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A review by saareman
Half Swimmer by Katja Oskamp
4.0
Berlin, Mon Amour
A review of the Peirene Press paperback (September 17, 2024) translated by [a:Jo Heinrich|22035443|Jo Heinrich|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] from the original German language [b:Halbschwimmer|8606413|Halbschwimmer|Katja Oskamp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677800032l/8606413._SY75_.jpg|3993962] (2003).
[3.56 average on the 9 stories, rounded up to a 4 star]
German author Katja Oskamp had a breakthrough success with Jo Heinrich's English translation of [b:Marzahn, mon amour: Geschichten einer Fußpflegerin|49947323|Marzahn, mon amour Geschichten einer Fußpflegerin|Katja Oskamp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563784047l/49947323._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72234860] (2019) as [b:Marzahn, mon amour|59737256|Marzahn, mon amour|Katja Oskamp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1638390870l/59737256._SY75_.jpg|72234860] (2022). That book won the 2023 Dublin Literary Award and was shortlisted for the 2022 Warwick Prize for Women in Translation. It charmed with its author's proxy telling stories about life as a podiatrist in the former East Berlin borough of Marzahn.
Half Swimmer is a translation of the author's first book and is instead a coming-of-age story spanning about 15 years. It also uses the "short stories as a novel" structure of the later book. The main character Tanja is 13-years-old during the final years of East Germany at the beginning and is 28-years-old in a post reunification Berlin at the conclusion. It is a harder nut to crack, especially as the introductory story will likely repel readers with its seeming acceptance of childhood abuse. That story sets the stage for the overall arc of a young woman seeking out father & authority figures as lovers/husbands in place of a distant real-life father.
The issue of living under a totalitarian dictatorship in East Germany with its Stasi secret police is barely touched on. Story 4 with its informer tales and fear of authority has an aura of foreboding but there is not much further to that. Story 7 mentions that the Berlin Wall has come down, but only as an aside and almost as an afterthought.
In 2024 this reads as historical fiction, even though it wasn't at the time of its original 2003 writing. As is the case with most English translations there is no helpful introduction or afterword to provide context. So in that absence, I make my own interpretation that the entire arc of previous abuse and the later search for authority figures is a metaphor for the life under an abusive system followed by the tentative (half-swimming) steps into a hope for a future life with an acceptance of a past which you cannot change. Your interpretation may differ.
The following are my individual story ratings and synopses as previously posted in status updates. All ratings still stand from my initial impressions. I don't think of these as spoilers, but some may want to read them with that possible consideration.
1. Rolf and Hopsi *** A gut punch start to the book with a story that begins with a pet hamster Rolf and rabbits Hopsi 1 & 2, and turns into an account of repeated child molestation by the neighbour “Uncle” Rolf. A flashforward to the future at the ending gives the impression that the childhood trauma has been blocked out.
2. Half Swimmer ** This seems a bit short and inconsequential to be the title story for the book, but I suppose the title is meant symbolically to cover the whole arc of the book. The German Halbschwimmer is explained in the epigraph as “A German term for one who has recently learned to swim but hasn’t mastered the technique.” Otherwise a story about being force taught to swim and skin peeling (from sun burn?).
3. Herr O *** Tanja observes how Herr Oschlies, a work colleague of both her teacher mother and military father, is a regular visitor at their home, especially when the father is away.
4. The Letter **** Tanja has written some sort of letter to the Ministry of Education about which everyone is upset including her parents and teachers. A ministry official is scheduled to have a meeting with her at the school.
5. Ruckedigu ***** Tanja tells stories of times with her grandparents. Riding to shopping along with them in their 2-seater Krause Duo motorcycle/car. Time spent with her grandfather at his pigeon coop. My favourite so far from this book. The title seems to be a German onomatopoeic word* to express the sounds a pigeon makes.
Footnote
* GR Friend Berengaria kindly researched the origin of this word and found it in the original German language story of Cinderella as collected by The Brothers Grimm.
A Krause Duo. Image sourced from Wikipedia.
6. What Custom Strictly Divided **** Tanja (who is maybe 18 now) brings her 48-year-old boyfriend Kurt (an actor) along as her New Year’s Eve date to hear Beethoven’s 9th with her parents. Disapproval occurs. The title is a translated line from Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” as used in the symphony's Finale choral movement: "Was die Mode streng geteilt."
7. Seventy-Two Steps *** Tanja has broken up with Kurt and has moved in with Nina, whose front door is 72 steps from a corner curb. Benno and Jeff are housemates/lovers. All have some connection to the theatrical or film world. As an aside it is mentioned that the Wall has come down. Tanja discovers she is pregnant and goes walking while playing the “don’t step on the cracks” game in order to delay telling her parents. After a party all is resolved.
8. Cut *** Tanja attends an opera premiere where her husband Konrad is the conductor. The performance goes well and there is a celebration afterwards. Tanja is constantly thinking about getting her hair cut though, while drinking as much champagne as she can.
9. Back on Speaking Terms ***** It is 10 years since Tanja was with the actor Kurt (so she is 28?) and now he has died. She goes to the funeral where there are many theatre people. Surprisingly her father turns up as well, but they avoid speaking to each other. Tanja thinks of the happy times with Kurt and how he was a replacement figure for a cold-hearted military father.
A review of the Peirene Press paperback (September 17, 2024) translated by [a:Jo Heinrich|22035443|Jo Heinrich|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] from the original German language [b:Halbschwimmer|8606413|Halbschwimmer|Katja Oskamp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677800032l/8606413._SY75_.jpg|3993962] (2003).
[3.56 average on the 9 stories, rounded up to a 4 star]
German author Katja Oskamp had a breakthrough success with Jo Heinrich's English translation of [b:Marzahn, mon amour: Geschichten einer Fußpflegerin|49947323|Marzahn, mon amour Geschichten einer Fußpflegerin|Katja Oskamp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563784047l/49947323._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72234860] (2019) as [b:Marzahn, mon amour|59737256|Marzahn, mon amour|Katja Oskamp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1638390870l/59737256._SY75_.jpg|72234860] (2022). That book won the 2023 Dublin Literary Award and was shortlisted for the 2022 Warwick Prize for Women in Translation. It charmed with its author's proxy telling stories about life as a podiatrist in the former East Berlin borough of Marzahn.
Half Swimmer is a translation of the author's first book and is instead a coming-of-age story spanning about 15 years. It also uses the "short stories as a novel" structure of the later book. The main character Tanja is 13-years-old during the final years of East Germany at the beginning and is 28-years-old in a post reunification Berlin at the conclusion. It is a harder nut to crack, especially as the introductory story will likely repel readers with its seeming acceptance of childhood abuse. That story sets the stage for the overall arc of a young woman seeking out father & authority figures as lovers/husbands in place of a distant real-life father.
The issue of living under a totalitarian dictatorship in East Germany with its Stasi secret police is barely touched on. Story 4 with its informer tales and fear of authority has an aura of foreboding but there is not much further to that. Story 7 mentions that the Berlin Wall has come down, but only as an aside and almost as an afterthought.
In 2024 this reads as historical fiction, even though it wasn't at the time of its original 2003 writing. As is the case with most English translations there is no helpful introduction or afterword to provide context. So in that absence, I make my own interpretation that the entire arc of previous abuse and the later search for authority figures is a metaphor for the life under an abusive system followed by the tentative (half-swimming) steps into a hope for a future life with an acceptance of a past which you cannot change. Your interpretation may differ.
The following are my individual story ratings and synopses as previously posted in status updates. All ratings still stand from my initial impressions. I don't think of these as spoilers, but some may want to read them with that possible consideration.
1. Rolf and Hopsi *** A gut punch start to the book with a story that begins with a pet hamster Rolf and rabbits Hopsi 1 & 2, and turns into an account of repeated child molestation by the neighbour “Uncle” Rolf. A flashforward to the future at the ending gives the impression that the childhood trauma has been blocked out.
2. Half Swimmer ** This seems a bit short and inconsequential to be the title story for the book, but I suppose the title is meant symbolically to cover the whole arc of the book. The German Halbschwimmer is explained in the epigraph as “A German term for one who has recently learned to swim but hasn’t mastered the technique.” Otherwise a story about being force taught to swim and skin peeling (from sun burn?).
3. Herr O *** Tanja observes how Herr Oschlies, a work colleague of both her teacher mother and military father, is a regular visitor at their home, especially when the father is away.
4. The Letter **** Tanja has written some sort of letter to the Ministry of Education about which everyone is upset including her parents and teachers. A ministry official is scheduled to have a meeting with her at the school.
5. Ruckedigu ***** Tanja tells stories of times with her grandparents. Riding to shopping along with them in their 2-seater Krause Duo motorcycle/car. Time spent with her grandfather at his pigeon coop. My favourite so far from this book. The title seems to be a German onomatopoeic word* to express the sounds a pigeon makes.
Footnote
* GR Friend Berengaria kindly researched the origin of this word and found it in the original German language story of Cinderella as collected by The Brothers Grimm.
"Weil ihre Füße zu groß waren, schnitten sie sich Zeh und Ferse ab. Doch die Tauben verrieten sie und gurrten: „Rucke di gu, rucke di gu, Blut ist im Schuh."
Translation: Because her feet were too big, she cut off her toes and heel. But the pigeons betrayed her and cooed "Rucke di gu, rucke di gu, there's blood in the shoe".
A Krause Duo. Image sourced from Wikipedia.
6. What Custom Strictly Divided **** Tanja (who is maybe 18 now) brings her 48-year-old boyfriend Kurt (an actor) along as her New Year’s Eve date to hear Beethoven’s 9th with her parents. Disapproval occurs. The title is a translated line from Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” as used in the symphony's Finale choral movement: "Was die Mode streng geteilt."
7. Seventy-Two Steps *** Tanja has broken up with Kurt and has moved in with Nina, whose front door is 72 steps from a corner curb. Benno and Jeff are housemates/lovers. All have some connection to the theatrical or film world. As an aside it is mentioned that the Wall has come down. Tanja discovers she is pregnant and goes walking while playing the “don’t step on the cracks” game in order to delay telling her parents. After a party all is resolved.
8. Cut *** Tanja attends an opera premiere where her husband Konrad is the conductor. The performance goes well and there is a celebration afterwards. Tanja is constantly thinking about getting her hair cut though, while drinking as much champagne as she can.
9. Back on Speaking Terms ***** It is 10 years since Tanja was with the actor Kurt (so she is 28?) and now he has died. She goes to the funeral where there are many theatre people. Surprisingly her father turns up as well, but they avoid speaking to each other. Tanja thinks of the happy times with Kurt and how he was a replacement figure for a cold-hearted military father.