Kristopher Jansma’s “Our Narrow Hiding Places” is not just a story of a family grappling with loss and its aftermath; it’s a powerful exploration of how history, both personal and collective, is woven into the very fabric of our beings. The novel delves into the lives of the Visser family, whose lives are irrevocably altered by the disappearance of their patriarch, Peter, in the wake of a devastating flood.
Jansma skillfully intertwines the family’s present-day struggles with the ghosts of their past. Peter’s disappearance triggers a cascade of memories, revealing a family history steeped in trauma and secrets. We learn of Peter’s own father, who served in Vietnam, carrying the weight of war and its horrors etched onto his soul. The novel meticulously explores how this intergenerational trauma, passed down through generations, manifests in Peter’s anxieties, his silence, and ultimately, his disappearance.
The narrative also delves into the broader historical context of the Visser family, highlighting their Dutch heritage and the legacy of colonization. The novel reflects upon the ways in which historical injustices, like the exploitation of indigenous populations, continue to shape the lives of individuals even generations later. The Visser family’s struggle to reconcile with their past and the lingering impact of colonialism on their present adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.
Through the lens of the Visser family, Jansma explores how history is not merely a collection of facts and dates, but a lived experience that shapes our bodies, minds, and relationships. The novel intricately portrays how trauma, both personal and collective, leaves its mark on our physical and emotional well-being. We see this in Peter’s disappearance, in the children’s anxieties, and in the family’s struggle to cope with the aftermath of the flood.
The title itself, “Our Narrow Hiding Places,” reflects this deep connection between history and our physicality. These “hiding places” represent the spaces where we store our memories, our fears, our anxieties, and the weight of our past. They are the physical manifestations of history, residing within us, shaping our present and influencing our future.
Jansma’s novel invites readers to reflect on their own family histories, their personal experiences of trauma, and the broader historical context that shapes their lives. It challenges us to recognize the ways in which history is not just a distant event, but a living presence, woven into the very fabric of our being. By delving into the Visser family’s story, Jansma reminds us that we are all products of history, forever connected to the past, both in our bodies and in our minds.
