-
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
- Narrated by: Jeanette Winterson
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $18.80
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
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.
More from the same
Related to this topic
-
Hot White Heist 2
- By: Adam Goldman
- Narrated by: Bowen Yang, Jane Lynch, Cynthia Nixon, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Two years after successfully melting down the top secret sperm bank under the Space Needle, the CLITO collective (Community of Lesbians Inclusive To Others) is thriving on their newly acquired private island, Lesbos 2. All is well in their queer utopia. Or is it? Investigative reporter Sarah Keebler (Sarah Steele) is piecing together the crew's previous heist for her bombshell true-crime podcast–and getting dangerously close to the truth.
-
-
AS FUN AS SEASON1
- By Robert on 03-07-24
By: Adam Goldman
-
The Picture of Dorian Gray
- By: Oscar Wilde
- Narrated by: Russell Tovey
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A disturbing tale of a young man's uncanny ability to remain both young and beautiful while descending into a life of heartless debauchery, The Picture of Dorian Gray was considered proof of both Wilde's genius and his perversion. Oscar Wilde's scandalous best seller of 1891 was one of the most damning pieces of evidence used against him in the trial that brought about his downfall.
-
-
A twisted tale of vanity and poisonous people
- By Shantastic on 10-02-19
By: Oscar Wilde
-
Top Secret
- By: Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy
- Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Christian Fox
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Best-selling authors Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy return with their first Male/Male romance in 3 years. LobsterShorts, 21. Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF. SinnerThree, 21. Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF. LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome. SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app. LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy? SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You? LobsterShorts: [crickets!]
-
-
✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫
- By ❤️Cyndi Marie❤️🎧Audiobook Addicts🎧 on 05-31-19
By: Sarina Bowen, and others
-
My Mother and Other Wild Animals
- An Essay
- By: Andrew Sean Greer
- Narrated by: Andrew Sean Greer
- Length: 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Andrew Sean Greer can’t wait to get home to San Francisco after a writer’s residency in Kansas. But when his mother, Sandra, decides to come along for the ride, he has a new goal: get her to crack a smile at every stop, whether breathtaking or breathtakingly kitschy. He’s always known his mother to be as efficient and serious as a chemist (which she happens to be), always in gray, eyebrow cocked, and handling challenges with grace. To mix things up, Andrew develops an elaborate itinerary of planned chaos.
-
-
A Modern Era read...
- By NinaKalada on 04-28-24
-
The Other Side of the Road
- Never Tell Collection
- By: Andrea Bartz
- Narrated by: Kira Fixx
- Length: 1 hr and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lauren and Kelsey: married, a baby on the way, and now the new owners of the Hudson Valley house they’ve always admired. The timing couldn’t be better, and the leafy, secluded area couldn’t be more beautiful. Everything’s perfect—except for the older gentleman across the street, who seems to be keeping a very close watch on them. Welcome to the neighborhood.
-
-
Well written thriller.
- By Ben Anderson on 05-09-24
By: Andrea Bartz
-
Fat Ham
- By: James Ijames
- Length: 1 hr and 22 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times Critic's Pick that served Broadway "raucous comedy and nonstop pleasure" has made its way home to Audible. Juicy is a queer, Southern college kid already grappling with some serious questions of identity when the ghost of his father shows up in their backyard, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. But here’s the rub! Revenge doesn’t come easy to Juicy, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man in search of his own happiness and liberation.
-
-
Amazing. Incredible find in Plus Catalog.
- By Trevor M. on 12-11-23
By: James Ijames
-
Hot White Heist 2
- By: Adam Goldman
- Narrated by: Bowen Yang, Jane Lynch, Cynthia Nixon, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Two years after successfully melting down the top secret sperm bank under the Space Needle, the CLITO collective (Community of Lesbians Inclusive To Others) is thriving on their newly acquired private island, Lesbos 2. All is well in their queer utopia. Or is it? Investigative reporter Sarah Keebler (Sarah Steele) is piecing together the crew's previous heist for her bombshell true-crime podcast–and getting dangerously close to the truth.
-
-
AS FUN AS SEASON1
- By Robert on 03-07-24
By: Adam Goldman
-
The Picture of Dorian Gray
- By: Oscar Wilde
- Narrated by: Russell Tovey
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A disturbing tale of a young man's uncanny ability to remain both young and beautiful while descending into a life of heartless debauchery, The Picture of Dorian Gray was considered proof of both Wilde's genius and his perversion. Oscar Wilde's scandalous best seller of 1891 was one of the most damning pieces of evidence used against him in the trial that brought about his downfall.
-
-
A twisted tale of vanity and poisonous people
- By Shantastic on 10-02-19
By: Oscar Wilde
-
Top Secret
- By: Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy
- Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Christian Fox
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Best-selling authors Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy return with their first Male/Male romance in 3 years. LobsterShorts, 21. Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF. SinnerThree, 21. Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF. LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome. SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app. LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy? SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You? LobsterShorts: [crickets!]
-
-
✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫
- By ❤️Cyndi Marie❤️🎧Audiobook Addicts🎧 on 05-31-19
By: Sarina Bowen, and others
-
My Mother and Other Wild Animals
- An Essay
- By: Andrew Sean Greer
- Narrated by: Andrew Sean Greer
- Length: 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Andrew Sean Greer can’t wait to get home to San Francisco after a writer’s residency in Kansas. But when his mother, Sandra, decides to come along for the ride, he has a new goal: get her to crack a smile at every stop, whether breathtaking or breathtakingly kitschy. He’s always known his mother to be as efficient and serious as a chemist (which she happens to be), always in gray, eyebrow cocked, and handling challenges with grace. To mix things up, Andrew develops an elaborate itinerary of planned chaos.
-
-
A Modern Era read...
- By NinaKalada on 04-28-24
-
The Other Side of the Road
- Never Tell Collection
- By: Andrea Bartz
- Narrated by: Kira Fixx
- Length: 1 hr and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lauren and Kelsey: married, a baby on the way, and now the new owners of the Hudson Valley house they’ve always admired. The timing couldn’t be better, and the leafy, secluded area couldn’t be more beautiful. Everything’s perfect—except for the older gentleman across the street, who seems to be keeping a very close watch on them. Welcome to the neighborhood.
-
-
Well written thriller.
- By Ben Anderson on 05-09-24
By: Andrea Bartz
-
Fat Ham
- By: James Ijames
- Length: 1 hr and 22 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times Critic's Pick that served Broadway "raucous comedy and nonstop pleasure" has made its way home to Audible. Juicy is a queer, Southern college kid already grappling with some serious questions of identity when the ghost of his father shows up in their backyard, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. But here’s the rub! Revenge doesn’t come easy to Juicy, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man in search of his own happiness and liberation.
-
-
Amazing. Incredible find in Plus Catalog.
- By Trevor M. on 12-11-23
By: James Ijames
What listeners say about Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Elly
- 01-28-15
Lucky and loved at the end!
Great to read and at the same time listening to the voice of Jeanette. Always nice if writers tell the story themselves.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 08-25-20
Delightful
Wonderful, bittersweet memoir. Made me cry and laugh out loud. Had a good few occasions listening in the parking lot outside the office unable to tear myself away. Will definitely listen to this again.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 02-04-18
Touching
It was really heart-touching. I enjoyed it very much. Winterson seems to write from the experience. Not only from her life, but from the many books she has read during her life.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- cath
- 07-02-12
Sharing her story
Would you consider the audio edition of Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? to be better than the print version?
the audio version is better for me as I am dyslexic and having an audio version brings books to me I would otherwise find difficult to read
What did you like best about this story?
that she was sharing her story
Have you listened to any of Jeanette Winterson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
no - I would love to hear oranges but you do not have it available
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
laugh and cry - made me appreaciate my family
Any additional comments?
would love to listen to the book she refered to Oranges are not the only fruit
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- H. Gladman
- 05-08-13
Superb
Would you listen to Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? again? Why?
I actually listened to this twice and read the book in paperback. Enormous Jeanette Winterson fan and to have her reading it was just the most wonderful treat.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
It was short enough I knocked it over in a couple of sittings.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 05-20-21
Excellent book about identity
One of the best books I’ve listened to recently! Poignant account of discovering one’s identity - all sorts of identity: social, intellectual, gender, emotional, filial, self-constructed identity. Wonderfully honest! Loved it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- amapolasygolondrinas
- 03-26-21
Una biografía poética y un viaje de ida y vuelta en al campo de salud mental
Es un relato apasionante y apasionado sobre el derecho a la identidad y el derecho a poder amar y trabajar con todo el corazón y todo el cuerpo.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Chandon
- 02-01-13
An emotional roller coaster ....
What would have made Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? better?
I was really excited when WBHWYCBN was selected for the Book Club because I truly loved the title. They say you do judge a book by its cover so me I was onto the book before even started it. The book title really resonates with me. The while reading I find out how hard it was, how complex it was!
To pin down what this book was even exactly about is difficult in itself. So it’s a book about Jeanette Winterson’s adopted mother, and then her eventual search to find her biological one. Sure. But it’s also about a million other things. I was even unable to ask basics questions about : Which themes struck me the most? Mrs. Winterson and her exorcism and book burning? English Literature A-Z and the power it gave Jeanette? The “lost loss” of adoption? Or the countless meditations on love, love, love — giving it, receiving it, deserving it?
Then I decided to relax and take this story as her journey to understanding herself, where she came from, with Mrs. Winterson as the main antagonist. To me, the most hopeful thing about the book is how with time Jeanette came to understand Mrs. Winterson (and her father), and, by extension, herself.
Jeanette Winterson's style threw me a couple of times. This book is written in a style I don't particularly like. Sometimes I liked but then the next page could just throw me again. I do understand the complicated mess that is the relationship with Mrs. Winterson.
All that I remember about this book is that messy relationship and self-discovery. Jeanette’s style made it hard for me to remember the story; I was lost most of the time. The book didn't hook me, it took me nearly 2 weeks to finish it and normally, when I like a book it takes about 2 days for I finish it.... It all comes down to style, this is a style I don't like and can't describe whatsoever, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who like this.
How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?
did not like the reader ... it was hard to focus and folow
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!