Blending of Diverse Layers of Memory in a Memoir

Abstract

The current research highlights memory as a central element in memoir writing, which shapes the narrative through both distant and recent recollections. It is based on the book “The Rooster House: A Ukrainian Family Memoir” by Victoria Belim (2024), which was written during the current war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. It makes the article vital and testifies to its novelty. In the discussed memoir, memory plays a multifaceted role, being represented explicitly and implicitly within the narrative structure. Distant memories are mostly related to the author’s childhood experiences, going back to the Soviet times, while recent memories provide a lens for contemporary reflection and identity construction. Explicit representations of memory are conveyed through direct references using such words as recall, recollection, memories and remember. However, implicit memories can be perceived through vivid descriptions of details, events, emotions and physical sensations which bind the past with the present and bring them to life. It is notable that both explicit and implicit layers of memory enable the author to connect her personal experiences with the historical and cultural background, making the issues touched upon in the memoir not only personal but universal, too. Victoria Belim’s personal recollections turn out crucial in the complicated process of redefining her Ukrainian identity. The memoir’s timeline spans from the author’s personal past to her present, extending toward her personal hopes for the future, for the victory of Ukraine in the war which has been going on for three years. Despite the fact that the author and her family experienced tragic events and were exposed to trauma, and the memoir is permeated through with pain and grief, it affects the reader by its optimism and life-assertiveness.