i know i never would have recognized the something missing in my reading life if i'd never read that first book by winterson that britt loaned me, but now that i've "found her" i can't get enough. i bought three of her books while i was in edinburgh and read this one on the flight home. her imagination blows my mind. her words are poetry. her books are some kind of modern day collection of proverbs, evoking thoughts that make you say "of course! yes. why had i never thought of it before?" sexing the cherry is mostly set in 17th century london, it manages to seem so real, and such a fairy tale all at the same time. it makes you think about time, reality, life, love. it's just a kick ass book. my favorite part is smack dab in the middle, the stories of what really happened to the 12 dancing princesses (you remember, the ones who escaped their room in the middle of the night and were always exhusted and their dancing shoes were always ruined)... there is a point in reading this book that i thought, it's so random, but then somehow she manages to weave it all together, leaving your soul warmed, leaving you hopeful for what is and was and is to come. it's a very thought provoking book. it's very good. i have yet to be disappointed by this author.

favorite quote... "Was I searching for a dancer wose name I did not know or was I searching for the dancing part of myself?"