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3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought I was in a seasonal and then pandemic-induced reading slump because I couldn’t keep anything straight with this book, nor could it hold my attention. It had both critical acclaim and a long hold list at the library (which is part of why it took me so long to finish ... I had a long wait time to get it back),, so I didn’t abandon the book and soldiered on. But it turns out, it wasn’t just me. I don’t even know what I just finished reading. It was sort of like a dream in which everything individually makes sense and there is some great meaning of the collection of things together that is just beyond your grasp, but when you wake up and try to explain the dream, you realize it is utter nonsense. I’m glad I finished it, only because I can now give myself permission to read other books and hopefully get back to my normal pace and enjoyment of literature. (I gave it two stars instead of just one because I reserve one star for truly wretched writing, and the quality of writing was good; rather, it was the storytelling that was bad.)
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-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
Loved the style of magical realism and Oyeyemi's writing. But it just got too uncomfortable for me with some of the predatory threats facing the characters.
Like reading a book that was written inside a dream. A really weird and surreal experience to read it.
I don’t really know what I just read as a whole, but I do know that there were some passages that felt like some of the best things I had ever read.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
A fantastic, absurd adventure with the slipperiest narration I’ve read (borderline head-hoppy). This novel shouldn’t work but somehow does.
The detail free plot is this: Harriet tells her daughter, Perdita, the story of how she left Druhástrana and ended up in England with some family dynamics and the passive search for a friend sprinkled in. It reads like The Princess Bride movie meets Mr. Fox, with prose obviously along the lines of Mr. Fox.
I found the economic and political criticisms biting and the ending satisfying. Nothing in Gingerbread comes out and tells you what you’re supposed to take away, you’re left to piece it together.
As much as I loved the story, what stands out in this book is the narration. Or rather, it doesn’t stand out and that’s what makes it brilliant. Gingerbread swoops in and out of omniscience but the bulk of it is a close third (Harriet). It gives it a fairytale quality that, admittedly, makes it harder to connect with Harriet at the beginning but I promise it’s worth it. There’s also something delightful about possessiveness in this piece, with phrases like “daughter of Harriet” instead of “Harriet’s daughter” or simply “Perdita.”
PS Helen Oyeyemi reads the audiobook. She’s great though some of the narration is harder to follow in audio because you can’t see the white space designed to alerts readers to change. If you’re concerned about being confused, go with the book.
The detail free plot is this: Harriet tells her daughter, Perdita, the story of how she left Druhástrana and ended up in England with some family dynamics and the passive search for a friend sprinkled in. It reads like The Princess Bride movie meets Mr. Fox, with prose obviously along the lines of Mr. Fox.
I found the economic and political criticisms biting and the ending satisfying. Nothing in Gingerbread comes out and tells you what you’re supposed to take away, you’re left to piece it together.
As much as I loved the story, what stands out in this book is the narration. Or rather, it doesn’t stand out and that’s what makes it brilliant. Gingerbread swoops in and out of omniscience but the bulk of it is a close third (Harriet). It gives it a fairytale quality that, admittedly, makes it harder to connect with Harriet at the beginning but I promise it’s worth it. There’s also something delightful about possessiveness in this piece, with phrases like “daughter of Harriet” instead of “Harriet’s daughter” or simply “Perdita.”
PS Helen Oyeyemi reads the audiobook. She’s great though some of the narration is harder to follow in audio because you can’t see the white space designed to alerts readers to change. If you’re concerned about being confused, go with the book.