Oblivion

Oblivion by Tanya Malyarchuk is a poignant exploration of memory, identity, and historical legacy. The novel intertwines the lives of two protagonists: a contemporary woman grappling with anxiety and a sense of disconnection, and Viacheslav Lypynsky, a Ukrainian historian and political thinker of Polish descent. As the woman delves into archival newspapers, she uncovers Lypynsky's forgotten contributions to Ukrainian statehood and philosophy. Through this dual narrative, Malyarchuk examines how personal and collective histories intertwine, and how the act of remembering can be both a burden and a path to self-discovery. The novel's metaphor of a "blue whale of memory" encapsulates the vastness and elusiveness of the past, emphasizing the importance of confronting forgotten histories to understand the present.