In her book filled with crafty and powerful metaphors, Winterson doesn’t leave the reader hungry for more words, rather a stiff drink and a cigarette, or two. This book is worth the time, but you should consider going in open minded and willing for confusing stimulation.The premise of this book is straight forward: a writer, Ali (or Alix), uses the Internet to write online stories upon online readers’ requests. The characters of the stories include the requester and the writer, among other people, in locations throughout the world – real and invented – in the past, present, and future. We see relationships intermingle in short stories written by Ali, whom offers “Freedom, just for one night” (3). Fantasies are fulfilled and love is explored. But the story may, as Ali warns, leave a lasting effect on the requester.As we are taken on a handful of journeys, we encounter masterfully-written poetic prose so alive and vivid, so extensive yet elaborate, and so lyrical yet raw. Love has tasted as tangy, or as sweet, as it has for hundreds of years. Love has loaded the loins with lust, just as irresistibly, just as desirably, as it will for hundreds more. Men with women, or women with men, or women with women; it might be all the same. This was the first book I had read by Winterson, but I sensed she was writing from behind the eyes of her own sexual nature, similar to other books of hers, like Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. I wanted to take a scoop from her sea of concepts, but instead I had to drink the whole, and I was overwhelmed. This bombardment of ideas and artfully-articulated words didn’t allow for a natural flow, rather a constant regrouping, and frequent unfamiliarity with where I was. Winterson avoids a typical plot line in favor of fragmented, yet intertwined chunks of stories. There is, however, continuity and development of a relationship between Ali and her lover, a married woman. While these lovers romp in Paris, Capri, and London, we also see pirates during the sixteenth-century embark in a love story; love between two females…and the anatomy of tulips. As distant from reality these stories brought me, the more ingrained I became in the possibility of truth. I paused in reflection to understand the feelings to conjure the concepts into awareness, and to embrace the lovely metaphors. As the next story started, I wondered if it was part of the previous one, or if it was new. I wondered if they were Ali’s desires or if they were only part of the order. More confusion. Although we don’t see the book written with a rising action/climax/falling action sequence, the overall effectiveness and of the format Winterson selected worked . But, it left me feeling as though I had no characters to want to achieve their goals, no fun, and no resolution to conflict. I wondered to what strange land I was going to be taken after having been someplace I just became familiar with moments ago. This intentional jostling was interrupting, as if being woken up from dreamful slumber every hour, every night. If any concept remained constant, if any feeling left an aftertaste while still chewing, if anything – it was love. Round and round, side to side, in and out, we felt love. We felt love. Even as a man, I still feel her love. From a personal preference, I would have liked to have seen a plot line; something to grip my fingers around, sink my teeth into, and gorge my mouth of at once (like a Philly sandwich). But Winterson wanted to serve her stories in less-than-sushi-sized portions. My plate wasn’t familiar, but my body’s capacity was consumed. Would I recommend this book to friends and/or family? Maybe. Would I recommend this book to others? Maybe. Either way, only if you are willing to go in as yourself, risking that you may be someone else when you come out.I would like to give this a rough-grit sanding, followed by several more fine-grit sandings. Just a little too choppy and rough for my story-telling preferences.
Jeanette Winterson wrote an interesting yet intriguing novel, “The PowerBook”. It was the first book I have read of hers, before so I looked her up and read nothing but good reviews. This book was interesting in terms of perspectives and aptitudes of one’s imagination. Before reading the book I would suggest to keep an open mind. A few times throughout the book my mind was left perplexed; yes, due to some of the intricate writing and I’m not necessarily the strongest reader, but overall it was interesting, I would consider recommending it to a friend based on their reading enjoyments.The principle of “The PowerBook” is essentially an Internet writer Ali or Alix who is offering the narrator skills through fiction to tell the tales of affection stories to fulfill reader’s desires. Through this she expresses that a woman can be a man, a man can be a woman. Essentially, you can chose whom you want to be through the networked world of e-writing. The love stories can be based in the past, present and or future, just as anyone (e-mail clients) to chose whomever they wish to be but to keep an open mind as to whom they may leave as, plausibly somebody different. As the book continues I noticed how it wasn’t a traditionally written novel, more so a set of short story whimsical fairytales. Winterson as Ali (Alix) simply created a persistent affection stories with collective metaphors as each imaginary romance is created and swirls into contemporary and classic stories in London, Paris and Capri. A segment of a bisexual love tale begins with the Julian year comprising of tulips (figuratively speaking), a married woman and her thrive to persuade her to leave her husband. Whimsical love whether it was her alias or her underlying true desires, the bewilderment continues (at least for myself). “Freedom for just One Night” explores not only love but also sexuality, genders and overall desires. Definitely creatively written, yet, a different genre and or pace than I am usually use to; hence the factor of beginning the book with an inordinate open mind (again, maybe this was just me). Nonetheless “The PowerBook” was an interesting book, worth the read to give one an altered perspective and aspects of stimulating writing.
What do You think about The Powerbook (2001)?
This is one of these books that completely suck you in. Not because you want to know what happens next, but because the language is so beautiful and the sentences pick you up and carry you along. The PowerBook is about stories, storytelling, love and the past and how all these things shape our identity. Winterson, as always, manages to speak of these issues in a fictional world, in a smooth style, and the emotions on the page became tangible to me throughout the reading process. Wonderful book that uses the art of writing in progressive, new ways to make a point about the postmodern identity, as well as playing with conventional gender conceptions and narrating simple but poignant stories.
—Mirte
The short review is that I adore this book. Its meandering prose sucked me in early on and didn't let up until I'd turned the last page. Alix writes stories on the web for people who want to live those stories for a night. Woven around these stories is her love affair with a married woman. Their story moves through Turkey, Paris, London, past, present and future.I wrote a blog post about this book. Since writing that about the love letter written by a past owner of this copy on the inside of the cover, but there's snippets written by the same woman to her lover under every chapter. Beautiful (and poignant, because after all, their love story didn't last given that I found this as a secondhand copy).One of the best books I've read this year.
—Cheyenne Blue
What of Winterson's books would you recommend to a first time Winterson reader? I'm trying to find something of hers I love, but I keep choosing books (or acting upon recommendations) that aren't ideal for a first- (or second-) time reader.
—Candice
