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My Sweet Orange Tree
- Narrated by: Alfred Enoch
- Length: 4 hrs and 26 mins
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My Sweet Orange Tree
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Summary
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.
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What listeners say about My Sweet Orange Tree
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Helen SJ
- 01-05-22
Wow, What a beautiful book.
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Yogacat
- 26-04-22
A Tale of Bittersweetness that rambles beautifully
The main character is a 5 year old boy who is small in stature for his age. It is an account of a period of his childhood, where he is recognized for being supremely naughty and supremely kind and intelligent. He is a sensitive child but also courageous!
His home life holds a fair amount of misery, yet still there is love to be found.
He has the most amazing imagination, bringing trees, animals and places to life! He is very intelligent and loves to learn.
He makes an unexpected adult friend that goes from enemy to dearest friend. This is very sweet.
There are a lot of severe beatings that Zezé endures, and it broke my heart to hear him speak of himself in awful, hateful terms! He has an indomitable spirit though, and kind heart that will not let him give up or fade away.
Though it was heartbreaking in places, it was equally heartwarming.
I looked up some information about the story as it felt like the author may have lived this life or similar himself, and lo and behold, it seems this is a largely autobiographical tale!
Here is a quote and source I found online:
My Sweet Orange Tree is an autobiographical novel, based on José Mauro de Vasconcelos' childhood in the Bangu neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro in the 1920s. The book introduces us to Zezé, a precocious five-year-old with a tendency to play pranks on others, which often leads to him being beaten.22 Jan 2018

http://www.davidsbookworld.com › ...
I hope you take the time to listen to this book, perhaps just as something different to your normal fare, as I think it's a wonderful piece of writing and the narration is lovely. 🥰🫶🏽
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 09-07-22
A beautiful story with an interesting perspective
This classic Brazilian story transports you to a period of poverty as seen through the eyes of a child.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-05-22
Wow, unexpectedly moving
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 18-07-23
amazing book and very touching
Such a great experience to listen to this audiobook, I hope all Zeze is around the world are happy and having a fulfilling life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Travelling Listener
- 06-04-24
A beautifully read story.
I loved the wonderful reading of this evocative story. Emotional, inspiring and funny. A delight!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Liz S.
- 15-05-22
Such a beautiful story
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Alžběta
- 16-11-22
Beautiful but absolutely heartbreaking.
"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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sebastian Pawlowicz
- 17-05-22
Fantastic novel!
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!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Luis Giancarlo Oviedo
- 28-02-23
Best book ever
Personally Nothing can compare to this book It is unique and amazing. Thanks for bringing this to my life
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