Chapter 1: Genesis

            The first chapter of the book Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Genesis forced me to take multiple breaks. Not because the writing was bad, but because the style of writing, while interesting, was foreign to me. Having only heard quotes from the bible in passing, the style of this chapter was very different from I am used to. It’s also not often I read something from a first-person perspective. I found that this perspective allowed for some unique insight into the main characters thoughts. Hearing the thoughts of the main character as they were happening was interesting, however the reader does lose out on the expanded view that a third person narrator provides. But that is likely on purpose, after all the main character of this story is seven years old in this chapter. The chapter provided a lot of background information on the young girl, a lot of it on how her mother is raising her. Her mother comes off somewhat as a crazed religious fanatic, that appears to have been keeping her child from going to school. I found the comparison of the two short stories, of the distraught princess and the mother finding a child from a star, interesting and vaguely foreboding. Like her mother has plans for her, while nothing sinister is insinuated I still shivered. While to early to tell if those plans are beneficial or not, from what I’ve researched of the author and that this story is a kind of autobiography, I believe she does end up leaving due to an inability, on her mothers part, to accept her. But that may not be the case, reading further will enlighten me.

            The scene I chose to write about is where she and her mother are walking towards a hill in town. This scene provides a small description of the town she lives in. The first chapter, in my mind, was mostly about describing a setting. A lot of descriptions involving her mother was given, but in such a way that it makes me think of as part of the setting not a character unto herself. In this scene the town is described with valley’s and hills, and as a place where a fair is held once a year. “Over to the right was the viaduct and behind the viaduct Ellison’s tenement, where we had the fair once a year.” (Winterson 13) She would go sometimes to collect black peas for her mother. It was there she is told by an old woman that she would never marry and never be still. This, to me, is possible foreshadowing of her breaking free from the common mold or setting. The old woman’s words reminded her of two older women that never married. At the time she was not aware of the possible implications. This scene was crucial to the first chapter because it provided some descriptions, foreshadowing, and thoughts of the main character that reveal some insight into her personality. A personality still developing.