The History of History
Ida Hattemer-Higgins
2011
336 pages
Published by Knopf
This book was weird, even for me. Simply put, it’s the story of a young woman’s descent into (and out of, sort of) madness. And I’m going to give away the whole story (at least the surface story) here, people, so fair warning.
Margaret is an American, living and working in Berlin. When we first see her, she is walking out of the forest, her hands caked with dirt. She seems to have forgotten some of her immediate past. Two years later, she still doesn’t remember (although she’s not trying to, either) and she receives an invitation to a doctor’s appointment. When she tries to explain to the doctor’s office that there’s a mistake, that she’s Margaret Taub, not Täubner, the doctor insists that the appointment is for her.
And this is where the weirdness starts. Margaret goes to the appointment. And she submits to a gynecological exam, speculum and all, even though the appointment wasn’t under her name, the doctor creeps her out, and she starts to realize the doctor is practically blind. Really, Margaret? You seem to be lacking in common sense.
After the incident with the speculum, I almost stopped reading. But I admit I was curious as to where this all was going.
So the doctor shows Margaret a film (all the while with the speculum still in place), and then she leaves (luckily without the speculum), and the next day the buildings of Berlin are made of flesh. Yes, flesh.
And Margaret, who has always been interested in the history of Hitler and Nazis, becomes obsessed. She reads up on Magda Goebbels, who poisoned her six children before committing suicide with her husband in Hitler’s bunker, and then she begins to see Magda as a hawk-woman, every where she goes. She tracks down the story of a Jewish family who committed suicide rather than live in Nazi Berlin and she plays cards with the ghostly mother (they played Hearts, if you were wondering). She becomes obsessed with an old man who was part of the SS, and assigned to Hitler’s bunker, and she impersonates a journalist so that she can talk to him. Later, she impersonates no one when she returns and tries to kill him.
While Margaret is struggling with her delusions, she is also starting to remember. There’s Amadeus, the older married man who she was having an affair with. And Vitaly, the poor schmuck who loved her. And Christoph, her father who suffered from mental illness. And Christoph, her young son who she left on Amadeus’s doorstep. Who then died, because Amadeus didn’t come home as Margaret expected. And who she buried in the forest.
She also learns about her family’s past (and this is a bit out of order, as some of these revelations come before the memories). About her mom, who also had an affair with Amadeus. And her grandfather Täubner, who was a Nazi. And her great-aunt…the creepy gynecologist.
So it all ties together in the end.
There are some interesting statements in the book, amidst all the dead Nazis and fleshy buildings. A couple of examples (and no page numbers, as I read this on the kobo app, which does weird things with pages and chapters).
“You’ve been reading history so that it will be easier to shed your own flesh. That is the history of history – the violence against the body for the sake of the skeleton.” Chapter 12
“Once you’ve met something unimaginable you can never unmeet it again. It will never be disentwined from instinct.” Chapter 17
This one will make you think about the role of the past in an individual’s life. So…lots to think about, and I’m not really sure what to think about it all.
This sounds really strange.
Interesting that I also reviewed a book today where one character didn’t realize another was blind for a long time…
That sounds like one hella weird book. When you said it takes place in Berlin, I was almost sold because I love Berlin, but after hearing everything else about it, I’m not sure it’s my cup of tea.
Beth S.´s last [type] ..The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex- Audiobook Review
Huh. Kinda sounds like one of my favorite authors–Thane Rosenbaum–but totally on crack. Huh.
I’m kind of intrigued.
Andi´s last [type] ..Atonement by Ian McEwan
Oh wow, this sounds like a very weird and surreal book! I am not sure if I would get past the speculum point, and am not sure what to make of this book at all. I am kind of inspired to read it after reading your review because it just sounds too strange to ignore, but, buildings made of flesh? I just don’t know, Jill!
This sounds very darn strange! and creepy!
When I first saw the title I thought, “oh, perfect, I LOVE history.” And then I read the first paragraph of your review.
It sounds unsettling…
Wallace´s last [type] ..Reading Road Trip
What a strange sounding book. I like idea of examining the role of the past in an individuals life, but I’m not quite sure what to think about the book.
Stefanie´s last [type] ..AfterWord
Hm, this sounds like one of those books that would do nothing but confuse me.
bermudaonion (Kathy)´s last [type] ..Review- Amaryllis in Blueberry
I’m weirded out just by the review….
Trisha´s last [type] ..Book Review- This Girl is Different
That just might be the strangest-sounding book that I’ve ever heard of.
How utterly bizarre. Definitely not for me.
Melissa´s last [type] ..Sweet Emotion- Autism Style
Uh, when I saw this title I thought the book was a scholarly work on the history of historiography, from the Enlightenment’s path to progress, to the Marxist notions of class struggle as a universal ahistorical force, to the contemporary postmodernists.
It appears I was wrong.
EL Fay´s last [type] ..Gender- Subjection- and Hegemony OH MY
This is totally not what I thought it would be about. I was thinking historiography, not fleshy buildings.
In slightly related comments, the word “flesh” is one of my absolutely least favorite words in all the universe. :p
Jenny´s last [type] ..Review- The Flying Troutmans- Miriam Toews
sounds a bit out there for me…i tend to prefer my books a bit more concrete than abstract. sort of like how i like my art.
nat @book, line, and sinker´s last [type] ..Book Blogging Advice II- If I Build It- WILL They Come
I think this book would give me nightmares! Sounds pretty freaky and different. You do read a lot of unique books.
Jenners´s last [type] ..Reviews- The Help- Fool and The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole- 1999-2001
This does sound weird but also very intriguing. I really like that last quote–so true.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Sunday Salon – February 27
Considering I read only your first paragraph and last sentence (thanks for the spoiler warning), I’m basically in the dark. But I’m curious.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Dont-Miss Books to Read in March 2011
Well, the quotes confused me so the book may too much for my limited intellect!
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Yikes. Skipster!
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