“What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours: Stories” by Helen Oyeyemi
There’s something charming about short stories; maybe because they tell a story that you can fill in yourself, or maybe because linking them together draws you into the big picture. Either way, they’re very difficult to write. In some cases, the story can go over your head, or just not have enough connecting dots to feel like a proper tale. Not so in Helen Oyeyemi’s collection. Each tale centred around keys and how the secrets behind them may not be what you were expecting. In some, the ending felt just and complete; yet most felt like an open-ended question aimed at the reader, a chance to think up “what would have happened if?”. A collection of stories that leaves you mystified and loudly cackling at the best of times, I recommend to anyone looking to discover exactly what’s hidden behind the lock only to wonder whether you should have looked at all.
My rating: 8/10
