Oranges are not the Only Fruit

[KEV67]

I remember watching the television series in the 90s, which I enjoyed a lot. It starred Charlotte Coleman, who died far too young, and Geraldine McEwan as her eccentric mother. I have only read the first chapter. I thought it started off a little shaky, but it soon got into its stride. During my church going I have not met anyone like Jeanette's mother or the pastor, but then I am a bit of a dilletante. I have not been committed to any one church to be part of the family. All the same, I think the fire-and-brimstone preachers are thin on the ground these days.

[lunababymoonchild]

I read that when it came out and I also read her autobiography Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal. 

[KEV67]

Jeanette Winterson wrote in the intro that it was based on her life, but somewhat fictionalised. Maybe it was an unreliable memoir. How does it compare with Why Be Happy...?

[lunababymoonchild]

41 minutes ago, KEV67 said:

Jeanette Winterson wrote in the intro that it was based on her life, but somewhat fictionalised. Maybe it was an unreliable memoir. How does it compare with Why Be Happy...?

I can’t remember much about Oranges, however, reading her biography nothing struck me as familiar. She writes, imho, very well and her biography is absolutely shocking in the way she was treated by her mother (and not just because Jeannette is a lesbian, she didn’t find that out until later).

[KEV67]

I have got to the end of chapter 2. I think the TV series was better. I think in part this was because the acting was so good.

[KEV67]

Only another twelve pages. It is good, but I still liked the television series more. The book contains weird bits, such as a bits of Sir Perceval looking for the grail. I seem to remember from the TV series there was some sort of rapprochment between Jeanette and her mother and their church. 

Still seems sad Charlotte Coleman, who played the teenage Jeanette, died so young. She was also Marmalade Atkins.

[KEV67]

On 6/27/2025 at 4:15 PM, lunababymoonchild said:

I can’t remember much about Oranges, however, reading her biography nothing struck me as familiar. She writes, imho, very well and her biography is absolutely shocking in the way she was treated by her mother (and not just because Jeannette is a lesbian, she didn’t find that out until later).

In Oranges her mother sounds crackers, or maybe just eccentric. She was a bit more Old Testament than New.

[lunababymoonchild]

1 hour ago, KEV67 said:

In Oranges her mother sounds crackers, or maybe just eccentric. She was a bit more Old Testament than New.

That is described in her biography