British Author Challenge August 2021: Helen Oyeyemi & Bernard Cornwell

Helen Oyeyemi was born in 1984 and wrote her first novel, The Icarus Girl, while studing for her A-levels. She wrote two plays while studying social and political sciences at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. White is for Witching, her third novel, won a Somerset Maugham Award, and was nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award.

Works
The Icarus Girl
The Opposite House
White Is for Witching
Mr. Fox
Boy, Snow, Bird
Gingerbread
Juniper's Whitening and Victimese
What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
Peaces

Bernard Cornwell was born in London in 1944 to an English woman and a Canadian airman. He was adopted by a family that belonged to a very strict sect of Christianity. He read history at University College London. He and his second wife moved to the US in 1979; he began writing because he was unable to get a green card at the time and writing didn't require a work permit.

He and his wife, Judy, have published together under the name Susannah Kells.

Selected works
Sharpe's Adventures
The Saxon Chronicles
The Grail Quest
Starbuck Chronicles
The Warlord Chronicles
Stonehenge
Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles
Fools and Mortals

I have four books by Oyeyemi on the shelves and will read at least one of them.

I plan to read two of the Saxon chronicle books by Cornwell which is a series I have been following.

>3 PaulCranswick: I'm not sure if I'm going to start with the Saxon Chronicles or Sharpe.

Sharpe's Seige by Bernard Cornwell is currently $1.99.

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

What a blast! Lots of fighting, intrigue, and fascinating looks at life in 9th century Britain. I was worried about keeping all the characters straight since so many of them have names completely alien to me, but Cornwell did an excellent job of giving them all distinct enough personalities that I had no trouble at all. I've already downloaded the second book in the series and will be getting to it soon.

Gingerbread sounded so inviting, yet I rated the confusion and disconnect with overly contrived characters as one star.

>7 m.belljackson: Thanks for the warning. That was one of the titles I was considering.

The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell

Raced through this one in three days and am raring to start book three.

The Opposite House by Helen Oyeyemi

The Opposite House is peopled by assholes who are the authors of almost all of their own miseries.

>9 amanda4242: Wow, The Opposite House can also be skipped - I read enough of that with Republicans.

>10 m.belljackson: Such behavior is sadly not limited by political affiliation.

I picked Oyeyemi because I read The Icarus Girl several years ago and thought it very good. I'm beginning to suspect I might find her a one hit wonder.

>11 amanda4242: Interesting Amanda. I haven't read any of hers, and for now may not.

I read some Bernard Cornwell many years ago. Not sure if I will squeeze one in this month.

>12 Caroline_McElwee: I'll give Oyeyemi another try because I think it's unfair to dismiss her after reading so little of her work, but I'm not going to rush to into another one.

I have four of Oyeyemi's books on the shelves and The Opposite House is the one I had lined up. I guess that I will have to find out for myself. :(

>14 PaulCranswick: Our tastes can be very different, so you may end up loving it.

>15 amanda4242: Funny that because I always take careful note of your comments on books and agree probably more than I disagree but certainly not always.

A little over a week left in the month. Anyone besides Paul and me read any Cornwell?

I won't get to Cornwell but I am trying to finish up What is Not Yours Is not Yours by Oyeyemi.

>18 Kristelh: I have What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours on the shelves and may get to it next month.

The September thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/334716

I finished What is not Yours Is not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi. This is a book of somewhat interconnected stories with keys and puppets. I can't say I fully understand these stories but the author's writing is wonderful and easy to read. Keys would imply locks and puppets would imply being manipulated by other, etc. The not fully understanding these stories fits the title; What is not yours is not yours.... I would read more by this author.

Sharpe's Enemy by Bernard Cornwell is on sale for $1.99 from various retailers.