Marzahn, Mon Amour – Katja Oskamp (2019, transl. Jo Heinrich 2022) 141 pages
Marzahn, Mon Amour is a novella I’d been meaning to read for a while and I’m delighted to have finally got to it. Based on the author’s experience of retraining as a chiropodist in her middle-age, it is essentially a series of character sketches of her clients.
Initially her training is a struggle and she’s unsure of her new career:
“We had reached a low point, at people’s feet, and even there we were failing.”
“From writer to chiropodist – what a spectacular come down. I had forgotten how much people, the looks on their faces and their well-meant advice, got on my nerves.”
But on qualifying she gets a job in a salon in the titular area of Berlin, and begins to find her vocation:
“As always, the weather here in Marzahn, once the biggest expense of plattenbau prefab tower blocks in the former East Germany, seems more intense than in the centre. The seasons have more of a smell about them.”
Her boss is Tiffy “a grandmother, albeit a non-practising one”; Flocke is the chaotic nail technician. The chapters take the names of her clients, and Oskamp expertly captures a sense of the person in very few words:
Herr Paulke: “whenever I laughed at something that Herr Paulke said in his matter-of-fact way, emotion almost imperceptibly flashed across his face, a mix of incredulity, pride and shame. He was no longer used to anyone paying him any attention.”
The Mon Amour affection the author feels for her clients shines through. Often these are elderly people, disregarded by society, and Oskamp gets to know them over a period of months and even years. The act of caring for their feet is intimate, especially for those who may now be alone and not have much gentleness in their lives.
They all have stories to tell, such as Gerlinde Bonkat, who arrived as a refugee:
“She formulates crystal clear, quotable sentences and speaks an accentless German, with a faintly Nordic hint to its melody.”
Which isn’t to say Oskamp likes all her clients. Herr Pietsch is a former government worker who fails to realise his days of power are over: “All your life you’ve mistaken your position for your personality.” And there’s a disturbing portrait of a mother and daughter who visit where there is a query of elder abuse.
But generally Marzahn, Mon Amour is a gentle read.
“Frau Frenzel is seventy years old. She views the world with a cheerful contempt and won’t let anything or anyone spoil her mood. She reminds me of a hedgehog, with her nose perkily pointing upwards, lively button eyes and grey spiked mullet straight out of the 80s […] Amy, with whom Frau Frenzel shares her life, is a short haired dachshund.”
A lovely read and a wonderful tribute to the writer’s clients.
madame bibi lophile recommends 
I read it too and yes, it was a lovely read.
It makes us think about the special kind of relationship we have with hairdressers, beauticians, chiropodists, and for people with chronic illnesses, with their nurse or physio.
Professionals that you see regularly, spend a bit of time with and it’s usually some quality time as it is some self-care time in a rather quiet environment. You end up knowing quite a bit of each other’s life, when you think of it.
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There can be a real intimacy in those moments of care which others provide, can’t there? I think what struck me reading this was that it was so true with chiropody, because it’s not glamorous at all, and for so many of her clients it was essential rather than a treat. She was there for them.
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Exactly. She does an important job for the well-being of her clients.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. Emma’s comment is spot on, as is your reply. I loved the way she celebrated the camaraderie between colleagues, too.
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Yes it did feel like a celebration, it was so affectionate. Her colleagues were such characters.
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I started reading this but put it aside for some unremembered, not very good reason. I say “not very good reason” because it was evident from the first few pages that it was an engaging, very readable book! Your review has reminded me not to forget about this one — thanks!
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Sometimes it’s not the right time even for a book we know we’ll ultimately enjoy! I hope this is a lovely read for you when you return to it 🙂
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You’re having a great month of reading so far methinks! And I don’t have to add another one to my list today because I have read it already. I loved being reminded of why I really enjoyed this book. As you and others have observed, the regular, intimate treatment often over many years, really facilitated the development of quite deep relationships. I remember being quite surprisingly moved by this little gem and I appreciated the insights into a place of which I had very little knowledge.
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Yes the month is going well so far!
It is moving, as you say. She captures the everyday gentleness so well.
Like you I knew very little about Marzahn and enjoyed the portrait she created.
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A quirky subject but I love the quotes, especially “a grandmother, albeit a non-practising one”. I may even be tempted by this one…
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Hooray! I really hope so FF!
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I remember reading about this one when it came out and thinking it sounded interesting – your review makes me think even more so!
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It is really interesting. It manages to be heart-warming without sentimental, I really enjoyed it.
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I have this and everyone I know seems to love it. I really need to get to it soon!
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I hope you enjoy it Cathy!
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Starting from her remembering how much people got on her nerves this sounds brilliant, but it’s such a valuable service she’s providing as well, a must read I think!
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It is great because it’s not sentimental about her clients at all, but still so affectionate. They clearly mean a lot to her.
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What an interesting looking book! Is there a lot about actual feet, though? (I’m a bit funny about feet). We are so attached to the people who work on us: my hairdresser retired recently and I nearly cried when he told me and had to rush to the bookshop to treat myself to a new hardback book!
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There are a few descriptions of feet but nothing major!
I completely understand about your hairdresser, it took me ages to find mine and now I’m very attached! Book shopping was a very wise consolation 😊
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Who’d’ve thought that chiropody would provide such rich character studies. I loved this book, it was gentle and caring with a positive outlook. She has a new book out which I must look out for.
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Great to hear you loved this too Annabel.
I didn’t know she had a new book – I’ll look out for it, thank you!
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I was going to mention the same quote that FF highlighted from your post: it just made me laugh! Plus, of course, generally enjoying stories about different kinds of work…I’m sure I would enjoy this one as well.
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It’s a great phrase isn’t it! I hope you do enjoy this one, it’s a lovely read.
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