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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
My love for Helen Oyeyemi's writing knows no bounds. Something about the way she writes gets into my skin, almost a ghostlike presence that I can never shake. This book is fantastic.. Creepy and stunning in a way that only this author seems to manage.
I can't even verbalize my love for it because I'm still upset about having finished it over a week later. My favourite book of hers yet.
I can't even verbalize my love for it because I'm still upset about having finished it over a week later. My favourite book of hers yet.
Oof, I'm not sure how to explain the experience. Ms. Oyeyemi is a talented writer however reading her work is not as relaxing as I would like.
This is a gorgeous book of short stories. Oyeyemi fully embraces the scope of fiction, moving freely into fantasy and then back into normal life, and then back again. It seems to me to be magic realism in the school of Gunter Grass, and like Grass, Oyeyemi is intellectually rigorous in her writing, demanding that her readers keep up. I had previously tried to read her novel, Mr. Fox, but could not get into it. I think the intellectual approach that annoyed me in the novel form is a perfect fit for the short story. If any of these stories were any longer, I would have likely gotten tired of her characters, which all verge on the edge of precious, and the plots would have crumbled. But her prose is a perfect fit in the constraint and perfectionism of the short story style.
I’ve struggled with some of the classic magic realists in the past, despite loving a good Jorge Luis Borges tale. Perhaps that’s what I like about Oyeyemi’s stories: their generally efficient word use to approach difficult subjects that are not easily contained by language. Definitely would like to read more shorts if she has them (this was my first foray into her body of work).
Excellent collection of short stories with fully developed worlds and characters.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Such great stories!
I loved most of the stories. Will definitely read more from Oyeyemi! Loved that there connections between the stories. Recommend!
I loved most of the stories. Will definitely read more from Oyeyemi! Loved that there connections between the stories. Recommend!
I mean....wow. Can someone else please read this so we can talk about it?