WBBC Reviews: Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi

[@Lineapetrela]

Love this!!!!! I will say I do wish someone would discuss the ending, because I truly do not know what to make of the rushed feeling thing!

[@WeirdBookBookClub]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed. I haven't read a ton of Oyeyemi yet--just this and Mr. Fox--but she does strike me as an author who is only interested in carrying the plot so far before leaving the reader to their own devices, maybe to imagine what might happen next. I'd be curious to hear more about what you made of it!

[@MsPlayinggames]

thanks for the hug

[@WeirdBookBookClub]

As a founding member of the WBBC, you are entitled to a life-time supply.

[@jessicafoster8738]

Glad to find your channel! Looking forward to it. I love short stories, so Oyeyemi is one for me to check out. Sounds like her work is kind of related to Carmen Maria Machado, did you read her collection - Her Body and Other Parties? The first story was especially good. And records! Love Broadcast! But, forgive my ignorance, which is the third record along?

[@jessicafoster8738]

Oh and I just read Moshfegh's two novels - amazing, love her offbeat humour.

[@WeirdBookBookClub]

So glad you enjoyed, Jessica! I loved Her Body and Other Parties. My fav was the bizarro episode summaries of Law and Order: SVU. (I marathoned that show once while recovering from surgery, so it already had kind of a surreal aura around it in my imagination.) I think her next book is supposed to be non-fiction about an abusive relationship she was in? I've been meaning to read more Moshfegh, too! The only full book I've read by her was McGlue, which was equally traumatizing and fascinating--definitely on-brand for the WBBC. The third record is Pieces of the Sky by Emmylou Harris. I don't listen to a lot of country, but her voice gives me goosebumps, so I made an exception.

[@siljeblomst1]

The hug 😊 Love it! For some reason I have several of Oyeyemi's novels, but have yet to read them - I need to do something about that. Have a lovely day 😊

[@WeirdBookBookClub]

Haha! Hugs for all! Glad you enjoyed. My first Oyeyemi novel was Mr. Fox--the only one they had at my local library. The plot summary didn't really sound that interesting to me, but as soon as I started reading it, I never wanted to stop. It has a much more fragmented structure than Gingerbread and a lot of scenes that were genuinely horrific. I think either could be a good entry point to her work, depending on what kind of mood you're in.