In a captivating conversation with Maris Kreizman, Ruth Madievsky sheds light on her portrayal of the semi-cursed nightlife in Los Angeles in her latest book, “Salvation”. Delving into the conception of the enigmatic bar at the heart of the story, Madievsky paints a vivid picture of its ambiance, aesthetics, and peculiarities.
The Allure of LA’s Nocturnal Haunts
Madievsky, aware of the abundance of semi-cursed nocturnal haunts in LA, describes the intriguing allure of these establishments. While patrons revel in the charm of exquisite chandeliers and delectable cocktails, there always lingers an air of oddity, as if witnessing a dog groomer offering mouthwash to an obviously underage teenager. Seeking to create a sanctuary for misfits who acknowledge their innate flaws but refuse to confront them, Madievsky conjured up a bar where these individuals could find solace.
A Sanctuary for the Flawed
This refuge exists as a space where these flawed souls can unite under one roof, detached from the norms of society. Sticky floors and ill-fated encounters in bathroom stalls form the backdrop, with the narrator even encountering a mishap involving a passionate tryst and a Star of David necklace that leaves a lingering cut on her lip. Additionally, a curious scene involving a beer-drinking goat emits a dissonant and jarring sound, akin to a penny being blended in a blender.
Composite of Dive Bars
While Madievsky herself hasn’t frequented this specific bar, she amalgamates various dive bars to create a composite image of the establishment. It becomes a sanctuary where individuals attempting to deceive the world while knowing they will never succeed find refuge in one another’s company, all beneath the gaze of an indifferent deity.
Sisterly Bonds and Chaotic Nights
As the narrative leads readers into Salvation, it becomes apparent that the protagonist accompanies her older sister, Debbie, who dresses her up, promising a fun-filled girls’ night out. However, the anticipated atmosphere takes an unexpected turn. Madievsky explains how the narrator, despite the chaotic and domineering nature of her older sister, yearns for a night that embodies the quintessential sisterly bond—a respite from the emotional abyss she often finds herself in. Hopeful yet aware of the toxicity that accompanies her sister, the narrator struggles to sever ties completely.
The Weight of Family Ties
The weight of being Debbie’s sister is described by the narrator as all-consuming but also as the closest semblance of self-identity she knows. Madievsky and Kreizman discuss the familiar experience of being swept along by someone larger than life, acknowledging the inherent danger while fearing the void that would accompany their absence. The author further explores the complex relationship between the Holocaust, Soviet terror, and the protagonist’s inability to sever ties with her sister. The trauma of losing relatives and the hope that toxic relationships may eventually improve intertwine in a poignant narrative thread.
Inherited Trauma and Mental Health
The story also delves into the narrator’s family dynamics, focusing on her mother’s debilitating paranoia. With a heritage haunted by family lore of a murdered grandfather and relatives who perished in Babi Yar, the mother lives in perpetual fear that the tides could turn at any moment. This anxiety impedes her ability to function within society. The narrator, both terrified and conscious of her own susceptibility to mental illness, grapples with the notion that these afflictions may be hereditary. While enabling her mother becomes a survival strategy, the narrator recognizes the toxicity in perpetuating illusions and questions her role in digesting inherited trauma.
Generational Divides and the Quest for Therapy
The conversation concludes with an exploration of the generational divide experienced by immigrants and their descendants seeking mental health support. Madievsky reflects on the reluctance of older generations to embrace therapy and medication, stemming from a sense of embarrassment and the notion that their struggles were trivial compared to the hardships they endured. The narrative echoes the profound need for therapy, often inaccessible in times of survival and acute crisis.
Madievsky and Kreizman touch on the delicate balance between survival, the quest for self-discovery, and the challenges faced by immigrant families and communities. The characters in “Salvation” grapple with these complexities, ultimately highlighting the enduring, if tumultuous, bonds that define the essence of family.
