Looking for a novel that mixes fairy tales with real-world issues? 'Boy, Snow, Bird' gives classic motifs a creative twist while exploring race, identity, and beauty through unforgettable female characters. Helen Oyeyemi’s writing is often described as lyrical, inventive, and magical - with dreamy imagery and imaginative flourishes that will intrigue fans of literary fiction, book clubs, and anyone who enjoys picking apart symbolism and layered narratives. If you love stories about complicated family ties, coming of age, and books that challenge the way we see ourselves (and others), this one definitely deserves a spot on your TBR.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Some readers were frustrated by its meandering pace, hard-to-pin-down timeline, and characters who feel distant or emotionally flat. Those expecting a straightforward or satisfying fairy tale retelling might be disappointed - it’s only loosely inspired by Snow White, and the plot isn’t always easy to follow. Others were troubled by how the novel introduces sensitive topics late in the story and by problematic representations, especially around gender issues. If you want clear resolutions or deeply relatable voices, or you’re wary of ambiguous storytelling, this might not be the best fit.

A beautifully written, thought-provoking novel about race and identity with fairy tale spirit - ambitious and creative, but not without its missteps. Approach with curiosity and a willingness to unpack its complexities.

About:

'Boy, Snow, Bird' by Helen Oyeyemi is a novel that weaves together elements of fairy tales and explores themes of race, beauty, identity, and family secrets. The story follows the lives of Boy, Snow, and Bird, revealing their complex relationships and the challenges they face as they navigate through different perspectives and time periods. The narrative is rich and layered, with characters that are compelling and flawed, set against a backdrop of societal expectations and personal struggles.

The writing style in 'Boy, Snow, Bird' is described as beautiful, engaging, and thought-provoking. Oyeyemi expertly combines reality with fairy tale elements, creating a story that is both original and captivating. The novel delves into deep themes such as passing, violence, identity, and the impact of societal norms on individuals, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of human nature and relationships.

Characters:

The characters range from emotionally complex such as Boy, to more relatable figures like Bird, while Snow often appears one-dimensional and underdeveloped.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is lyrical and imaginative, utilizing symbolism and interweaving themes of fantasy with reality, though it can feel heavy-handed at times.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is a superficial exploration of race relations in 1950s America, featuring mixed elements of a family drama and personal identity, alongside unexpected twists.

Setting:

Set in the 1950s in a small Massachusetts town, the setting reflects racial tensions but often lacks depth and includes anachronistic elements.

Pacing:

Pacing varies through the story, with the first part being engaging but slowing down in the second, leading to a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion.

nobody ever warned me about mirrors, so for many years I was fond of them, and believed them to be trustworthy. I’d hide myself away inside them, setting two mirrors up to face each other so that when...

Notes:

Boy, Snow, Bird is often misrepresented as a retelling of Snow White, leading to reader disappointment.

The novel examines race relations in 1950s America, particularly in Flax Hill, Massachusetts.

The main character, Boy, escapes an abusive father to find a new life.

Boy marries Arturo, whose daughter Snow is initially the center of her affection but later becomes a source of jealousy.

The story touches on themes of identity, racial passing, and familial relationships through multiple perspectives.

The narrative is divided into three parts, each with different narrators: Boy, Bird, and again Boy.

Many readers found the characters underdeveloped and the plot meandering or disconnected.

The ending introduces a controversial transgender storyline that some felt was poorly executed and problematic.

Oyeyemi's writing style is often praised for its lyrical and poetic qualities, but the story's coherence has been critiqued.

Despite mixed reviews, the book challenges readers to think critically about societal norms and identities.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers may include themes of child abuse, racial passing, and contributed transphobia towards the end of the book.

From The Publisher:

As seen on the cover of the New York Times Book Review, where it was described as "gloriously unsettling… evoking Toni Morrison, Haruki Murakami, Angela Carter, Edgar Allan Poe, Gabriel García Márquez, Chris Abani and even Emily Dickinson," and already one of the year's most widely acclaimed novels:

"Helen Oyeyemi has fully transformed from a literary prodigy into a powerful, distinctive storyteller…Transfixing and surprising."-Entertainment Weekly (Grade: A)

"I don't care what the magic mirror says; Oyeyemi is the cleverest in the land…daring and unnerving… Under Oyeyemi's spell, the fairy-tale conceit makes a brilliant setting in which to explore the alchemy of racism, the weird ways in which identity can be transmuted in an instant - from beauty to beast or vice versa." - Ron Charles, The Washington Post

From the prizewinning author of What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours, Gingerbread, and Peaces comes a brilliant recasting of the Snow White fairy tale as a story of family secrets, race, beauty, and vanity.

In the winter of 1953, Boy Novak arrives by chance in a small town in Massachusetts looking, she believes, for beauty-the opposite of the life she's left behind in New York. She marries Arturo Whitman, a local widower, and becomes stepmother to his winsome daughter, Snow.

A wicked stepmother is a creature Boy never imagined she'd become, but elements of the familiar tale of aesthetic obsession begin to play themselves out when the birth of Boy's daughter, Bird, who is dark-skinned, exposes the Whitmans as light-skinned African-Americans passing for white. And even as Boy, Snow, and Bird are divided, their estrangement is complicated by an insistent curiosity about one another. In seeking an understanding that is separate from the image each presents to the world, Boy, Snow, and Bird confront the tyranny of the mirror to ask how much power surfaces really hold.

Dazzlingly inventive and powerfully moving, Boy, Snow, Bird is an astonishing and enchanting novel. With breathtaking feats of imagination, Helen Oyeyemi confirms her place as one of the most original and dynamic literary voices of our time.

2013

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324 pages

Ratings (6)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (2)
It Was OK (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (39):

Read It (8)
Want To Read (23)
Not Interested (8)

1 comment(s)

ssfrav467

It Was OK

3 months

I really liked the first half, but didn’t believe Birds voice when it switched.

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About the Author:

Helen Oyeyemi is the author of the story collection What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours, along with five novels-most recently Boy, Snow, Bird, which was a finalist for the 2014 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She received a 2010 Somerset Maugham Award and a 2012 Hurston/Wright…

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Boy, Snow, Bird

Helen Oyeyemi

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