Helen Oyeyemi
Helen Oyeyemi is a British novelist and writer of short stories. Born in Nigeria in 1984, she moved to the United Kingdom at a young age. Oyeyemi is known for her imaginative and often fantastical storytelling, with themes that include identity, mythology, and the supernatural. Her notable works include 'The Icarus Girl', 'White is for Witching', and 'What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours'. Her writing has garnered critical acclaim and she has been recognized as a significant voice in contemporary literature.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Mr. Fox
Mr. Fox is a novel about a writer who is challenged by his imaginary muse to stop killing off his female characters. This leads to a series of stories within stories, where reality and fantasy blur. The writer, his wife, and the muse navigate through these narratives, exploring themes of love, identity, and the power of storytelling. The novel is a mix of fairy tale, romance, and mystery, with a metafictional twist.
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2. White Is For Witching
In this hauntingly atmospheric novel, readers are introduced to a young woman grappling with a rare eating disorder and the loss of her mother, all while living in a malevolent, sentient house that has a disturbing history. The narrative weaves together multiple perspectives, including that of the house itself, to explore themes of identity, race, and belonging. As the protagonist's condition worsens and the house's sinister intentions become more apparent, the lines between reality and the supernatural blur, creating a chilling tale of psychological horror and the complexities of inheritance—both familial and cultural.
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3. Boy, Snow, Bird
In "Boy, Snow, Bird," a young woman named Boy Novak escapes her abusive father in New York City to settle in a small town in Massachusetts, where she marries a widower and becomes stepmother to his daughter, Snow. After giving birth to her own daughter, Bird, who is dark-skinned, it is revealed that her husband and stepdaughter are light-skinned African Americans passing as white. The book explores themes of identity, beauty, and the damaging effects of racism as Boy grapples with her feelings towards Snow and Bird, and the societal implications of their different skin tones.
