Reading Well: Ginger Bread by Helen Oyeyemi

I’ve been a fan of Helen Oyeyemi since her debut novel, 2005’s Icarus Girl, which I thought was one of the best ghost stories I had read in a long, long time.

I read Ginger Bread (2019) having skipped many (but not all–The Opposite House (2007) is also excellent) of her intervening works, and it only served to remind me of what I was missing, so look for a healthy dose of Oyeyemi throughout the rest of the year.

Ginger Bread starts incredibly strong, with Oyeyemi’s brand of magical realism in full view. There is a family recipe for gingerbread with magical powers; a country that appears on no maps, but has extensive Wikipedia entries; and two families with intertwined histories unfolding simultaneously. Even Gretel–yes, that Gretel, the one famous in association with Hansel–makes an appearance.

The novel goes a little awry in the final third or so, but it was compelling throughout, and the intelligence–and occasional creepiness–will stick with you for quite some time. Oyeyemi is one of the compelling voices of our generation, perhaps along the lines of M. Night Shyamalan in that, when she nails the landing, it’s is truly spectacular, and when her work falls short, it’s still an intriguing and often successful journey.

#WhatIWishICouldDo

There is such vivid imagery in Oyeyemi’s writing, and it often is startling, unexpected, and brilliant. Her voice is her own, a location any writer hopes to reach.