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1.08k reviews for:
Krótka historia Stowarzyszenia Nieurodziwych Dziewuch i inne opowiadania
Helen Oyeyemi
3.76 AVERAGE
1.08k reviews for:
Krótka historia Stowarzyszenia Nieurodziwych Dziewuch i inne opowiadania
Helen Oyeyemi
3.76 AVERAGE
This collection of short stories is probably either a hit or a miss for the reader.
For me it was the right kind of everything. The right kind of wonder, the right kind of realistic yet magical story components, the right kind of protagonists and familiar yet foreign settings.
The stories are all intertwined without building on each other and give the reader little glimpses into the larger world - never showing him the whole picture. Every short story felt complete yet left some sort of mystery open to the imagination. To me it felt like an assortment of small desserts, each with its own interesting flavour.
I can imagine though that this is not for everyone. Especially so since I also read a collection of short stories the other day that all ended in the completely wrong spot for me. Here, too, the reader can be left wondering if there really is a bigger reveal that he is barely just missing.
For me it was the right kind of everything. The right kind of wonder, the right kind of realistic yet magical story components, the right kind of protagonists and familiar yet foreign settings.
The stories are all intertwined without building on each other and give the reader little glimpses into the larger world - never showing him the whole picture. Every short story felt complete yet left some sort of mystery open to the imagination. To me it felt like an assortment of small desserts, each with its own interesting flavour.
I can imagine though that this is not for everyone. Especially so since I also read a collection of short stories the other day that all ended in the completely wrong spot for me. Here, too, the reader can be left wondering if there really is a bigger reveal that he is barely just missing.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
there were moments where i loved what oyeyemi was doing and moments where i had to reread passages to
see if i has missed something only to find that nope! she really just did that! i'm eager and intrigued to read some of her novels but this collection left me a little lost
see if i has missed something only to find that nope! she really just did that! i'm eager and intrigued to read some of her novels but this collection left me a little lost
I normally really dislike magical realism, but in short stories it was charming.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Bit of a cheat entry to the 2021 reading challenge since I started it in 2020 (Dec 30) but....
As with Mr Fox, I didn’t really “get” this collection of short stories - but if you lean in to the strangeness it becomes highly enjoyable. The range and diversity of subjects and settings in these short stories is huge, and each of them is as mad and real as the last.
As with Mr Fox, I didn’t really “get” this collection of short stories - but if you lean in to the strangeness it becomes highly enjoyable. The range and diversity of subjects and settings in these short stories is huge, and each of them is as mad and real as the last.
A beautifully bound book, but the content bored me to bits. Managed to read about half of it seriously, started skimming afterwards and soon quit altogether. This is not badly written or anything like that, just not my cup of tea.
First book of 2020 and I loved it! I want to read everything by Helen Oyeyemi now. This book was a collection of delightfully told mini fairy tales. Exceptional structure, deceptively simple writing. I read these so fast and liked each of them (although I understood the last two the least). A rarity in short story collections.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Helen Oyeyemi's bad at ending novels satisfactorily but that's actually a strength here. These are all wonderful stories and I love how much they're interconnected so that you're almost but not quite reading a novel. Her writing is so smart and beautiful and I can't believe it took me so long to start this book.
I felt like so many of these stories left me feeling utterly confused. I would find myself thinking I understood half way though and by the end completely lost. Was that the point? to leave me confused?
I really only enjoyed 1 of the stories enough the rest were just hard to get into.
Helen Oyeyemi's writing style was interesting and unique but a hard tempo for me to follow. So I think the book was just okay
I really only enjoyed 1 of the stories enough the rest were just hard to get into.
Helen Oyeyemi's writing style was interesting and unique but a hard tempo for me to follow. So I think the book was just okay