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ClareR (6062 KP) rated Gingerbread in Books

Apr 17, 2021

Gingerbread

Helen Oyeyemi | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

My initial thought on finishing Gingerbread was “what have I just read?”
This is a meandering, imaginative tale with gingerbread at it’s heart. There are a lot of nods to fairytales, from the use of gingerbread, to the name of Harriet’s best friend: Gretel. The rags and riches stories: characters leaving their farm homes to move to the city and make their fortunes.
Magical realism is used throughout, from the way that Harriet and her mother leave their homeland of Druhastrana to move to London, to Perdita’s talking dolls, who are in fact part doll, part plant.
Moving houses, haunted houses, boys who run away just like the Gingerbread Man. This is not a linear, beginning, middle and end kind of story.
At points I wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but decided I didn’t care. It’s a joy to read, and I quite like a book that makes me work for the story, from time to time!
There was a nod to real life: a country cut off from any others (Brexit, anyone?), girls working for pretend/ little money and exploited, and illegal immigration.
There’s a lot to unpick in this, but to be honest, I just enjoyed the ride!

Kudos

ClareR (6062 KP) rated The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida in Books

Oct 21, 2020

The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida

Clarissa Goenawan | 2020 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, LGBTQ+

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Miwako Sumida has hanged herself, and her friends are in a state of disbelief. She had disappeared to a village in the mountains in the preceding few months, and had stayed in touch by letter with her friend Ryusei. He loved her, had told her as much, and she had repeatedly put off his advances. So after finding out about her death, Ryusei convinces another of Miwako’s friends, Chie, to go with him to the clinic in the mountains where she had been volunteering.

Whilst they are away, Ryusei’s sister, Fumi, has an unexpected visitor who asks to stay with her for a while. Fumi is clearly in a vulnerable position after the death of Miwako (who had worked for her), because she says yes.

This was such an unexpected pleasure to read. It’s a very sad story, gently told: these are all grieving, vulnerable people. When it slips in to magical realism, it didn’t seem out of place or odd, in fact these parts really helped to explain what had happened to Miwako and developed the character of Fumi. I can’t believe that I haven’t heard of Clarissa Goenawan before, and I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for more of her books.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this book.