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wcsheffer 's review for:
What is Not Yours is Not Yours
by Helen Oyeyemi
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.