The novel is well written, absorbing and has moments of humour. What makes the story telling even more compelling is the inclusion of legends of King Arthur and the like in the Bible inspired passages. It also shows how her approach to the Bible changes from an object of fear to an object of companionship when alone. Brought up in a Biblical environment, Jeanette tries to explain herself through the Scriptures and question certain orthodox beliefs. The novel is structured into sections, with the titles of the first eight books of the Bible, from Genesis to Ruth, each section talking about the different phases of Jeanette’s life, from the age of seven. The novel is about Jeanette’s relationship with God, her beliefs and her difficulties to live up to the expectations of her mother whom she loves a lot. Though often called as ‘lesbian fiction’ (a description which the author herself condemns), the romantic interest is only a faint thread in the story. It can be categorised as a coming-of-age novel, the story of a girl who seems ‘different’ to many of her peers – both in terms of her religious upbringing and to some extent her sexuality. Oranges are Not the Only Fruit is an autobiographical story with a number of themes.
Oranges are not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterson She still loves God, but at fifteen she feels attracted to another woman resulting in a heavily disturbed heart of what is right and wrong. Due to pressure from the local welfare committee Jeanette is forced to join school, and she begins reading books, thus opening her eyes to a world beyond her mother’s teachings.
She is fed on Bible scriptures and informed that schools are ‘Breeding grounds’ and neighbours and friends are ‘devils’. Oranges are not the only Fruit is the story of a girl named Jeanette, growing up in Northern England as part of a small evangelical Christian church in which her mother is one of the most important local figures. Her mother thinks she is the Chosen one from God Jeanette is beginning to fancy girls and she tries to define her relationship with her mother, God and self. Jeanette, the protagonist of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and the author’s namesake, pens down her life as an adopted child raised in Northern England and brought up on Bible Scriptures.
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