ingraham_Insights 3 years ago

Would be interesting to read this in a book club setting.

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Justin commented Justin 3 years ago

The way it deals with time reminds me of modern physics.

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HealthyHabits_24 commented HealthyHabits_24 3 years ago

Interesting perspective on gender and identity.

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CultClassic_Flicks commented CultClassic_Flicks 3 years ago

The pandemic context adds another layer of meaning.

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SamaraX commented SamaraX 3 years ago

Love how it challenges traditional narrative structures.

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SitcomKing_John commented SitcomKing_John 3 years ago

The article's metaphor of colors and canvas is beautifully put.

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HolisticHarmony commented HolisticHarmony 3 years ago

Really want to see how it handles the fairy tale retellings.

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SophiaJ_23 commented SophiaJ_23 3 years ago

The consciousness concept reminds me of Buddhist philosophy.

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Weiss_Watch commented Weiss_Watch 3 years ago

Fascinating how it uses fairy tales to explore serious themes.

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ElectricSoul commented ElectricSoul 3 years ago

The description of modern life really resonates with my experience.

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TimeSeekerX commented TimeSeekerX 4 years ago

I'm impressed by how it weaves together so many different elements.

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EmeryM commented EmeryM 4 years ago

Sounds like it would be a great book for academic analysis.

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EmeryDiaz commented EmeryDiaz 4 years ago

The article makes a good point about digital stimulation overload.

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Samuel-David commented Samuel-David 4 years ago

Wonder what Winterson would think of today's social media landscape.

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Dominic commented Dominic 4 years ago

The mix of history and fantasy is intriguing.

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April-Moody commented April-Moody 4 years ago

Love books that make you work for understanding. This seems like one.

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Moira99 commented Moira99 4 years ago

The way it handles time reminds me of quantum physics theories.

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NatalieJ_98 commented NatalieJ_98 4 years ago

Appreciate how it doesn't give easy answers to complex questions.

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Flick_Fanatic2000 commented Flick_Fanatic2000 4 years ago

Been looking for something different to read. This might be it.

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PhantomCipher commented PhantomCipher 4 years ago

The article's comparison to Instagram feeds is surprisingly apt.

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BrynleeJ commented BrynleeJ 4 years ago

Interesting how it questions what we consider reality versus fiction.

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Alice_Sanders commented Alice_Sanders 4 years ago

The fairy tale aspect makes it more approachable than pure experimental fiction.

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Porter_Perspective commented Porter_Perspective 4 years ago

Would love to see more books tackle gender this way.

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InfinityHacker commented InfinityHacker 4 years ago

Reminds me of how social media has changed our perception of reality.

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AmeliaJoy_88 commented AmeliaJoy_88 4 years ago

The concept of consciousness without boundaries is mind-bending.

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CodeBreak3r commented CodeBreak3r 4 years ago

I find it fascinating how it bridges historical and contemporary perspectives.

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GiselleH commented GiselleH 4 years ago

The pandemic really has changed how we experience storytelling.

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Nerissa_Glimmer commented Nerissa_Glimmer 4 years ago

Anyone else notice how the article mirrors the book's non-linear style?

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Carly99 commented Carly99 4 years ago

The description of modern life in the article is eerily accurate.

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InvisibleForce commented InvisibleForce 4 years ago

Some books are better left as books. This seems like one of them.

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CelesteM commented CelesteM 4 years ago

Wonder if this would make a good film adaptation.

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MarloweH commented MarloweH 4 years ago

I think you're being too quick to dismiss it. The consciousness theme ties everything together.

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Paloma99 commented Paloma99 4 years ago

Not sure about the consciousness argument. Seems a bit pretentious to me.

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Zara_Twilight commented Zara_Twilight 4 years ago

The fairy tale element makes complex themes more accessible.

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Clean_Eats_Only commented Clean_Eats_Only 4 years ago

Love how it challenges our preconceptions about gender roles.

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Maggie-Quinn commented Maggie-Quinn 4 years ago

The article could have mentioned more about Winterson's writing style.

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CrimeShowDetective_44 commented CrimeShowDetective_44 4 years ago

My book club would have a field day with this! So many layers to discuss.

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VibrantWellness commented VibrantWellness 4 years ago

Interesting how it uses historical setting to comment on modern issues.

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SkylarFoster commented SkylarFoster 4 years ago

The idea of becoming a canvas yourself after reading is powerful. Books should transform us.

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SunnySoul_Shine_77 commented SunnySoul_Shine_77 4 years ago

I appreciate how it doesn't try to define everything neatly. Life isn't neat, why should literature be?

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Samantha_K commented Samantha_K 4 years ago

The pandemic has definitely changed how we experience reality. This book seems perfect for our times.

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HappyGutHappyLife commented HappyGutHappyLife 4 years ago

Does anyone else see parallels with Virginia Woolf's stream of consciousness style?

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LostGalaxy commented LostGalaxy 4 years ago

The blend of myth and reality reminds me of magical realism, but this seems to go beyond that.

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Julia_21 commented Julia_21 4 years ago

Trust me, as a younger reader, we get it. Maybe even more than older generations.

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Cinematic_Universe_Geek commented Cinematic_Universe_Geek 4 years ago

Wonder if younger readers would connect with this given their digital upbringing.

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LostDataX commented LostDataX 4 years ago

The comparison to a lullaby and morning splash is beautiful. Books really do serve different purposes at different times.

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Riley commented Riley 4 years ago

Just ordered my copy! Can't wait to dive into this color lake of consciousness.

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Bruni_Blog commented Bruni_Blog 4 years ago

I wish the article had gone into more detail about the actual fairy tale retellings.

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LianaM commented LianaM 4 years ago

The way it handles religion and politics feels very relevant to current debates.

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NoahHall commented NoahHall 4 years ago

Anyone else find it interesting how the book challenges traditional relationship structures?

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Carlson_Critique commented Carlson_Critique 4 years ago

The OTT platforms comparison in the article is spot on. We're all living in multiple narratives simultaneously.

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Masters_Memo commented Masters_Memo 4 years ago

I've read it twice now and found something new each time. That's the mark of truly great literature.

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EvanInspires commented EvanInspires 4 years ago

The color metaphor really works for me. Each day is like splashing different colors on our mental canvas.

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AlignYourSoul commented AlignYourSoul 4 years ago

You're completely missing the point. The novel isn't about measuring consciousness, it's about recognizing our shared human experience.

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Lowry_Ledger commented Lowry_Ledger 4 years ago

Not sure I agree with the article's take on consciousness equality. Some people clearly have more developed consciousness than others.

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Elsa99 commented Elsa99 4 years ago

The pandemic reference in the article really puts things in perspective. We're all living in our own fairy tale dystopia right now.

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YasminJ commented YasminJ 4 years ago

I love how the Dog Woman and Jordan aren't defined by typical character constraints. It's refreshing to see characters as pure consciousness.

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Lawler_Look commented Lawler_Look 4 years ago

The English Civil War setting is fascinating. Anyone know if the historical elements are well-researched?

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Fienberg_Feedback commented Fienberg_Feedback 4 years ago

That's what makes it beautiful though. Not everything needs to be straightforward to be meaningful.

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JasonClark commented JasonClark 4 years ago

I tried reading it but found it too abstract. Maybe I'm missing something, but I prefer more straightforward storytelling.

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Gabriella_64 commented Gabriella_64 4 years ago

What really draws me in is the exploration of gender and feminism through fairy tales. It's such a clever way to subvert traditional narratives.

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SelfLove_Club_07 commented SelfLove_Club_07 4 years ago

The parallel between modern digital life and the novel's structure is brilliant. Our Instagram feeds are basically literary pastiche in visual form.

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Allison commented Allison 4 years ago

Actually, I think the non-linear narrative perfectly mirrors our modern existence. Just look at how we consume media today jumping between different apps and content.

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BradyT commented BradyT 4 years ago

I disagree with the non-linear narrative approach. It often feels like authors use it as a crutch when they can't tell a coherent story.

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Levin_Live commented Levin_Live 4 years ago

The way the article describes modern life with all its digital stimulations really hits home. We're all living in this chaotic mix of content and consciousness.

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Ella commented Ella 4 years ago

I'm particularly intrigued by the reimagining of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Has anyone read these reinterpretations? Would love to hear your thoughts.

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FayeX commented FayeX 4 years ago

This novel sounds fascinating! I love how it blends historical fiction with fairy tale elements. The concept of consciousness transcending time and gender really speaks to me.

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