Helen Oyeyemi and the borderlands of realism

In her new novel Parasol Against the Axe, Oyeyemi challenges traditional literary fiction by introducing a unique narrative. Oyeyemi’s novels, characterized by a playful and unsettling style, blur the boundaries between genres and leave readers with more questions than answers. Parasol Against the Axe follows Hero Tojosoa, a protagonist on the run in Prague, as she navigates a tangled web of relationships and encounters with the city’s spirits.

Oyeyemi’s exploration of the magical and the mundane in Parasol Against the Axe mirrors her previous works that deconstruct familiar fairy tales and challenge conventional storytelling norms. The novel’s focus on the enigmatic “Prague book” and its ever-evolving narratives reflects Oyeyemi’s interest in the agency of books and cities themselves.

While reading Oyeyemi’s work can be perplexing, the ambiguity and complexity are integral to the experience. Parasol Against the Axe resists easy interpretation, inviting readers to embrace the uncertainty and engage with the narrative on a deeper level. Oyeyemi’s narrative style, akin to Italo Calvino’s metafiction, prompts readers to reconsider the role of storytelling and the dynamic between creators, readers, and the stories themselves.