Responsive / Penguin / Research

'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a novel by Jeanette Winterson published in 1985, which she subsequently adapted into a BBC television drama of the same name. It is a coming-of-age story about a lesbian girl who grows up in an English Pentecostal community. Key themes of the book include transition from youth to adulthood, complex family relationships, same sex relationships, and religion.'

Plot overview

'This is the story of Jeanette, adopted and brought up by her mother as one of God's elect. Zealous and passionate, she seems seems destined for life as a missionary, but then she falls for one of her converts.

At sixteen, Jeanette decides to leave the church, her home and her family, for the young woman she loves. Innovative, punchy and tender,

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a few days ride into the bizarre outposts of religious excess and human obsession.'

'Jeanette, the protagonist of Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and the author's namesake, has issues--"unnatural" ones: her adopted mother thinks she's the Chosen one from God; she's beginning to fancy girls; and an orange demon keeps popping into her psyche.'

'In Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Winterson knits a complicated picture of teenage angst through a series of layered narratives, incorporating and subverting fairytales and myths, to present a coherent whole, within which her stories can stand independently. Imaginative and mischievous, she is a born storyteller, teasing and taunting the reader to reconsider their worldview. --Nicola Perry'

An film adaption of the book, this 10 minute clip captures the essence of the film:

Existing Covers

This portrait doesn't capture the films narrative, it is presented in an objective manner.

The obvious response of a mother giving her daughter an orange lacks imagination.

The illustration of a morphed figure holding a bible is more conceptual however it is not clear nor explanatory enough.

Visually unappealing, this illustration has a mythical resemblance.
It can be seen as provocative but it is not efficient in communicating the narrative.
The snake has connotations of 'Vengefulness and vindictiveness', 'Poison and medicine' and 'Fertility and rebirth' :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpent_%28symbolism%29

A minimal typographic composition, the counter of 'O' and the tittle of the 'i' imitate an abstract orange.

Penguin's modernist approach creates continuity for the brand but does not communicate any sort of narrative.

A contemporary interpretation lacking a conceptual approach.
Pleasing use of colour but I can't imagine its justification.