A Winding Path Towards Truth
Luxenberg's investigations take him (and the reader) through a variety of subjects: the history of mental institutions and institutionalization in the twentieth century, the American eugenics movement, the life of Detroit's Jewish community, and the horrors that many of these immigrants sought refuge from. The author refuses to believe that his mother, Beth, has kept her sister's existence secret all his life (always insisting she was an only child) simply out of shame from the stigma that mental illness carried. Throughout this journey, Luxenberg remains skeptical and aware of the need for objectivity, and of his double role as researcher and family member. In the end, the facts are what they are, and the story remains poignantly open-ended.
The mystery begins with a casual, second-hand comment made someone who had taken care of Luxenberg’s mother during her last years. The woman remembers Beth suddenly telling her that she had a sister, before quickly changing the subject. The news hits the family like a bomb, and sends its members scattering in different directions: some of them believe the matter is best left alone, but others (like the author) decide to unearth Beth’s secret.
The beauty of Annie's Ghosts lies in the fact that, by the end, we are offered neither definite answers nor a clear way to judge Beth Luxenberg for having kept her sister a secret. No long-lost photos are discovered, no revealing documents turn up (other than the routine papers from doctors and institutions). Memories are fuzzy, and family members contradict one another. The author is as much a traveler as the reader, and this strengthens our connection to both him and his process of discovery.
War, Shame, and Mental Illness
One of the most fascinating aspects of Annie’s Ghosts is its portrayal of a complex society fighting to gain a foothold in a fast-developing city. The Jewish population of mid-century Detroit is a bustling mix of long-time immigrants (like Luxenberg’s grandparents) and survivors of the Second World War (such as the author’s aunt). It’s a world of economic struggle, hard work, and a desire to fit in and be “normal.”
Into this world is born Annie Luxenberg, a child whose future will, indeed, involve struggle; but who will also be denied a productive life as a member of her society. A deformed leg will lead to an amputation and prosthetic limb, and from that moment on her mental state will decline progressively. Luxenberg’s investigations cannot establish for certain whether her mental illness was brought on by her physical handicap, or whether it developed separately. All he knows is that, suddenly, Annie Luxenberg disappears from the family home and her sister’s life.
The author’s research unveils what Annie’s society thought about people like her. She is considered “deformed” and “feeble-minded,” and her family must defend her against the opinions of those who agree with the era’s views on eugenics: that “weak” newborns should not be allowed to live. For these people, Annie is a waste of her family’s (and society’s) time and resources.
Thus, the reader needs to take into account this era’s opinions on mental health before passing judgement on Beth. Although Luxenberg doesn’t hide the fact that he thinks his mother’s behavior towards Annie and those who knew her is reprehensible, he also doesn’t condemn her for wanting to have a happy life for herself, and thinking that hiding Annie’s existence was the best way to do so.
Book Details
Steve Luxenberg. Annie’s Ghosts. New York: Hyperion Books, 2009. ISBN: 978-1401322472. Steve Luxenberg's website.
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