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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
These were so good. Just surreal enough. Not too creepy or overwhelming. And even though I often don't love short stories because they end too soon I liked that eventually they became slightly interconnected so at least I felt like I was getting more of the story.
books and roses = 4 stars
"sorry" doesn't sweeten her tea = 5 stars (my fave)
is your blood as red as this? (no) = 5 stars
is your blood as red as this? (yes) = 3.5 stars
drownings = 3.5 stars
presence = 4.5 stars
a brief history of the homely wench society = 5 stars (also my fave)
dornička and the st. martin's day goose = 4 stars
freddy barrandov checks ... in? = 4 stars
if a book is locked there's probably a good reason for that, don't you think? = 4 stars
Average rating = 4.25 stars, official rating = 4.5 stars
This is the first short story collection that I have ever read and I absolutely adored it. I would really recommend this to people who enjoy stories involving magical realism and fairytale elements and also to people who haven't read short story collections before.
I honestly enjoyed every story (some more than others) and I found their themes to be completely unique and captivating. I also loved the amount of diversity that was present in the stories, it didn't feel like Helen Oyeyemi forced it at all and the issues of sexuality (particularly the representation of same sex couples) and races weren't presented as particularly noteworthy topics.
I enjoyed the fact that multiple characters make appearances in different stories but I did end up feeling like it was slightly unnecessary at one point. Still would 100% recommend.
Great characters, great stories, overall great time.
"sorry" doesn't sweeten her tea = 5 stars (my fave)
is your blood as red as this? (no) = 5 stars
is your blood as red as this? (yes) = 3.5 stars
drownings = 3.5 stars
presence = 4.5 stars
a brief history of the homely wench society = 5 stars (also my fave)
dornička and the st. martin's day goose = 4 stars
freddy barrandov checks ... in? = 4 stars
if a book is locked there's probably a good reason for that, don't you think? = 4 stars
Average rating = 4.25 stars, official rating = 4.5 stars
This is the first short story collection that I have ever read and I absolutely adored it. I would really recommend this to people who enjoy stories involving magical realism and fairytale elements and also to people who haven't read short story collections before.
I honestly enjoyed every story (some more than others) and I found their themes to be completely unique and captivating. I also loved the amount of diversity that was present in the stories, it didn't feel like Helen Oyeyemi forced it at all and the issues of sexuality (particularly the representation of same sex couples) and races weren't presented as particularly noteworthy topics.
I enjoyed the fact that multiple characters make appearances in different stories but I did end up feeling like it was slightly unnecessary at one point. Still would 100% recommend.
Great characters, great stories, overall great time.
I got to read a review copy of this so won't go into detail but I loved it! Helen Oyeyemi is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
What is Not Yours is Not Yours is one of the best books that I have read (or listened to) in 2016, also ever. Oyeyemi's brilliant collection of short stories takes the reader weaving in and out of the lives and stories of a world like our own but not quite. The author's use of magical realism in a distinctly contemporary setting sets apart this work from anything else I have read. It was fascinating to see how Oyeyemi interworked magic and things that were not quite "normal" into struggles of the modern day; like grappling with an celebrity obsession after the celebrity has committed a crime or dealing with work place bullying. Oyeyemi finds great success in the short fiction genre building intricate and beautiful worlds in only 20 or 30 pages and telling the rich histories and narratives embedded in all people. Any review or summary of Helen Oyeyemi's work would be remiss without mentioning the talented and seamless way she writes diverse characters. Throughout the novel, Oyeyemi's characters span different abilities, genders, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and relationships with their home countries. These identities are sometimes the forefront of the given story or sometimes just a small detail. That being said, relationships or identities that might seem atypical in our own context are presented as just another fact in Oyeyemi's world, allowing any reader entry into these fantastical places. I would definitely advocate for this work as one of the best in 2016.
I would also recommend the Recorded Books audiobook version. It felt right to have readers with British accents giving life to Oyeyemi, a British author's, text. I will say that Czech lore and Czech language play a surprisingly prominent role in this book and the readers definitely struggle with Czech pronunciations. I know it is a nit picky detail but it seems easily remedied so I was left disappointed upon comparing the audio copy with the written one.
I would also recommend the Recorded Books audiobook version. It felt right to have readers with British accents giving life to Oyeyemi, a British author's, text. I will say that Czech lore and Czech language play a surprisingly prominent role in this book and the readers definitely struggle with Czech pronunciations. I know it is a nit picky detail but it seems easily remedied so I was left disappointed upon comparing the audio copy with the written one.
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF. I by no means hated this book. Some of the stories were beautiful. I really started to lose my grasp of this book when she introduced the puppets. I was finding it quite a chore to read through so I DNFed it. I’d be interesting to try something else by this author though.
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book made me realize I'd like short story anthologies! The stories are clever, detailed, and quite a bit eery so that magical realism and lurking danger seem commonplace in the world. I thought the connections between stories were superficial and unnecessary, a character's name might appear from previously, etc. And I never knew where the story might be going; some endings were more abrupt and less filled out than others.
reflective
medium-paced