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The Passion
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
Jeanette Wintersons novels have established her as one of the most important young writers in world literature. The Passion is perhaps her most highly acclaimed work, a modern classic that confirms her special claim on the novel. Set during the tumultuous years of the Napoleonic Wars, The Passion intertwines the destinies of two remarkable people: Henri, a simple French soldier, who follows Napoleon from glory to Russian ruin; and Villanelle, the red-haired, web-footed daughter of a Venetian boatman, whose husband has gambled away her heart. In Venices compound of carnival, chance, and darkness, the pair meet their singular destiny. In her unique and mesmerizing voice, Winterson blends reality with fantasy, dream, and imagination to weave a hypnotic tale with stunning effects.
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xicanti
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Mehso-so

THE PASSION has a couple of solid insights, like the quote above, but I found Henri‘s bits beyond dull. I came THIS CLOSE to bailing about five times over the first fifty pages, but I figured it was short enough that I should at least give Villanelle‘s POV a go. She interested me enough that I did finish the book, but it‘ll stick with me for the dullness (and the comma splices; UGH) more than anything else.

Definitely not recommended.

xicanti To elaborate slightly, to the extent I can a couple days afterwards: I found Henri so dull because he‘s all Meaningful®️Disjointery without the level of emotional connection I need to CARE about Meaningful®️Disjointery. Hell, maybe he wasn‘t even that disjointed. (I assume he was meant to hardcore meaningful.) I‘m bored out of my skull just trying to remember him well enough to analyze him. His POV wears a lot of beige, is what I‘m saying. (edited) 2mo
40 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Billypar
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Pickpick

This covers a lot more territory than Winterson's other novels I've read: we see Napoleon's army triumphant in France to frozen in Russia, followed by an escape to Venice's maze of canals. It has fantastic elements that aren't on every page but are very memorable when they appear. It's got romance, tragedy, horror, war, and is extremely quotable. And one of the greatest tricks is how what should be a 500 page epic is only 160 pages.

BarbaraBB Great review. I loved this book so much when I read it a long time ago 3mo
Aimeesue Great review! Winterson is one of my favorites. 3mo
Billypar @BarbaraBB Yeah, I think it's one that will stick with me for some time. 3mo
Billypar @Aimeesue She's so good - I've loved everything I've read so far and look forward to reading all of her work. 3mo
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andrew61
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Pickpick

I picked this up after it was referenced in the last john Irving and what a joy of magical storytelling. Set in the reign of napoleon it centres on Henri, the great man's personal chicken chef, and villanelle the venetian dtr of a boatman. A story of passion for a charismatic monster, unrequited passion for a woman, + passion between 2 women. With madness, starvation, and stolen hearts (literally) this was a compelling, interesting + magical read.

youneverarrived I love Jeanette Winterson. Still not read this one. 3y
Centique I‘ve been meaning to get back to Winterson too after reading her memoir and first novel last year. She is so good! 2y
44 likes2 comments
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Bookbuyingaddict
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
Panpan

Unfortunately not one for me , appreciate parts of this short novella are beautifully written but the story didn‘t grip me.

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Bookbuyingaddict
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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First book 📕 of the month happy 😃 March and happy 😃 reading 📖 here in the uk 🇬🇧 spring 💐is around the corner

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shaynarae
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Pickpick

Finally got around to reading this book that‘s been on my shelf for well over a decade, just in time for pride month. It‘s short and quite lovely in its mix of historical fiction, magical realism, and queerness. I think it tries to do more than it accomplishes, but overall I enjoyed it. #catsoflitsy

Bette ❤️🐱 4y
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EadieB
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Day 23 - #Passion #FebruaryFeels
#ThePassion #JeanetteWinterson

I own this book and look forward to reading it soon. It is on the #1001bookstoreadbeforeyoudie list.

MrsMalaprop I read this recently 😊👍. 5y
EadieB @MrsMalaprop Nice! It looks good! 5y
Eggs Perfect 👌🏼📚🤗 5y
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB One of my favorites- years ago 🧡 5y
EadieB @BarbaraBB I have pulled it out to read very soon. I‘ve read 250 of the 1001 books. How many have you read? 5y
BarbaraBB Over 600, but I have started in 2011 and became rather fanatically. I am now in a bit of #1001books slump 😀 5y
EadieB @BarbaraBB That‘s Great! I was reading the list steadily for awhile. I have to get back to it. 5y
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MrsMalaprop
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Pickpick

Wow! This reminded me a of one of my all time favourite novels, Perfume by Patrick Suskind. Evocative, surreal, twisted and beautiful. Henri, Villanelle and their cast of weirdos took me on quite the journey in this pint-sized classic.

LeeRHarry Sounds intriguing 😊 and Perfume is a fave of mine too! 5y
LapReader I haven‘t read the book but I love Perfume the movie. 5y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Love this book - my best friend had me do a reading from it at her wedding ❤️ 5y
Rissreads Perfume is also one of my favourites, so I'm stacking this baby! 👍🧡 5y
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MrsMalaprop
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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A glass of bubbles to toast the beginning of four weeks of leave and reading 🥂📚👏😎.

Seems to be a bit of Litsy love for this one. #currentlyreading

TrishB Enjoy 😁 5y
BarbaraBB Four weeks! That is worth celebrating 🥂. Enjoy!! 5y
Cathythoughts Cheers to that 👍🏻❤️ 5y
See All 7 Comments
youneverarrived Enjoy ❤️ 5y
CarolynM Enjoy your break ❤️ 5y
Freespirit Have a lovely Christmas break! 5y
Rissreads Both the bubbles and book look amazing! 📚🥂❤ 5y
44 likes7 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Revisiting this gem via audiobook. #queerbooks

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Emilymdxn
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Pickpick

Possibly my fave Jeanette Winterson so far? The historical, carnivalesque magic realism was so exciting and surreal - Napoleon‘s butcher and a queer casino worker tricking people into thinking she‘s different genders, surrounded by people with missing hearts in shadowy beautiful Venice 🥰 it felt like a fairy tale and had strong Angela Carter vibes for me, and made me desperate to go to Venice again.

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Love this one too. Such a weird, magical book. I need to read more of her stuff, but so far this one is my favorite too. 5y
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Bertha_Mason
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson

"I asked him why he was a priest, and he said if you have to work for anybody an absentee boss is best."

Naj 😂😂 6y
7 likes1 comment
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Bertha_Mason
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson

I'm two-fisting Jeanette Winterson (this one and The World and Other Places) in deference to the cold weather. Jeanette Winterson should really be read when it's cold.

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KarenUK
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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#septemberdanes
“Book collecting is an obsession, an occupation, a disease, an addiction, a #fascination, an absurdity, a fate. It is not a hobby. Those who do it must do it.”
― Jeanette Winterson
@Cinfhen @Kalalalatja

Kalalalatja #Preach 🙌🙌 also, love your shelves 😍 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Truth 🙌. Your shelves are so neat! 6y
ephemeralwaltz Lovely! 6y
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB Love both the quote and the pic 😍 6y
LeahBergen I love this photo and quotes! ❤️❤️ 6y
Cinfhen Your shelves are amazing ❣️❣️❣️❣️ 6y
58 likes7 comments
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Abailliekaras
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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The Passion is one of my books of the year so far. @mr_annie & I discuss it in this week‘s episode of Books On The Go. Take a listen! 📚🎧

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mr_annie
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Pickpick

Pulsing with life, Winterson explores love, lust and longing in this short but meaty novel. The characters are almost from a fairytale, although recognisable in their desires and search for understanding. What glorious technicolor she paints in - and that language! I could have highlighted the whole book.

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Abailliekaras
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Pickpick

A brilliant, pithy book set in Boulogne & Venice during the Napoleonic wars. Winterson gets to the heart of being human: to play the game of life, you have to gamble your “valuable and fabulous thing” - your heart, your life. Henri is Napoleon‘s chicken chef; Villanelle falls in love with a woman at a Venice casino. Strong, poetic writing. Villanelle is original & spirited, Henri touching & the Bonapartes described with fairness & wit. 💜

JenP I love this book!! 6y
Abailliekaras @JenP I‘m still thinking about it - so much to unpack. I think we‘ll discuss on Books on the Go 🎧 - for a short book, it needs a longer review! 6y
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Abailliekaras
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Getting my #PrideMonth on. This is brilliant so far. 🙌🏼🌈

Weaponxgirl I love this author and this book 😀 6y
BarbaraBB I loved this book. Winterson‘s best, I think 💜 6y
Abailliekaras @Weaponxgirl @BarbaraBB it‘s so good! Has been on my shelf for ages so I‘m glad I finally picked it up. 😊 6y
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rucktaadn
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
Pickpick

I couldn't stop reading and will think about this book and all its meanings and metaphors for some time to come.

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WhatDeeReads
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Napoleonic Wars...

I‘m going into this one with high skepticism.
It comes highly recommended by a friend though and I‘ve read Winterson before.

Anyone read this one?

Bibliogeekery It's not my favourite of hers but I would read her grocery lists if I could so it's definitely still worth reading in my opinion! 7y
Cinfhen It‘s an AWESOME cover ❤️🙌🏻 7y
WhatDeeReads @Bibliogeekery Ok. It‘s very short too. I doubt many other books set at the time are so slim. 7y
See All 7 Comments
WhatDeeReads @Cinfhen Is it? It‘s a little creepy to me. 7y
WhatDeeReads @Cinfhen Then again awesome and creepy are not antonyms. 7y
Cinfhen I love it❣️❣️❣️ 7y
2BR02B @Cinfhen I like it a lot too. 7y
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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My #top10authorrecommendations ❤️❤️❤️

merelybookish Great choices! 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @merelybookish thanks - picking just 10 was so hard! 7y
BarbaraBB What a great choices!! 😍 7y
See All 9 Comments
BarbaraBB Have you read many books by Niall Williams? I read only one but would love to have more recommendations because I loved 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @BarbaraBB The only other one of his Ive read is The Four Letters of Love (which was really good, but History of the Rain takes the cake - I think it‘s my Favorite Book Ever). 7y
AceOnRoam I wanted to add emma donoghue but ran out of space! Adding this to my TBR now .. 7y
BarbaraBB Maybe mine as well - that‘s why I hardly dare reading anything else by him. The expectations are so high! 7y
LitLogophile David Mitchell is such a favorite for me! 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @LitLogophile Me too! Ive only read 2 of his, though. Im trying to make them last 😂 7y
41 likes9 comments
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Abailliekaras
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Pick your favourite! #weirdestbookcover #riotgrams

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Jabberwocky
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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I know @GypsyKat posted this quote a few weeks ago but it resonated with my soul slot so I made a pretty graphic for it and am reposting. Also I'm relatively sure the quote doesn't go with the book but 😅 #quotes #lgbtq

CoverToCoverGirl 😍😍❤️❤️ 7y
JoeStalksBeck I freaking love this! Shirt please! 7y
27 likes4 comments
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CharissaWeaksAuthor
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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I'm 200 pages into Shadow of Night, which I'm loving even more than ADOW. I think this book might be next on my list.

Beachesnbooks LOVED that book. 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled This book is so amazing. Her writing is beautiful 7y
69 likes2 comments
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Abailliekaras
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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#IKissedAGirl both the Passion and Orlando are still on my TBR! I'm still recovering from Nightwood... 📚😬 #JuneTunz

andrew61 Does that mean you liked nightwood? I saw it in a charity shop today and was umming and ahhing but in the end didn't buy it. 7y
Abailliekaras @andrew61 yes definitely, for the poetic writing. But it's quite dense and I was reading Infinite Jest at the time needing a break (not realising she influenced David foster Wallace) so it wasn't the light easy break I was looking for!! 😉 7y
andrew61 @Abailliekaras thanks,ill hopefully go back next week. 7y
34 likes3 comments
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WhatDeeReads
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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The passion
The wrath and the dawn
The wicked will rise
Gulp...
We will shoot back.

#SpinePoetry #24in48

I thought it was appropriate for Women's March day.

37 likes4 comments
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PNWBookseller85
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Part 2. Because it was really bugging me that I had left these out. Please don't be surprised by a part 3. #womenwriters #womenwhowrite #somethingforsept

Bibliogeekery ❤️ Jeanette Winterson! 8y
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PNWBookseller85
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson

Part 2. Because it was really bugging me that I had left these out. Please don't be surprised by a part 3. #womenwriters #womenwhowrite #somethingforsept

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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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My best friend got married last night and I got to read this at the wedding. 😍 It was quite an honor.

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bblake24
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
Pickpick

AMAZING!!! Napoleonic Wars era drama with so much to think about. Made me want to reread her Written on the Body because WOW.

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Actually_Perry
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Pickpick

This was my first Jeanette Winterson book! The writing was beautiful. It has the type of passages you have to underline because it perfectly captures a thought you've had a million times and have never been able to articulate. I really enjoyed it and look forward to picking up more of her books!

Bibliogeekery She's such an amazing writer! 8y
MrBook Nice review! 8y
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Ellen_C
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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Pickpick

Love, obsession and dangerous passions against the backdrop of the NapoleonicWars. Clever, insightful and a bit melancholy. http://cannonballread.com/2016/06/passion-obsession-and-napoleon/

Bibliogeekery I love Jeanette Winterson! 8y
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Oblomov26
The Passion | Jeanette Winterson
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CAGirlReading I love Jeanette Winterson's writing but I haven't read this one. 8y
Oblomov26 I am the opposite - a friend had me reads Passion years ago and I throughly enjoyed it, but despite promises to myself have yet to read any others books by Winterson. That quote stuck with me 8y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I love Winterson. This one is my favorite! 8y
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