Beyond the diagnosis: Exploring Identity and Storytelling in Oyeyemi’s “A New New Me”
Helen Oyeyemi’s latest novel, “A New new Me,” arrives amidst a growing public conversation surrounding Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Often shrouded in myth and misunderstanding, DID – formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder – is a complex condition typically rooted in severe childhood trauma. recent visibility on platforms like TikTok has brought both awareness and, unfortunately, misinformation to the forefront. Though, Oyeyemi’s work doesn’t aim to explain DID; it uses its framework to explore something far more universal: the fragmented nature of self and the power of narrative.
This isn’t a novel about healing through integration, a common therapeutic goal for those with DID. Instead, Oyeyemi presents the Kingas – a collection of distinct selves inhabiting one body – who are content with their arrangement. They’ve found a supportive psychiatrist, Dr. Holý, who respects their unique existence. The backstory is present: a criminal father, a childhood marked by his absence, and a supportive but geographically distant upbringing with grandparents. But the focus isn’t on why the Kingas are the way they are, but rather how they are.
What “A New New Me” Truly Investigates
oyeyemi consistently uses her fiction to dissect the very act of storytelling. The novel asks basic questions:
What are stories?
Where do they originate?
Why do we feel compelled to share them?
Dialog, at its core, is storytelling. We constantly construct narratives to share experiences, navigate relationships, and even define our own realities. Therefore, internal dialogue – the conversations we have with ourselves – is simply another form of narrative construction.
“A New New Me” unfolds like a self-serve frozen yogurt bar: layered, unpredictable, and surprisingly satisfying. A central, subtly haunting element is the relationship between Kinga and her brother, Benek.
Benek is an actor, professionally embodying different characters.
Kinga lives as multiple distinct identities.
This dynamic creates a compelling tension. Benek can always return to a singular self,while Kinga’s experience is one of constant,inherent multiplicity. The mystery surrounding Benek’s life and career adds a layer of intrigue that lingers throughout the novel.
A Novel Infused with Wit and Wonder
Oyeyemi’s writing has evolved, becoming increasingly humorous alongside its inherent complexity. “A New New Me” continues this trend, showcasing a playful wit through:
Quirky Personalities: The Kingas possess delightfully eccentric traits (“lounge around sending gourmet tourists spiraling…”).
Unconventional Professions: From perfumer’s muse to crisis-manufacturing tour guide, their jobs are wonderfully bizarre.
Whimsical World-Building: The novel’s atmosphere is infused with a lighthearted, almost surreal quality (think the “Luxury Enamel Posse”).
This blend of intellectual depth and playful humor makes “A New New Me” a thoroughly enjoyable read.it’s a novel that invites – and rewards – multiple readings,revealing new nuances with each exploration.
Oyeyemi doesn’t offer easy answers or tidy resolutions.rather, she presents a compelling exploration of identity, storytelling, and the beautiful, messy complexity of being human. It’s a book that stays with you long after you turn the final page, prompting reflection on the narratives we construct – both for ourselves and for the world.
About the author: Masad is a books and culture critic and the author of the novel “All My Mother’s Lovers” and the forthcoming novel “Beings.”
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