Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

by Jeanette Winterson

I learnt that it rains when clouds collide with a high building, like a steeple, or a cathedral; the impact punctures them, and everybody underneath gets wet. This was why, in the old days, when the only tall buildings were holy, people used to say cleanliness is next to godliness. The more godly your town, the more high buildings you’d have, and the more rain you’d get.

‘All things fall and are built again And those that build them again are gay.’

If you were in a particular place, you expected to see particular things. Sheep and hills, sea and fish; if there was an elephant in the supermarket, she’d either not see it at all, or call it Mrs Jones and talk about fishcakes. But most likely, she’d do what most people do when confronted with something they don’t understand: Panic.

‘Prince, you’re a fool,’ said the goose one day. ‘What you want can’t exist.’ ‘It must exist,’ insisted the prince, ‘because I want it.’ ‘You’ll die first,’ shrugged the goose, about to go back to her feeding tray. ‘Not before you,’ spat the prince, and chopped off her head.

Did that mean that all over the globe, in all innocence, women were marrying beasts?

The only thing for certain is how complicated it all is, like string full of knots. It’s all there but hard to find the beginning and impossible to fathom the end.

But happiness is not a potato.

Completely disagree

my mother had painted the white roses red and now she claimed they grew that way.

Going back after a long time will make you mad, because the people you left behind do not like to think of you changed, will treat you as they always did, accuse you of being indifferent, when you are only different.

Everyone thinks their own situation most tragic. I am no exception.

As it is, I can’t settle, I want someone who is fierce and will love me until death and know that love is as strong as death, and be on my side for ever and ever. I want someone who will destroy and be destroyed by me.