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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.
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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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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bubbles
- 02-09-21
A moving journey
So expressively read by the author, this book is an moving reflection on her life and her sometimes tortured path through it. I admired the honesty of the writing and delivery.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mrs J. B.
- 05-04-20
Profoundly moving and inspiring!
I listened to this book at a time when I was exploring my Lancashire family on Ancestry. Jeanette Winterson voice blew life into those distant names of cotton spinners, miners, fustian weavers, with their huge families.
Her literary links to parallel life events were memorable as were her selection of phrases. Hugely thought provoking!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- mrs n yamada
- 25-10-20
Fantastic
I really, really enjoyed this and will definitely listen to it again. Beautiful, honest, funny and thought-provoking. A fabulous listen.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Ginger
- 24-01-20
Very interesting
I enjoyed the insights and thoughts that Jeanette Winterson gives us. I was fascinated by her extraordinary childhood. I was admiring of her spirit and courage. And, envious of her education - self educated (English Literature A to Z) in the Public Library.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- mike heywood
- 11-02-19
Wonderful
Part memoir, part therapy book. This is an excellent hopeful, healing read that transported me back to 70's Accrington and ice on the insides of windows.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lol
- 01-04-17
loved this to bits x
full of life truths & learning, really great read & love Jeanette's consistent style of literary expression - in short, bloody brilliant x
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- R
- 27-11-15
fantastic
What made the experience of listening to Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? the most enjoyable?
it was very easy to listen to
What did you like best about this story?
it was funny and laugh out loud
What about Jeanette Winterson’s performance did you like?
her voice
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
the childhood religious part..and the end
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- M.E. Nieto-Dengel
- 20-12-22
Love this book!!
Now I want to read everything Jeannette has written!!
Amazing understanding of her life!!!
What a book!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Blake's Tyger
- 23-12-12
Oranges Is Not The Only Book
Like many people my age (about the same age as Jeanette Winterson), I read 'Oranges' when it was first published all those years ago, and loved it. But somehow read no more of Ms Winterson's output until I picked up "Why Be Happy" after seeing the TV programme with Alan Yentob, the other week.
I was not disappointed. Loved it, in fact. Better still, reading it has made me want to go out and read Ms Winterson's other books. She paints a complex picture of the redoubtable Mrs W, highlighting the fact she may not have even had the writing career she went on to have without Mrs W's monstrous creation - of herself. And ultimately, there is a touching, strange loyalty to Mrs W. This book has maturity and complexity, and tries to blur the line between fiction and autobiography - something touching about the fact the writer wants to do that, too.
I normally stick to meaty slabs of books on Audible that give value for money, so it says something for the power of the writer and writing here, that I spent my money on something slighter (I mean physically not a mighty tome, as opposed to slight in content, as it is not at all sketchy).
Great book; an insight into what makes a writer, and how we construct our identities. This is that rare thing; a book that stays with you, always.
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46 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- V
- 31-12-20
all the better for being read by author
Great listen after Oranges. All the better for being read by Jeanette Winterson herself. Only wish she narrated more of her books!
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1 person found this helpful