A YEAR OF READING WOMEN CHALLENGE
May - works by LGBT+ women or books by women containing LGBT+ themes.

Oranges are Not the Only Fruit is not the first Jeanette Winterson I have read (that would be The Powerbook) but it perhaps should have been. Many of the intricacies of The Powerbook's narrative structure that I struggled with initially are much more clear having read Winterson's most famous work. Playing with timelines, blurring reality and fantasy, is a unique and fascinating way to tell a (fictionalised) life story, and spins beautiful metaphors out of intolerance, small-mindedness, and self-discovery.

I listened to the audiobook of Oranges are Not the Only Fruit and this was a fantastic way to consume the story. Read by Winterson herself, it personalises the tale even further. Winterson's strong, broad Northern accent brings her characters to life, making the read feel more like a radio play of sorts. I'd definitely recommend the audiobook, but only as read by Winterson. Any other performer and you may as well read the novel because only Winterson herself can add that depth to the narrative.

I plan to read more Winterson soon, as the most fascinating aspect of her work for me is how all the novels interconnect without needing to be read in a specific order.