A review by susanneb01
Marzahn, mon amour: Geschichten einer Fußpflegerin by Katja Oskamp

4.0

Katja Oskamp, the struggling writer in a midlife crisis, decides to become a podiatrist/pedicurist and starts working at a salon in Marzahn, a neighborhood in Berlin that is known for its characteristic prefabricated housing units built during the late 70s by former East Germany. The book is a well written introduction to the neighborhood and some of her clients, mostly older people with an ordinary, sometimes difficult life. Some of the stories; albeit different, very much reminded me of former library patrons to whom library staff becomes an important contact for much more than just library business.
Ms. Oskamp must be a great listener with a big heart and lots of empathy. Her true enjoyment of her work and the special care
she gives their feet invite the clients to open up about their lives, their worries and wishes, which in turn allows her to make them the stars of her book.
A short, good read, but currently only available in German.