Gingerbread A Novel
Gingerbread A Novel by Helen Oyeyemi, published by National Geographic Books on March 5, 2019, is a 272-page work that explores the intricate dynamics of family and legacy through a unique lens. The narrative centers on Perdita Lee, a seemingly ordinary British schoolgirl, and her mother, Harriet Lee, who navigates the complexities of social hierarchies while harboring a mysterious connection to a far-off land. The story intertwines elements of magical realism and folklore, particularly focusing on the significance of gingerbread as both a recipe and a symbol of their family’s history.
Readers will find a richly woven tale that delves into themes of jealousy, ambition, and the weight of familial expectations. As Perdita embarks on a quest to uncover her mother’s past and her long-lost friend, the narrative unfolds with surprising twists and a playful exploration of identity. The book presents a blend of imaginative storytelling and sharp prose, inviting readers to reflect on the enduring value of family ties and the legacies we inherit. With its inventive approach, Gingerbread offers a captivating experience that resonates with those interested in fiction that merges reality with the fantastical.
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“Exhilarating…A wildly imagined, head-spinning, deeply intelligent novel.” -The New York Times Book Review
“[W]ildly inventive…[Helen Oyeyemi’s] prose is not without its playful bite.” –Vogue
The prize-winning, bestselling author of Boy, Snow, Bird and What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours returns with a bewitching and imaginative novel.
Influenced by the mysterious place gingerbread holds in classic children’s stories, the beloved bestselling author of Boy, Snow, Bird and What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours invites readers into a delightfully inventive and bewitching novel about a surprising family legacy, in which the inheritance is a recipe.
Perdita Lee may appear your average British schoolgirl; Harriet Lee may seem just a working mother trying to penetrate the school social hierarchy; but there are signs that they might not be as normal as they think they are. For one thing, they share a gold-painted, seventh-floor walk-up apartment with some surprisingly verbal vegetation. And then there’s the gingerbread they make. Londoners may find themselves able to take or leave it, but it’s very popular in Druhástrana, the far away (or, according to many sources, non-existent) land of Harriet Lee’s early youth. The world’s truest lover of the Lee family gingerbread, however, is Harriet’s charismatic childhood friend Gretela–a figure who seems to have had a hand in everything (good or bad) that has happened to Harriet since they met.
Decades later, when teenage Perdita’s search for her mother’s long-lost friend prompts a new telling of Harriet’s story. As the book follows the Lees through encounters with jealousy, ambition, family grudges, work, wealth, and real estate, gingerbread seems to be the one thing that reliably holds a constant value. Endlessly surprising and satisfying, written with Helen Oyeyemi’s inimitable style and imagination, Gingerbread is a true feast for the reader.
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