Reviews

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

elleneam's review against another edition

3.0

A captivating if somewhat confusing read which uses horror to look at themes of imperialism, racism, mental illness and intergenerational relationships. Despite many reviews criticizing this book for being ‘too hard to understand’ or ‘unreadable’ I did not find this at all - you just have to be willing to embrace a certain level of ambiguity. Yes, all of the narrators are somewhat unreliable, yes you are never really sure if the story is actually happening or if it is all just in the imagination of the main character, yes the ending is unclear – but all this is deliberately so and adds to the richness of the novel. The most interesting theme to me throughout the book was the use of ‘white’ to signify conservatism and evil, and ultimately as an allegory for the British Empire, in a subtle and interesting way. This subverts the literary tradition of associating black with evil and badness, and by doing so calls it out. I also liked the idea of the true horror and evil being within the status-quo which the book drew out. This is the kind of book that leaves you with more questions than answers. I would recommend this book if you are in the mood for a slightly challenging read.

petrock28's review against another edition

Not into it

beaboop's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

fimrry's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

alysian_fields's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

evareading's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

hilaryjsc's review against another edition

4.0

Unsettling, sinister and perplexing.

aaceeeyy's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.75

batbones's review against another edition

5.0

Oyeyemi's writing style is quite enchanting; I love her use of language, of broken sentences, of sentences linked to one another by a single connecting word (which she does often). The book has an ethereal, magical atmosphere, like looking through smoke or gossamer. Though I readily admit I may not have absorbed all the details and goings-on on the first reading, the strangeness and sudden shifts are bewitching.

lawinbehold's review against another edition

In the pages that I read, it did not feel that the author has set stakes to make me care about what happens to the characters in the novel. It felt like nothing has happened 20% of the way into the book. Not for me.