Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
Audiobook7 hours

What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

About this audiobook

From the award-winning author of Boy, Snow, Bird and Mr. Fox comes an enchanting collection of intertwined stories. Playful, ambitious, and exquisitely imagined, What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours is cleverly built around the idea of keys, literal and metaphorical. The key to a house, the key to a heart, the key to a secret-Oyeyemi's keys not only unlock elements of her characters' lives, they promise further labyrinths on the other side. In "Books and Roses" one special key opens a library, a garden, and clues to at least two lovers' fates. In "Is Your Blood as Red as This?" an unlikely key opens the heart of a student at a puppeteering school. "'Sorry' Doesn't Sweeten Her Tea" involves a "house of locks," where doors can be closed only with a key-with surprising, unobservable developments. And in "If a Book Is Locked There's Probably a Good Reason for That Don't You Think," a key keeps a mystical diary locked (for good reason). Oyeyemi's creative vision and storytelling are effervescent, wise, and insightful, and her tales span multiple times and landscapes as they tease boundaries between coexisting realities. Is a key a gate, a gift, or an invitation? What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours captivates as it explores the many possible answers.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 8, 2016
ISBN9781501905223
What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
Author

Helen Oyeyemi

Helen Oyeyemi was born in Nigeria in 1984 and moved to London when she was four. She wrote The Icarus Girl while she was still at school, studying for her A levels, and is now a student of Social and Political Sciences at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Helen Oyeyemi was born in Nigeria in 1984 and has lived in London for most of her life. She wrote her first novel, The Icarus Girl, while she was still at school, her second novel, The Opposite House, was published in 2007, her third, White is for Witching, in 2009 and her fourth, Mr Fox, in 2011. Her plays include Juniper's Whitening and Victimese, both of which were performed by fellow students while she was studying at Cambridge University.

Related to What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours

Related audiobooks

General Fiction For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours

Rating: 3.743181841818182 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

220 ratings22 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was not expecting these stories to be so weird or to love them so much! I need a physical copy!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    These stories are beautifully written, but I confess that I didn’t get all of 5hem, and I skipped a couple because they just didn’t click for me. It’s possible that I’m not the person for short stories. Or maybe I didn’t pay enough attention in my college English classes to give these stories the justice they deserve.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The stories in this collection read like fairy tales, even when set in modern day scenarios with technology and conveniences. "This happened and it didn't happen" begins one tale called "Drownings." Even the title of the book has the same kind of ambiguity. A removed narrator or second-person telling also creates the sense of distance --these are merely things recounted, with little to no judgement or investment; the reader is left to draw conclusions or infer meaning. Some characters overlap between stories and they have such improbably jobs and engage in such mundane but unbelievable activities that it reminded me in part of Seinfeld without the obvious humor. Everything here is too subtle.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Wonderful collection! Not quite sure how to describe it generically; reminded in equal parts of Kelly Link and Jose Cortazar, and Oyeyemi has a distinct voice. Magical realism and absurdism, really lovely.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed two of these stories – one about a puppet school, and one about teenagers reacting to a disturbing video online – liked a few more, and couldn't connect with a couple of them. I like magical realism but not when I feel like it's telling a story in an old-fashioned, once-upon-a-time style instead of getting into depth with how characters are feeling. That's why I didn't really like "100 Years of Solitude." Some of her lines will really stay with me, though, like one that says there are two kinds of people, those who show their love by taking on burdens, and those who show their love by refusing to be a burden. I recommend this book to those who enjoy a pretty high disconnect from reality, but a lot of beautiful writing and messages, too.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    God, this is a stunning collection. Me last night: "Oh this story will be my favorite.....oh no this one is better.... THIS ONE IS THE BEST...." There are two that didn't speak to me quite as passionately as the others (I won't name names), but this is the strongest non-SF/F collection I've read in years. Oyeyemi's writing is simply beautiful, but we all expect that from her at this point. I loved picking up the familiar threads and faces from story to story.

    My absolute favorites were "Books and Roses", "'Sorry' Doesn't Sweeten Her Tea", and "A Brief History of the Homely Wench Society".
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Helen Oyeyemi brings brilliance and quirk in her collection of short stories, and I was just as delighted as when I read "Boy, Snow, Bird." Some of the stories were sad, others were angry, and still others were as delightfully complicated as reality...with a magical realistic twist. Some of the stories certainly were not my cup of tea but overall I really enjoyed the stories and some of them captured me so fully I would read 500 page novels about the characters. Such a fantastic short story collection!
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Collection of odd stories... just not my taste
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    There's fantasy, and there's urban fantasy, and there's magical realism, and there's this. As a writer, Helen Oyeyemi's has her virtues: the stories in this collection are skillfully and slyly connected, and, in the stories here that are set in contemporary Britain, she displays an admirably economical, slightly acid tone that suits the material pretty well. The problem, most of the time, is the material itself: it's one thing to write literature about modern, multicultural post-Empire Britain and quite another thing to turn in it into some sort of feather-light multi-ethnic fantasy-land. Too many stories here reminded me of a Benetton ad gone to Hogwarts: Oyeyemi's stories are populated by pretty young things from all parts of the globe whose impossible beauty and enormous talents make them, quite frankly, a little tedious to read about. There are some fun ideas here, and even some good stories -- "Presence" is a time-travel thing that seems equal parts human and creepy and "Freddy Barrandov checks...in?" and "Dornicka and the St. Martin's Day Goose" read like the first chapters of something really interesting. But most of "What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours" lands on the wrong side of the line that separates good reading from twee fluff. There's a story about a school for puppeteers, for Pete's sake. After reading this one, I'm going to pick up something dirty, gritty and ruthlessly minimalist just to cleanse my palate.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    What is Yours is Not Yours is a collection of linked short stories, all of the stories including keys as a symbol, with some characters from earlier stories reappearing in later stories.  Oyeyemi creates a wide diversity of characters and settings while keeping a natural flow that veers among the weird, humorous, and practical. The stories contain elements of magical realism and mythological ideas in a contemporary setting.  This is one of those books where I feel I missed a lot of things in the reading and would definitely be worth revisiting.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I really wanted to like but i could not get into the stories nor identify with any characters
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    “I read without stopping to the end, as if somebody were chasing me through the pages with a butcher's knife.”“A library at night is full of sounds: The unread books can't stand it any longer and announce their contents, some boasting, some shy, some devious.”I have wanted to read [[Helen Oyeyemi]] for a few years now and I am glad I started with this collection, which gave me the perfect snapshot of her writing chops. These stories are not always easy to absorb, so do not expect a smooth or quick read, but her sharp intelligence and depth, is apparent on every page, especially with the opener, “Books & Roses”, which was stunning. I just wish she would have revisited this story, later on, since many of the stories are linked, one way or another. Her brilliant craftsmanship, actually reminded me of David Foster Wallace, at times, which is of the highest praise. I will be defintely be reading more Oyeyemi.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    ½* for finishing it. Another ½* because it's at least competently written (grammatically, that is). And still another ½* since it seems to have some real popularity among some readers. Grand total, 1½* – and seeing the comments on some of her other books, I don't have any intention of reading them. This whole thing is completely confusing.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This author writes outside the box, which can be at once refreshing and befuddling. There's no doubt about her terrific imagination and great writing. Exquisite details draw in the reader only to spit him/her out on their bum at the end of the story, or maybe before that. The ride is fine. I reread often. Usually I do that when the writing is either beautiful, that special turn of phrase, or when it's necessary to reread for comprehension or memory, if I've stopped mid-story. These are longer stories.

    My copy is an uncorrected proof from Goodreads Giveaways, without the errors often found in finished books these days. Maybe one or two typos is all. This is a really lovely book, unexpected. Don't look for anything usual about these stories. This is a writer to watch and have in your library.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The open-ended nature of Oyeyemi's imagination is best represented in her short stories, both here and in Mr. Fox. While I still think Mr. Fox is her best, this is my second favorite and I'm looking forward to re-reading it soon. My favorite stories are "Books and Roses" and "Is Your Blood as Red as This?"
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Featuring the phrase “open me carefully” as an epigraph, Helen Oyeyemi's irresistible What is Not Yours is Not Yours will pique your curiosity from the very first page. Should you dare to proceed, you’ll find the Big Bad Wolf and sentient puppets coexisting with psychologists, filmmakers, and rival undergraduate student clubs in this loosely connected collection of short stories. Blending and recasting fairy tales, folklore, and aspects of contemporary culture, Oyeyemi's What is Not Yours is alternately mysterious, playful, and sly. Although What is Not Yours will delight fans of Oyeyemi's previous works, which include Mr. Fox and Boy, Snow, Bird, the book will also appeal to readers looking for a book with more than a touch of the fantastical or a wholly original read.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    This collection originally attracted me because of all the glowing reviews that it received. After reading a few stories, I was tempted to quit primarily because of their nonsensical quality. Yet a persistent feeling that I was missing something important kept nagging. After finishing and a few days mulling, I concluded that my original impression seemed correct—style repeatedly trumped substance. Bear in mind that there is nothing wrong with stylish writing, but a memorable reading experience seems to demand more from the author. These nine weird stories relate to each other because they have characters (puppets, ghosts, Greek goddesses, imaginary people, etc.) in common and seem to evoke some vague imagery of keys. The writing is indeed creative, but the plots are too convoluted, the settings too strange and coherent themes seem deeply submerged (if they exist at all). Reading these stories is a little like watching a 4th of July fireworks show —color, pyrotechnics and unpredictability are all on display, but the whole thing seems quite ephemeral. The collection reflects Oyeyemi’s eclectic and enthusiastic writing style, but misses the mark set by her previous work. The stories have stories within them like Russian dolls. Some have a fairy tale quality. Humor is always close to the surface. Oyeyemi revels in imagery and playful story telling. Without a doubt she is a talented writer and there is a lot to digest here. However, she failed to motivate me enough to want to re-read any of these stories. In fact, most of them left me with a pervading sense of skepticism. All were gone from memory within a few days much like the 4th of July fireworks.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a selection of short stories with a ‘key’ theme woven throughout each piece. This was the first book I have read of Oyeyemi, but I will read definitely read more. The writing is beautiful, with elusive characters, and the listener must pay attention as the author also weaves in and out of reality.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Helen Oyeyemi's prose is truly beautiful; perhaps the best I've ever read. There is no effort necessary to read these stories- the book opens itself up and absorbs you completely.

    While many works which feature discussion of 'young' issues are painfully obviously aimed at a particular age group, Oyeyemi's works collected here flit effortlessly between mindsets and the effect is one of awesome illumination and acceptance.

    Quite simply stunning.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The stories are weird and wacky, ranging from puppets who have independent thought to a complicated act of revenge on a misbehaving pop star by a young fan. I think I liked the sweet love story set in a Cambridge college the best, as a member of a feminist society with a long history of opposition to a 'boys only' club considers what has changed, what does their embrace of the once perjorative 'homely wenches' means, and how does it embrace her 'gender fluid' friends. Other stories tap into riffs on Czech folk stories (Oyeyemi is now based in Prague), religious belief and dealing with grief. Characters from the stories have connections to each other, reappear in the periphery of narratives though each stands alone. Unlikely to be similar to anything else you read this year (and if like my other Oyeyemi reads, memorable so that I will still be thinking about them for some time).
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The stories in Helen Oyeyemi's new collection have a fairy tale feel to them, full of magic and mystery. Oyeyemi's writing style is well suited to this atmospheric approach, but not to the form of the short story. Her stories meander and characters that seem central to a story when it begins, wander off as Oyeyemi's focus turns to someone else. I'm now eager to read what she comes up with in the less restrictive parameters of a novel, but I'm not going to read another short story collection by this author.That said, some stories were more successful than others. The shorter offerings were more focused. I enjoyed A Brief History of the Homely Wench Society, which only digressed for a few pages early in the tale. Telling the story of Day, a student at Cambridge University, who joins the eponymous society, which was formed in reaction to the Bettencourt Society, an especially vile boys' club that once created a list of the homeliest women students, only to discover that a classmate is a member of that club. The Wenches come up with a clever prank to play on the Bettancourt boys, which ends up having repercussions on both sides.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    In this series of loosely connected stories, Helen Oyeyemi demonstrates her mastery of a distant and distancing style of writing. Both place and characterization are vague. Gender assignments are unspecified (typically). Emotion is muted. And standard rules of cause and effect may not apply. The effect is rather like overhearing the telling of a fairytale. It’s not a unique style. You can see it most prominently in Ali Smith’s work and probably the later Ishiguro novels. However, it does seem to point up a divide between what is going on in North America in short story writing versus what is happening in Britain.Many of the stories here, such as “books and roses,” or “‘sorry’ doesn’t sweeten her tea,” or “drownings,” involve violence intermingled with passion. They can be unsettling and also opaque. Sometimes that push to the extremes overshoots into the macabre or the ghostly, as in “presence”. And it can make a more straightforward Cambridge University story like, “a brief history of the homely wench society,” seem almost out of place.It may be that I’m just not well placed to fully appreciate these stories. There is no doubting Oyeyemi’s skills. But I find this style of writing so emotionally flat and texturally empty that there is nothing to engage with. The characters do not come alive for me. And neither do their locales. And for the most part, neither do their plots. That leaves me with little more than respect for Oyeyemi’s linguistic control. But that isn’t enough for me to recommend these stories to others.