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Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
- Narrated by: Jeanette Winterson
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
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Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
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Summary
Shortlisted for: UK Author of the year – Specsavers National Book Awards 2012
When Jeanette Winterson, author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, left home at 16 because she was in love with a woman, Mrs. Winterson asked her: "Why be happy when you could be normal?" This book is the story of a life's work to find happiness. It is the story of how the painful past returned to haunt Jeanette's later life, and send her on a journey into madness and out again, in search of her real mother. It is also a book about other people's stories, showing how fiction and poetry can form a string of guiding lights, a life raft which supports us when we are sinking.
The Pride List of Queer Storytelling
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What listeners say about Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Rachel S.
- 17-06-21
Not just an autobiography, much more profound.
This book really wasn't what I was expecting. Having read Oranges, I thought this would just be the ongoing auto-biographical story of the author's life. I was wrong and pleasantly so. This book analysed the impact her childhood and upbringing had had on her life and subsequent decisions made. Winterson explores the importance of literature, her knowledge and insight, just wonderful to hear, and how this had been her route to a different life. There is no sense of self pity from Winterson about her traumatic childhood, just an honest look at the inevitable impact it had by drawing on her psychological knowledge. The fact the author is telling the story, makes it all the more real. Wonderful.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Not Bob
- 03-11-19
Absolutely Brilliant
Very enjoyable and entertaining book full of insight and humour. I love the author’s voice. Highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Graham
- 27-12-12
brilliant redemptive autobiography
For anyone moved by Oranges are not the only fruit that stunned the critics in the 90s, this more than autobiography is essential listening especially as the author herself is both the narrator and reader. A great exploration into the idea of wounds healing in both directions.
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- Aitch
- 13-04-17
Utterly compelling
I loved every second of this audio book. Jeanette Winterson writes and reads brilliantly about her tumultuous life. I laughed, I cried, I didn't want it to end.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 16-10-16
Superb
If you could sum up Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? in three words, what would they be?
Auto-psycho-graphy
What did you like best about this story?
The way the author perceives her life and the way she is describing it.
What does Jeanette Winterson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Tone of voice. Emotion. Personal touch. Everything. This is an autobiographical book and the fact it is read by its author gives it a special validity.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I did.
Any additional comments?
An amazing encounter of not an easy life, understanding description of things that would normally look horrid to an onlooker. The fact Jeanette is referring to the woman who raised her as Mrs. Winterson speaks for itself.
I especially liked the book part, being a bookish person myself. I was about to listen to this autobiography for about two years and I believe this was the right time for me as it helped me a lot personally.
Good listen, good narration, I never thought I would stop and continue later. The book just got me. Recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- GeeBee
- 17-01-18
Moving, funny, intelligent, superb.
The reading of this wonderful book by the author added value to an already terrific read. Such wisdom and clarity, I want to read it all again.
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- Mrs. Sally Wade
- 02-07-21
Outstanding in every sense!
Jeanette is masterful with words - not only her lexicon and poetry of writing but the ability to invoke emotion. She somehow turns what could be a pretty depressing story into a thing of hope and inspiration, a bonding to those of us who’ve also felt scared, lost and mad. To turn her story into a strengthening of her reader’s lives is a thing of beauty.
Jeanette reminds me a lot of ‘Annie’ from the musical! Will be buying paperback copies for everyone I know and reading her other books 💗
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- Ms
- 19-05-13
Why be happy...
Jeanette Winterson has done it again (!!) But this time with story telling hard to believe is possible. For me, this book is a masterpiece. I loved every minute of it and went through it 3 times. twice on audio and once in the written format. Almost every word, every wonderfully weaved story; revealing events of Jeanette's life, touched me in so many ways. Her observations of life, psychology and experiences are brought together here, in this intellectually satisfying and enjoyable book. Tribute to J Winterson - superb writer.
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- sally a.
- 30-06-17
coming from an adopted person's view amazing story
loved your story Jeanette.
great reading and style ... just downloaded more of your books xx
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- Anonymous User
- 04-08-19
Fabulous
Very moving, very intelligent. I enjoyed every word and look forward to discovering the entire backlog.
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