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My Sweet Orange Tree

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My Sweet Orange Tree

By: José Mauro de Vasconcelos
Narrated by: Alfred Enoch
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About this listen

A worldwide classic of children's literature—a moving, life-affirming childhood story, finally available in English again

Meet Zezé—Brazil’s naughtiest and most loveable boy, his talent for mischief matched only by his great kindness. When he grows up he wants to be a ‘poet with a bow-tie’, but for now he entertains himself playing pranks on the residents of his family’s poor Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood and inventing friends to play with. That is, until he meets a real friend, and his life begins to change....

My Sweet Orange Tree is a worldwide classic of children’s literature—never out of print in Brazil since it was first published in 1968; it has also been translated into an astonishing number of languages and won the hearts of millions of young admirers from Korea to Turkey, Poland to Thailand and in many other countries, too.

José Mauro de Vasconcelos (1920-84) was a Brazilian writer who worked as a sparring partner for boxers, a labourer on a banana farm and a fisherman before he started writing at the age of 22. He is most famous for his autobiographical novel My Sweet Orange Tree, which tells the story of his own childhood in Rio de Janeiro.

Translated by Alison Entrekin.

©2008 Pushkin Press (P)2022 Audible, Ltd Action & Adventure Classics Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Literature & Fiction Heartfelt Brazil Adventure

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This classic Brazilian story transports you to a period of poverty as seen through the eyes of a child.

A beautiful story with an interesting perspective

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A wonderful, bittersweet story. I loved every word. The writing is delicious and the narration perfect. This is one story I know will come back to and I intend to buy the book to have a physical copy to hold.

Such a beautiful story

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"My Sweet Orange Tree" is a beautiful, moving, funny, but heartbreaking story. The narration is sublime and makes the book even more of a treat.

Trigger warning and potential spoiler:
The physical abuse portrayed in the book is horrific and the scenes showing what this kind of treatment does to the heart and soul of a child are gut-wrenching. The idea of any child going through these things is beyond heartbreaking.
The book is beautifully written and the narration is truly sublime, but the treatment of Zeze, the main character, by his family is just horrifying.

Beautiful but absolutely heartbreaking.

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A little insight into the stark differences and glaring similarities of times past and present, mingled with the ever choppy navigation of familial life

The main character

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A perfect gem. Savour in small instalments, it's too beautiful to sweep through. Translation is exquisite and so is the narration. Both of these capture the story's joys and tenderness wonderfully. If not left with a huge lump in the throat, something has surely gone wrong at the ear.

Magical, atmospheric and utterly moving

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This is Such as wonderful book, and a lovely albeit sometimes difficult hear. Worth listening to

Wonderful

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This was the first Brazilian novel I've ever listened to, so it was a new experience for myself, but it had actually fantastic time listening to it! It was funny, entertaining and exciting as well! The narrator read brilliantly. Highly recommended!

Fantastic novel!

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Personally Nothing can compare to this book It is unique and amazing. Thanks for bringing this to my life

Best book ever

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Sometimes you happen upon a book that just thwomps you in the feels! This is that book. Told through the eyes of an often severely beaten little 5 year old it tells how love, understanding and compassion always wins out.

Wow, What a beautiful book.

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Superbly narrated. What an amazing story. I really did not expect it to be so emotionally moving. The ending had me in tears. Beautifully written. I wasn't gripped initially, as I was still adjusting with the fact that the main character was only 5 years old; his behaviour, language and mannerisms were that of an older child. By the end of part 1 I was gripped.
I will be buying the book for my home library.

Wow, unexpectedly moving

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