I was hooked on this within a couple of pages. Winterson’s writing style is definitely unique, sparse yet beautiful, and surprisingly informal. It seems closer to spoken English than prose, as if someone truly is just telling you a story.

And what a story! I loved the descriptions of Venice, a fairy tale world where anything and everything can happen – from people literally losing their hearts, to boatmen walking on water.

I ended up waking up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep, so I picked up this book and read the entire thing in one sitting. (It’s 160 pages, so not an amazing feat.) I definitely recommend this. It’s totally engrossing and worth a second read for me, because of the beautiful writing style.

The name of the web-footed female character in this lovely novel is also a poetic form, based in French tradition.

I first read this novel as an undergraduate, and during our study of the novel we also engaged with villanelles from throughout English and French tradition, eventually composing our own poems as a part of one of our many writing assignments. I know that the work we did with villanelles in class helped me to look at and understand the beauty of Winterson’s prose in a new way, I would recommend the same to anyone who plans on reading this book.

Only just started, but I enjoy the turn of phrase already. Nice rhythm to her writing.