I don't feel there's a difference between the real world and the fairy-tale world. They contain psychological truths and, I guess, projections of what the culture that tells them thinks about various things: men, women, aging, dying - the most basic aspects of being human. Helen Oyeyemi agingaspectbasic share on social
I don't have a style. I just try to write what the story demands. Helen Oyeyemi demandstorystyle Change image and share on social
I do love Shirley Jackson, but I don't deserve to be named in connection with her. I remember reading 'The Haunting of Hill House' and having goosebumps for hours. The way she builds narrative pressure in that book is just amazing. I think you could reread it a few times and actually go out of your mind. Helen Oyeyemi amazebookbuild share on social
I love character and voice, and my favourite books have been the ones in which I've become completely absorbed. Helen Oyeyemi absorbbookcharacter Change image and share on social
I don't think anything can help me socially, to be honest: I have this terrible personality. I don't really know how to describe it... maybe I'll go with surly. Helen Oyeyemi describehonestpersonality Change image and share on social
In my family, telling stories is just a way of life. Helen Oyeyemi familylifestory Change image and share on social
I remember that I used to get lots of books from the library, and 'Little Women' was one of them. And I used to just cross out the parts of it that really upset me because it's such a sad book in so many ways. I'd cross out the parts that upset me, and I would rewrite new endings. Helen Oyeyemi bookcrossending share on social
I was a real mess at school. I got a bit of a reputation for being the weird girl: the girl who'd go silent randomly and just kind of write down replies to people's questions in a book. Helen Oyeyemi bitebookgirl Change image and share on social
The way that people feel changes everything. Feelings are forces. They cause us to time travel. And to leave ourselves, to leave our bodies. I would be that kind of psychologist who says, 'You're absolutely right - there are monsters under the bed.' Helen Oyeyemi absolutelybedbody share on social
Years ago a friend and fellow writer, Nick Antosca, once made a remark about it being best not to threaten, but to simply act. An effective way of going about things, I think. Helen Oyeyemi actagoantosca Change image and share on social