(reviewed by JD Jung)
“I was an inconsequential being who had suddenly become deathly afraid of life.”
Our present-day narrator suffers from mental/psychological disorders: frequent panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, substance abuse, and changing levels of agoraphobia. Eventually she breaks off all social contact and won’t even leave the house.
Her most bizarre belief though, is that she feels a kinship to the point of obsession with Ukrainian social and political activist Viacheslav Lypynsky (1882 – 1931), who came to prominence just after WWI.
The chapters change between her perspective and that of Lypynsky’s. We peek into her life and thoughts and how by her studying him, she hopes to discover herself.
However, the true allure lies in the portrayal of Lypynsky and his idiosyncrasies, along with the story’s approach to Ukrainian history. Forgottenness transforms what could have been a dry historical account into a riveting tale. In fact, I found myself researching not only Lypynsky, but also his contemporaries in the book, such as Yevhen Cykalenko, Ivan Franko, and Mykhailo Drahomanov.
This dual narrative works well with no confusion and serves multiple purposes. Readers with an interest in the human condition will find themselves engaged with the protagonist’s struggles. Simultaneously, Forgottenness serves as a fascinating window into Ukraine’s past, shedding light on the nation’s history and its possible relevance to its present-day struggles.
