elenavarg's review against another edition
3.0
This one has to be my least favorite of Oyeyemi’s novels. The story ends abrubtly and it’s too confusing for my simple mind. Oyeyemi’s writing is still beautiful, though.
roseparis's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
essinink's review against another edition
3.0
I'm still not sure what to say about this one. I started out liking it, but as time went on I liked it less and less. The last 50 - 75 pages, especially, I was just trying to get through, and when they were gone I didn't feel satisfied with the ending.
There are two stories here, and themes of identity and transition and transformation abound in both. Maya's attempt to find her place when she doesn't quite know where that is, and Yemaya's displaced experiences in the somewherehouse echo each other... at first.
I liked the parts about the "inner hysteric." There's an interview with Oyeyemi that sheds light on where she was going with that bit, and it's relatable. Really, the complicated friendship between Maja and Amy Eleni was one of the better parts of the book. We've all got that one friend; and if Maja and Amy Eleni are more complicated than most... well, that's alright. What they don't tell each other is as important to the story as what they do.
But as the story rolled on, Maja's life seemed to disintegrate. Her pregnancy, her depression, her relationship with her parents, it all went downhill. And the more I look back at it, the harder it is to see where the story was trying to go, because--at the end--everything seems suddenly quiet and peaceful, and there doesn't seem to be any reason for it.
Unfortunately, the part of the story dealing with Yemaya Saramagua ("Aya") became increasingly opaque to me as the pages turned, and the connection to Maja's story more tenuous. Maybe it's my unfamiliarity with Afro-Cuban Santeria, maybe it's not. Regardless, what started as the story of a displaced goddess became incomprehensible by it's ending.
The writing itself is beautiful, but the story's overly ambitious. Maybe I'm fooling myself a little, and I just want to like it, but I'm torn between two and three stars. The parts I liked, I really liked, and the parts that I disliked seem stronger in memory than in the reading. Knowing my mood, I'm choosing to round up on the assumption that this is--at least in part--on me.
There are two stories here, and themes of identity and transition and transformation abound in both. Maya's attempt to find her place when she doesn't quite know where that is, and Yemaya's displaced experiences in the somewherehouse echo each other... at first.
I liked the parts about the "inner hysteric." There's an interview with Oyeyemi that sheds light on where she was going with that bit, and it's relatable. Really, the complicated friendship between Maja and Amy Eleni was one of the better parts of the book. We've all got that one friend; and if Maja and Amy Eleni are more complicated than most... well, that's alright. What they don't tell each other is as important to the story as what they do.
But as the story rolled on, Maja's life seemed to disintegrate. Her pregnancy, her depression, her relationship with her parents, it all went downhill. And the more I look back at it, the harder it is to see where the story was trying to go, because--at the end--everything seems suddenly quiet and peaceful, and there doesn't seem to be any reason for it.
Unfortunately, the part of the story dealing with Yemaya Saramagua ("Aya") became increasingly opaque to me as the pages turned, and the connection to Maja's story more tenuous. Maybe it's my unfamiliarity with Afro-Cuban Santeria, maybe it's not. Regardless, what started as the story of a displaced goddess became incomprehensible by it's ending.
Spoiler
What happened to the seeds? Why did the Kayodes die when they did? Why was Ochun's name Amy and is that supposed to relate to the other Amy (Eleni)? Why does Yemaya's father want to destroy her? What is the deal with her mother and Proserpine? I am so confused.The writing itself is beautiful, but the story's overly ambitious. Maybe I'm fooling myself a little, and I just want to like it, but I'm torn between two and three stars. The parts I liked, I really liked, and the parts that I disliked seem stronger in memory than in the reading. Knowing my mood, I'm choosing to round up on the assumption that this is--at least in part--on me.
zosiablue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
This story needs to percolate, in the satisfying way all of Helen Oyeyemi's books do. The plot felt like Mulholland Drive - there's this central mystery (what actually happened when Maja was a child in Cuba?) and I just know the answer is buried somewhere in the symbolism, if I Magic Eye it hard enough. Is this about mental illness? Feeling like an alien in your own home and country? Best friends? Stepmothers and priests? I don't know but I feel unsettled and sad and I like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage
rockingdaisy's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
austinburns's review against another edition
no rating
i took a long break from this and when i came back i had no idea what was going on so it seems unfair to give it a low rating
i took a long break from this and when i came back i had no idea what was going on so it seems unfair to give it a low rating
kendra_kendra's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
3.25
nobodyatall's review against another edition
2.0
Found this book very difficult to follow, a few nice passages but most of the time I was too confused about everything
to enjoy it.
to enjoy it.
gcramer3's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn’t care for this book very much, but it’s honestly probably because it went way over my head. This was my first exposure to Cuban mythology, and I think I focused too much of my attention trying to keep track of the magical elements and make them make sense in tandem with the more realistic plot line. I also didn’t really relate to the themes of displacement and belonging, and while I can appreciate them, they didn’t add much to my enjoyment of the book. Beautiful writing, but just not my style of story.
radioactve_piano's review against another edition
4.0
It kills me to have only rated this 4 stars, not 5! This has the dubious honor of being first Oyeyemi book that I've read and not been completely smitten with.
Normally, if I like an author enough, I don't need to relate to the characters to fully enjoy the book. I can set aside things that don't line up with my own feelings, and still enjoy.
But in this book, I had issues with the main character grappling with her version of identity and what it was rooted in. Honestly, while others seem to have been confused about the dual stories playing off of each other, that was the only thing that redeemed the whole "but maybe this place I have zero accurate memory of is my home!" aspect for me. I tend to dislike any character who thinks her meaning is tied up with her place of birth or procreating or...
Normally, if I like an author enough, I don't need to relate to the characters to fully enjoy the book. I can set aside things that don't line up with my own feelings, and still enjoy.
But in this book, I had issues with the main character grappling with her version of identity and what it was rooted in. Honestly, while others seem to have been confused about the dual stories playing off of each other, that was the only thing that redeemed the whole "but maybe this place I have zero accurate memory of is my home!" aspect for me. I tend to dislike any character who thinks her meaning is tied up with her place of birth or procreating or...