Jeanette Winterson

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 wrest≤ it didn't matter what." --Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit 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. * With a new introduction by the author

Oranges are Not the Only Fruit

Lindy

There are different sorts of treachery, but betrayal is betrayal wherever you find it. She burnt a lot more than the letters that night in the backyard. I don't think she knew. In her head she was still queen, but not my queen any more, not the White Queen any more. Walls protect and walls limit. It is in the nature of walls that they should fall. That walls should fall is the consequence of blowing your own trumpet. 

No, he wouldn't kill me, soft-voiced men do not kill, they are clever. Their kind of violence leaves no visible mark. 

Elke Maasbommel

barbora

the escape into another story reminds us that we too are another story. not caught, not confined, not pre-destined, not only one gender or passion. learning to read yourself as a fiction as well as a fact is liberating.

sharkie

We read the bible as usual, and then told each other how glad we were that the Lord had brought us together. She stroked my head for a long time, and then we hugged and it felt like drowning. Then I was frightened but couldn't stop. There was something crawling in my belly. I had an octopus inside me.

People do go back, but they don't survive, because two realities are claiming them at the same time. Such things are too much. You can salt your heart, or kill your heart, or you can choose between the two realities. There is much pain here.

anaïs-fiona

As it is, I can't settle, I want someone who is fierce and will love me until death and know that love is as strong as death, and be on my side for ever and ever. I want someone who will destroy and be destroyed by me. There are many forms of love and affection, some people spend their whole lives together without knowing each other's names. Naming is a difficult and time-consuming process; it concerns essences, and it means power. But on the wild nights who can you call home? Only the one who knows your name.

Syrina

Some men turn to whisky, some women turn to gin, But there ain't no better rapture than drinking the spirit in. Some men like their beer others like their wine, But open your mouth to the Spirit, if you want to feel fine.'

Not whisky rye not gin and dry not num and coke for me, Not brandy fizz but a Spiritual whizz puts the fire in me.'

Oranges are Not the Only Fruit quotes

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