Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?

by Jeanette Winterson
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Biography and Memoir
Technical:
  • ID: 635
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9781446402115
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2011-10-27
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99

Jeanette Winterson's 'Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?' is the shocking, heartbreaking, and often funny true story behind her acclaimed novel 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit.' It delves into her tumultuous upbringing in Accrington, her adopted family, and the complex relationship with her adoptive mother. The book is a journey of survival, love, and the pursuit of happiness, filled with humor and a fierce love of life. It explores themes of identity, mental health, and the search for belonging, offering a raw and honest account of Winterson's path to self-discovery and healing. /n/n This memoir is not just a personal narrative but a universal story of resilience and the human spirit. It has been praised for its generosity, honesty, and truth, making it a powerful and unforgettable read. The book is a testament to the cost of growing up and the strength it takes to overcome adversity.

Reviews
Lesbrary · Casey · 2013-08-01
hopeful 4.50

Despite the heavy subject matter, the book leaves the reader with a sense of optimism. It's a powerful exploration of identity and the search for belonging.

Casey found the memoir to be deeply moving, despite the heavy and often painful topics it covers. The reviewer was struck by the overwhelming sense of optimism that emerges from Winterson's story. The book is seen as a powerful exploration of identity, love, and the search for belonging. Casey appreciates Winterson's honesty and the way she transforms her painful experiences into something beautiful and hopeful.

Quick quotes

    An overwhelming feeling of optimism overcame me as I finished the book.

    Winterson's life is far from a cheerful one, but her story is ultimately hopeful.

    The book is a testament to the power of resilience and the human spirit.

Books Are My Favourite and Best · 2012-05-03
inspiring 4.00

The book is filled with Winterson's laconic humor and insightful reflections on literature and life. It's a celebration of resilience and the power of words.

This reviewer highlights Winterson's unique sense of humor and her deep love for literature, which are prominent throughout the memoir. The book is seen as a celebration of resilience, showing how Winterson overcame her challenging upbringing through her love for words and storytelling. The reviewer appreciates the honest and often humorous way Winterson shares her experiences, making the memoir both engaging and inspiring.

Quick quotes

    The book is peppered with Winterson's laconic sense of humour.

    Winterson writes with a fierce and unflinching honesty.

    Her love for literature shines through every page.

The Guardian · 2011-11-04
raw 3.50

The memoir is written sparsely and hurriedly, sometimes terse to the point of being in note form. It conveys a raw and urgent sense of the author's experiences.

The reviewer notes that Jeanette Winterson's memoir is written in a sparse and hurried style, which can make it feel almost like notes. This approach gives a sense of urgency and rawness to the narrative, reflecting the intensity of Winterson's experiences. The book delves into her difficult upbringing and her journey towards self-discovery. While the style might not be to everyone's taste, it effectively conveys the emotional weight of her story.

Quick quotes

    The impression this gives is of a writer who is not so much recalling her past as reliving it.

    Winterson's prose is often so terse it's almost in note form.

    The book is a tough-minded search for belonging, for love, identity, home, and a mother.

Appears in Lists