Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

You probably ended up on one of their canvasses..your piccy is probably hanging on the wall in the Tate Modern right now.

Mind you, how anyone can call their stuff great art, god knows. I always work on the basis that good art is something that will look good hanging alongside my ducks, over the fireplace. If it does not do that, than forget it. And if it's a sculpture, how will it look alongside the garden gnomes?

Which reminds me - one of my gnomes looks just like you, or it would do if you had a beard. I got it from Woolys last year, when they had the closing down sale, so I don't know if you can get them elsewhere, but if you do see a 1ft tall, mooning gnome with a little red hat and blue pants round it's ankles, thats you.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

No, they only put renters in their photo-montages.

I was in a different league.

;)

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

That must have been before you were relegated.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Retired.

Before I 'retired'.

:D

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

My guess would be, she has a mirror in every room.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

No not really, I suppose it was a remarkable quality, and with all her money who wouldn't be :confused:

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

By the way that photo link doesn't go where it's supposed to. Don't they have to disguise the characte anyway just in case they get sued? Her parents probably could have sued her anyway for what she said about them. But I know that novelists have to be careful about copying from reality just in case someone sues them and no publisher will take on a book that they could end up getting sued over.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I suppose the question of litigation depends on whether what she wrote, in a work of fiction, based on her life, was true or not.

I suppose only the people involved will know that.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Seriously? And you don't think that an enforced exorcism might not be grounds for prosecution in itself?

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Thats assuming that actually happened!!...As she says herself...its part autobiographical and part fiction, and obviously we dont dont which is which!!


Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

She was on the box last night, Newsnight Review, I only caught the last few minutues.

I recall my mother told me back in the 80's, we lived on Water Street, that her father told her that they (her parents) were really upset by what she'd said about them. But they would not want to sue her as they didn't.

I only read the book around 2004 and I thought the writing was very compelling and well written - a page turner as they say but tried the second one "Sexing the Cherry" and I couldn't get into it.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I saw it.

Her Accringtonian accent's still spot on, to say she's lived away from the area for the majority of her life.

She came across very well.

Intelligent and humorous.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

If it's the Elim church on Blackburn Road she went to - I don't doubt it for a second. Bunch of nutters they were.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Did you arrive at this judgement after attending there yourself?

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Only by your measure .

I am now totally sick and tired of people praising the virtues of this woman on the simple basis that she came from Accy. I do not know how many of you are daily readers of the Times, but until very recently, Ms. Winterston had a fortnightly saturday column in the paper; as such, she took every opportunity to rubbish the town. Now, I don't know if her essay's are available on line, or if they are only available in hard copy; but irrespective I would suggest that those of you who view her has a great daughter of the town try and take a long hard look at what she has written and I have no doubt you will then revise your opinion.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Haworth has the Brontes.

Accrington has Sapphic Jen.

Perhaps a whole tourist industry might spring up because of the association, and you could move back, dress up as one of her characters, and lead the masses on walking tours of notable literary sites.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Give me Mystic Meg any day!!! :mosher:

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

It does not take too much imagination to think of several themes on which Accy could develop a little tourist trade; sadly, the twisted memories of some frustrated lesbian in exile is not one of them.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

So can we take that as a No Tealeaf?:D

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Who you kiddin' guv'nor?

You now sound so cosmopolitanly metropolitan, it's like you were sired by Jim Davidson and Marie Lloyd.

:D

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Forget the Acorn Trail.

Accrington could have it's own Winterson literary trail, using ancient Christian symbols to guide visitors, which ably illustrate the link.

Just leave out the five loaves.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I've got a better idea:

[B]Burnley 5 miles ->

Jeanette Winterston Trail 5 miles ->[/B]

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Err, yes...

though not all the time. Most of the time it was Christ Church, which was also pretty crazy but slightly less so. Northern Irish proddy vicar.

I was pretty crazy in those days.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Far as I can see, she's not saying anything other than the truth. It is a pretty ****ty place, it was when I was growing up and it still is.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Er....then you might have benefited from a good exorcism then.

To banish your 'crazy' demons.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Yes - I needed to banish the demon of fundamentalism in order to find a real faith...

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Lovely.

It's nice, when the cripple finds their crutch.

:)

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

She was on Newsnight just before the election as a political pundit, singing the praises of Nick Clegg and she did say he'd win the election that it was "Clegg Power" time!

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

She weren't born in Accrington was she - I think it was Manchester then put up for adoption or something!

Here is a video I uploaded of her talking about her favourite books...

‪Jeanette Winterson talks about her favourite books.‬‏ - YouTube

With Aleister Campbell and Anne Robinson! :hehetable

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Don't like her company:D

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Jeannette was at school at Peel Park when I was a teacher there in the early 60´s, I remember her as an odd child with a bright yellow ribbon in her auburn hair but I never knew about her strange upbringing-- she stood out as a strange "old" child but after reading her first novel and recognising many of the places in old Accrington and the veiled allusions to teachers at Peel Park I have followed her progress and career.A strange lady but much influenced by her upbringing---- Nature or Nurture-- that is the question.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Her Mother I think hasn't done her any harm, I think that she perhaps made her what she is today and helped mould her to become a writer, it may have been a dysfunctional upbringing but it obvioulsy wasn't too crippling - she seems very happy and has a love of words and literature - she is not depressed, at least doesn't show it and actually seems to have fond memories of her Mother! ;)

I think a majority of it is Nurture!

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Right then. It would appear that Ms Winterson is not from Accy at all but from Manchester. Or at least according her autobigraphy which is out next week, an extract of which was in The Times Magazine yesterday, To accompany that picture, there is a picture if Ms Winterson in Accy. I cannot decide which looks grimmer - her or the town.

Anyway, here is as much of the piccy as I could scan. Apologies for the quality. I still guess though, it's copywrite News International.

So, moderators - please leave this on for another few days and then please delete the entire thread.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Groove beleives she is stood on the back of Avenue parade for this stereotypical, lancashire mill town view...Groove can almost hear a brass band and clogs tapping in the background.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Have you sought medical help for the auditory hallucinations of yours?

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Groove beleives our Maggy is being facetious.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Not facetious at all...and just to reiterate I am not your Maggy.
Groove, it is absolutely useless of you to apologise, if you continue to do the thing you apologised for.

And didn't you ever learn at school......'i before e except after c'? (believes)...you use this word a lot, so I thought I would help you to spell it correctly.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

It's no secret she was born in Manchester, and came to Accrington as a baby, when she was adopted.

Nearly all her biographical blurbs state these facts.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I love "Oranges..." and have a video of the drammatisation, I identify with a lot of it (though in my case it was a catholic up-bringing -gruesome bloody statues in church, being told we were born with original sin etc etc...)

The x-stitch sampler, bulb planting etc are very familiar, as my mum (who taught her for a year) used to try them out on me and my sister at home! I knew Mrs Virtue (a much older colleague of mum's) whose name she used to embody all her teachers, wonderfully fitting for the novel!

The fair on Ellison's tennament, the Accy Vic., the fish market, the ladies in the sweet shop etc - it's actually a very accurate description of how it was growing up here in the 70's and not detrimental to the town at all...

Of her other work, I've read Sexing the Cherry and some essays - not as easy to follow though.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

That's still no excuse for the picture in the magazine. It's probably the worst possible vista of Accy you can imagine. Why couldn't she have got a shot of herself outside the market hall or town hall, or even from the top of the Coppice? She simply seems to wallow in a pictorial statement saying 'this is the mess that I came from and it's still the same'. It's disgraceful. Sod her. She has nothing good or positive to say about Accy, so why the hell should we associate ourselves with her?

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

For once I agree with you Mr T

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Groove agrees with Mr.Tealeaf on this issue, hence my post about stereotypical mill-town images etc...Groove would like to thank Mrs.Pilky for correcting his spelling errors.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Well yes i guess she could if she had wanted to, have given a different image of Accrington than the one the photo portrays. This is as mentioned, the back alley between Water Street/Avenue Parade. She was i believe brought up on Water street, so perhaps this is at the back of her old house.

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Groove thinks he was to write a book about his life in a nortern town, he too would use a stereotypical view of cobbles, terraced houses and mills etc...Groove believes this is what makes Accy different, were as a view of the town or market hall or Arndale or whatever could have been taken anywere in Britain. Groove thinks in 50-100 years all towns will look the same with characterless buildings.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Where's the photo of Ms. Winterson?

Why have you posted a picture of a young Bob Dylan?

Did he stop in Accrington for a wee up a back alley, on his way from Sheffield to Liverpool, on his '65 tour?

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I remember that view well down the back street - with Karrimor at the bottom!

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Her latest memoir which includes new revelations about her young life in Accrington has just been released.
It's called "Why be happy when you could be normal?" Her mother's parting words to her when she left home at 16.
She has read some of the book for BBC Radio 2 - you can hear it at the following link and read a synopsis of the new novel.
Jeanette Winterson reads her memoir on BBC radio The Eyes Have It

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

She is on BBC News tomorrow morning sometime between 6am - 9am

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

She was also on "The One Show" yesterday with a feature about adoption, shows some clips around Accrington & "Oranges". Its about 2 minutes into the show.


BBC iPlayer - The One Show: 01/11/2011


Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

She was interviewed on North West Tonight yesterday, too.

Saying although it was hard, she was glad she was adopted, and brought up in Accrington.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Yep watched it, even though her stepmam sounded a real fruitcake,she said it was preferable to being brought up in n institution.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Made me laugh when she said her mum kept a revolver in the tea towel drawer.

Convinced the end was nigh.

Thought she spoke very well about adoption, and how shameful it is only sixty children were adopted in the whole country last year.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Yeh n the bullets in a tin of pledge.:D like i said a fruitcake.:eek:

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

She was on this morning Dave, she looked like she got her clothes from oxfam and had been dragged through a hedge backwards, her hair was a real mess;)

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Can't all be as well groomed as Valerie Singleton.

Thought myself, quite a smart looking young chap.

;)

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Behave;)

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Sorry.

Was only joking.

Didn't really think 'smart looking'.

:D

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

:mosher:

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I am listening to her new book as Book of the Week on Radio4
BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Book of the Week, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, Episode 2

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

She spoke very eloquently, even fondly, of her adoptive parents, and being brought up in Accrington, on BBC Breakfast, just now.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Ya I thought she was very interesting too(don't know where I saw her yesterday) in fact, although I've never read any of here books in the past, I may just be tempted to read her latest book, which is a true account of her life from all accounts. I'm not really an auto-bio fan but this sounds interesting

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

She wants to stay there. We don't need her kind in Accy. I see she calls her adoptive parents when they're dead, and can't answer to her claims.
I have seen her Oranges etc and it's a load of rubbish.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

well she aint my favourite person, but wasn't aware yeh were royalty thindle.:D:rolleyes:

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

She wrote Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, indeed it was dramatised and broadcast, whilst her parents were alive.

Her mother used the press, to give her side of the story.

What 'kind' don't we need round here?

Writers?

Adopted children?

Oxbridge graduates?

People with a high media profile, both nationally, and internationally?

Ginger haired folk?

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

If she was subject to things similar to this as a child, carried out in a Pentecostal church in Accrington, I'd have thought it just the sort of material a writer might use, when writing about their own life, at some time in their career.

Connecticut Church Posts Controversial Gay Exorcism Video on YouTube - YouTube

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I also think Thindle may be alluding to what you have deliberately missed out, Garinda!
Oranges rates as one of my favourite books and I have read it many times over the years -the drammatisation I have on VHS and it is brilliantly acted and captures Accy in the period perfectly, just as I remember it. Wish i had her talent for writing.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Women?

Rid the area of ladies?

I can't see that being too popular.

Heavens above.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I have a 60 yr old brother -in-law who became an Evangelist after his divorce in order to marry his second wife who is 20 yrs younger (this 20 yrs ago)...he is now the fanatic!

Was invited to his Baptism - full immersion style and saw the style of their service with people calling out they'd seen the Lord, falling to the floor and generally creating a bit of mass hysteria(I repeat this was a Baptism not an exorcism) - watched most of it to satisfy my curiosity but got up and left when they started calling upon new people they'd brought in (who were very obviously vulnerable or at difficult times in their lives. One young woman had just found out she had MS, another elderly couple had lost their son in an accident..) to renounce the devil etc. and become part of a warm happy family:rolleyes::mad:

It's fascinating to see but wouldn't want to be a part of it -if you're in you're in but otherwise they can ostracise you and make your life hell -anything but good Christians as far as I'm concerned. Excellent writing material though as you say!:D

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Actually I was thinking more " Bob Dylan look-alikes" -you can have too many of them around;):D

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Do you think they could have a go at an over-inflated, politically ambitious case?

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Depends if he's fit in the tub;)

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Maybe.

Is there a side step?

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Yes I was thinkng that too. Loved Oranges on TV, watched it again recently. It even had a bit about Morecambe!

I think she is a very intelligent and articulate person who has made the most of a dodgy start in life. Wish there were more like her.

BTW her name is Winterson not Winterston as in the title of this thread. Apols if this has been pointed out before.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

This may be have been wishful thinking -it was meant to read -depends if he'D fit in the tub....hmmm! The workings of the mind are a mystery

(S and D are next to each other on the keyboard so it was a genuine mistake....I think;))

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

S'ok, my brain ain't wired right either.

I read it as a 'd'.

:D

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Been rather a lot of side-stepping on here lately...

Is this to avoid a rear view? I have nothing against rear's!

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Take it she not on your Christmas Card list;)

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Its actually called the Accy Web two step, mobertol;)

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Not much of a dancer myself- two left feet unfortunately. Tend to stick 'em in too, when and where not wanted...

I know my limitations....:rolleyes:

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Neither are those who do the Accy Web two step:D

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Footballer John Fashnu and his brother (I think he was a twin) were adopted and one committed suicide apparently! Kate Aidy was too!:cool:

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I don't think St. Kate of the Battlefields would ever class herself as a style icon, and nor should she. She was first and foremost a reporter. A very good one.

She might dust off her combat jacket, spit on her hand, and try and flatten her hair, before giving a live report from some God forsaken war zone.

But that's about it.

Re: Jeanette Winterson - famous novelist
 

Ya if your booking into a hotel and Kate Adie and Angela Lansbury are ahead in the queue, check into another hotel:D

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

if anyone is after any of Jeanettes books we have a few in the secondhand bookshop i'm working in, we don't have 'oranges are not the only fruit' anymore because i bought it yesterday but if anyone wants to borrow it then they can

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I would think if they nipped down the library they could also borrow a copy! ;)

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

SOME people like to OWN a book, this may be an alien concept to you seen as your mind is so mashed by all the drugs you take

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

A lady has been in touch from BBC3 doing research for a documentary about Jeanette Winterson. She is after knowing if anyone has any knowedge of the family when they lived in Water Street, and if there are any old fashioned 2 up 2 down houses left in Accrington area where they could do some filming (the more original features it has the better).

If anyone could help in any way, if they would like to pm me, and I will give you the contact details.

Thank you

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I haven't taken that many drugs. I do have a large book collection.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

i noticed at work this morning that we also have 'sexing the cherry' in (another JW book)

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

So did anyone know Jeanette well back in the 70's?

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

My sister was in the same class at Accrington Girls High School. I gave her Jeanette's " Why be happy when you could be normal" to read. She said "well she was always a bit wierd at school" *chuckle*
Incidentally her latest book a fictionalised account of the Pendle Witches " The Daylight Gate" is a good read. Dark days over England.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

might just look that up, see if i can get it on "digikal"

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

The Daylight Gate (eBook) by Jeanette Winterson 9781446492321 | WHSmith.co.uk
£7.49 at wh smith

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

When I was working on the Cornish lesbian farm, no one knew her.

Which is suprising, as it's a very tight group of women.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Are you joking (again!) :D

She was often seen walking up the bowling green and coppice with her yorkshire terrier before she became a literary genius.:rolleyes:

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Doug from Bispham posted this poem by Jeanette Winterson in 2006. I have never seen it before.


Accrington where did you go
Why did you change?
What did you do with the memory of my childhood?
Where went the warmth of mother hood

So many son, lost to the guns,
So many daughters, God brought us
So easily parted, the consumption taught us
The misery that dank mills brought us

Accrington where did you go
Your cobbled Streets
Bleak back yards
Unlit paths to memories roads

Deathly dark Pits that the Devil strode
Bleak graves where the grass as grown
Broken widows, broken stone
I miss you Accrington, you where my home

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Does anyone on Accyweb live in the Water Street area.
If so, would you mind sending me a pm. Thanks.

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Well, well, well! I have just made a "discovery" - way back in 2004, when I started the thread about Jeanette Winter(t)son, I, unknowingly spelt her surname incorrectly!

I have just been looking at some photos I took earlier this year along Blackburn Road, showing the new properties that have sprung up. Why oh why didnt I connect the newly named "Winterson Street" as being named in honour of Jeanette! It MUST be named after her, surely too much of a coincidence? What do you think?

Re: Jeanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

I think you are correct, Atarah ... well spotted .. :)
Wonder what the other roads are called ? Hey, there's a Dawson Close near by ... LOL.

eanette Winterston - famous novelist
 

Have just bought this book for a relative, its rather good!
Written by Jeanette Winterson.