Oida

Oida by Marta Michalak is a quietly powerful debut novel that interweaves the voices of three generations of Polish women – Jadzia (the grandmother), Teresa (the mother) and Magda (the daughter-narrator) – each shaped by her own era, dialect and social reality. Set against the backdrop of a small-town upbringing and the challenges of moving to the big city, the novel offers a sensitive exploration of identity, belonging, and the simple yet profound act of speaking one’s truth.

Magda, saddled with a mortgage and a childless, loveless marriage, finds herself caught between her rural roots and cosmopolitan ambitions. She grapples with the embarrassment of her regional accent and a persistent sense of alienation in the urban environment. Meanwhile, Teresa, intent on having the last word, clings to folk beliefs and her own interpretation of maternal wisdom, and Jadzia, who barely finished primary school, embodies stoicism and the unarticulated sacrifices of her generation. But Oida – a dialect word meaning ‘shame’ – transcends generational divides. Michalak’s prose is rooted in local Mazovian speech, rich in warmth, humour and unvarnished authenticity. Through the rituals of cooking, shared stories and frank dialogue, the novel becomes a celebration of the spoken word and a reclamation of the female voices often silenced by class and tradition.

Part of a growing trend in contemporary, female-centred fiction with a strongsense of place, Oida will resonate with readers drawn to stories of intergenerational relationships, rural-to-urban transitions, and the nuanced power dynamics of language.