I was surprised by how funny this book is. Even in its bleaker narrative moments, there is a sharp, shining wit to it that made me laugh out loud. Only being familiar with Winterson's much more sombre Written on the Body, I wasn't expecting so many lighthearted moments. That isn't to say that Oranges is only a funny or lighthearted book. It is sombre in its own ways, and the darkly-comic vein which runs through the book gives it a life and depth that most other books about religious bigotry and sexual awakenings would be hard-pressed to match.

I think a few people might be put off by the more experimental aspects of the writing—such as the moments where the narrative is told through reinterpretations of Arthurian grail legends—but the book is a fantastic and genuinely funny exploration of romantic love, religion, family, and being. If you are in the mood for something that's meditative, original, and thought-provoking while also being a delightful, witty read all the way through then you can't get better than this.