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Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

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Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

By: Jeanette Winterson
Narrated by: Jeanette Winterson
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About this listen

Winner of the Whitbread Prize for best first fiction.

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a coming-out novel from Winterson, the acclaimed author of The Passion and Sexing the Cherry.

The narrator, Jeanette, cuts her teeth on the knowledge that she is one of God’s elect, but as this budding evangelical comes of age and comes to terms with her preference for her own sex, the peculiar balance of her God-fearing household crumbles.

'Like most people I lived for a long time with my mother and father. My father liked to watch the wrestling, my mother liked to wrestle; it didn't matter what'

This is the story of Jeanette, adopted and brought up by her mother as one of God's elect. Zealous and passionate, she seems destined for life as a missionary, but then she falls for one of her converts.

At sixteen, Jeanette decides to leave the church, her home and her family, for the young woman she loves. Innovative, punchy and tender, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a few days ride into the bizarre outposts of religious excess and human obsession.

'Witty… extraordinary and exhilarating' The Times

'She is a master of her material, a writer in whom great talent abides' Vanity Fair

'Many consider her to be the best living writer in this language... In her hands, words are fluid, radiant, humming' Evening Standard

'A novel that deserves revisiting' Observer

'A wonderful rites-of-passage novel' Mariella Frostrup

©1985 Jeanette Winterson (P)2015 Audible, Ltd
Coming of Age Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction
All stars
Most relevant  
Enjoyed it a second time and despite acceptance of unconventional sexuality, families are the groundbreakers the encouragers the acceptors. When families are stuck in their own bias and bigotry, the marginalised will never be free.

my second read after 36 years

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Semi auto biographical novel read by the author on growing up a misfit, adoptee in England's north. Her story of self discovery, her evangelical upbringing and her lesbian identity combine with a keenly inquiring mind to create this wonderful, curios tale. Rarely does a book range elegantly, sweetly, sorrowfully over the complexity of love & belonging and the quest to make peace with it all and still win a life for oneself.

A must read for foundlings, misfits & blacksheep

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Jeanette tells the story so well, her impersonations are hilarious! She has a unique and well-articulated view of feminism.

Soothing reading of an outstanding book

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the most important book I've read to date. wonderfully written and incredibly insightful; profoundly comforting.

Incredible.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.