Slav Slut

Advantages: entertaining read with depth
Disadvantages: I couldn't find any

...I bet not many of you know Ukrainians living in GB, I do, though, I?ve even been to a Ukrainian-Orthodox wedding in the chapel of a college in Oxford; a friend of ours whose father is Ukrainian got married according to that rite. Among the guests were many elderly people, I remember them singing wonderfully. This memory has lingered in my mind for many years, it surfaced when I read about the book in question which would have attracted my attention anyway, though, because of the odd title - I like odd. It?s not improbable that the author?s parents were at the wedding, first generation immigrants tend to stick together. Marina Lewycka was born of Ukrainian parents in a refugee camp in Germany at the end of WWII and grew up in England, she?s married, has a daughter and teaches at university. She?s created a first-person narrator...

MALU 11.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewycka

Not the way to tackle immigration

Advantages: Some fine black humour
Disadvantages: Misplaced humour, issues poorly tackled, overly stereotypical

...With the subject of immigration dominating the news at the moment, Marina Lewycka's "Two Caravans" could hardly be more topical. The book tells the story of a group of immigrants who, at the beginning of the novel, find themselves crammed into two tiny caravans at a strawberry farm in Kent. The story is told through a succession of first person narratives from the main characters and also "Dog", a stray dog who attaches himself to the motley band of itinerant workers. I had high hopes for "Two Caravans" having read and enjoyed the author's debut novel "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian". I was also interested in how the sensitive subject of immigration would be handled. However, I found "Two Caravans" to be full of flaws, not merely in the subject matter but also the means the author uses to tell the story. Clearly Marina...

fizzytom 23.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Two Caravans - Marina Lewycka

Strawberry fields forever?

Advantages: Good yarn
Disadvantages: Bleak

...I spotted the novel 'Two Caravans' being heavily advertised in our local Waterstone's bookshop, due to the fact that it was based on immigrant workers in Kent (where I live). I read the back blurb, and, realising that this would be no 'Darling Buds of May' type Kentish story, but a more realistic exploration of life in this county in the new millennium, decided to buy it. However, I bought it from Sussex Stationers (part of British Stationers) up the road as it was half price at £3.99 as opposed to Waterstone's price of £7.99. I had heard of Marina Lewycka before, as her first novel was strangely entitled 'a Short History of Tractors in UKRAINIAN' (sic). I assumed that I was about to read a translated international novel, but apparently not. Marina is descended from the Ukraine, but due to hostilities at the end of the WWII, she...

orlando 07.06.2008 (08.06.2008) · Read review
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Review of Two Caravans - Marina Lewycka

There's no fool like an old fool

Advantages: Funny tale of a second marriage
Disadvantages: The dark side of life

...A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. I began reading A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian following my enjoyment of Two Caravans, by the same author, Marina Lewycka. Two Caravans was Lewycka's second novel, so I probably should have started with the Tractors which she published in 2005 as her first novel, following a writing career whereby she normally wrote non-fiction books regarding care of the elderly. She has several of these published for the charity Age Concern. To recap from my previous review, Marina is descended from the Ukraine, but due to hostilities at the end of the WWII, she was born in a refugee camp in Germany. She then grew up in England, where she studied at Keele University, and is a lecturer herself now, in Sheffield University, teaching Media Studies Again, as the title has...

orlando 14.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewycka

Are Ukranian Tractors your idea of good read?

Advantages: can be funny in parts, characterisation
Disadvantages: some characterisation overdrawn to the excess, can be harrowing in parts

...Has the world gone mad? People are actually reading a book entitled "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian". A book about farming machinery in a little known Slavonic language does not sound like a best seller to me. In fact it sounds like something that should be in a specialist university collection. In fact the title is somewhat misleading. The book is the debut novel by Marina Lewycka and is about culture clashes and the eccentricities of family life. Nikolai Mayeevska is a Ukrainian born octogenarian living in Peterborough in the east of England. His warring middle-aged daughters Vera and Nadezheda are aghast his plans to marry again only two year after the death of their beloved mother. They are even more against the marriage when they discover their new stepmother is a blond, big-busted Ukrainian gold digging tart Valentia...

duskmaiden 23.07.2006 (28.04.2008) · Read review
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Review of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewycka

Two Caravans, Nine Immigrant Workers and One Dog

Advantages: Thought provoking, both funny and serious, compelling plot
Disadvantages: A couple of contrived moments in the plot, some inconsistencies in the narrative

...~~~The Setting~~~ This book was recommended to me when down the pub with three girl (see how young we are!!) friends. Two of the three had read Marina Lewycka's very popular, critically acclaimed and award winning debut novel 'A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian' and had thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the three had started to read 'Two Caravans' and the rest of us decided that this would be a good first book for a 'book club' (between you and me, this is a means for us to legitimise a regular girl's evening down the pub). 'Tractors' (if I may use this as short hand) has 'its extraordinary distinctiveness, wit and heart' to thank for its success. I expected this and more of 'Two Caravans' given the recommendations and plaudits for the author. This book is slapstick funny and darkly sinister in turns. It has as its backdrop...

sonic0209 01.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Two Caravans - Marina Lewycka

A Short(ish) Opinion of this Book in English

Advantages: A good read, great characterisation
Disadvantages: May be put off by the Soviet names or book title or the cover

...A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian doesn't sound like a book that's worth reading, does it? But it's deceptive. It's not written in Ukrainian, it's not a translation from a book written in Ukrainian and it's not really about tractors. The title actually comes from the title of the book one of the characters is writing. Confusing, huh? So, why did I decide to read it? There were several reasons. I remember seeing an interview with the author Marina Lewycka on TV a while ago and she impressed me. The word 'Ukrainian' attracted me as I have been interested in all things Soviet since 1980. Then I read an online review which convinced me. The cover is unusual. It looks quite authentic and East European. In fact, it looks like the book is made from woodchip paper. The fonts used also make it look old-fashioned and dated. At the top...

KarenUK 24.06.2006 · Read review
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Review of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewycka

Our Marina Home from Home

Advantages: Peaceful, tranquil, beautiful and very friendly
Disadvantages: Can be expensive

... MARINA CARAVAN PARK GLASSON DOCK Marina Caravan Park is owned by South Lakeland Caravans. It is situated on the banks of the Lancaster Canal to the rear and overlooking the River Lune at the front and is near to the little village of Glasson Dock on the outskirts of the lovely city of Lancaster. The park is for static caravans only and has no touring site. It has 135 holiday homes that are all privately owned and are not available for subletting. The site is open from 1st March until 2nd January and is the perfect park for anyone interested in owning a holiday home. If you haven't recently been inside a static caravan (or holiday home as they are now known) you can't imagine just how comfortable and practical they are. There are new and used caravans for sale on Marina - the pre-owned caravans...

oldchem 18.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Marina Caravan Park, Glasson Dock, Lancashire

A Pearl at the Marina

Advantages: Right on the beach, great views
Disadvantages: None...eventually

...We'd had some pretty good hotels on our trip to Andalucia, and we hoped that the hotel we had picked for our final three days wouldn't be any different. We wanted a comfortable room in a hotel on the beach with a nice sea view, but nothing too remote so that we could still enjoy all the facilities of a resort. Did we get what we wanted? Well, read on... We booked the HOTEL PERLA MARINA, in the town of NERJA, through bancotel.com. This is a Spanish based travel site whereby you purchase 'cheques' for 50 euros each. Depending on the hotel, season etc, a room costs between 1-3 cheques per night. This can mean savings of over 60% in some cases. Being the intrepid bargain hunter (some would say tight-fisted git) that I am, I managed to book a series of 3 and 4 star hotels for 50 euros. This hotel was no exception. Nerja is around...

proxam 04.12.2004 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Perla Marina (Nerja)

Guide to immigrant life

Advantages: Easy to read
Disadvantages: Too short

...A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian by Marina Lewycka is a touching novel that delves into the world of second generation immigrants and their elders who are still struggling to integrate into British society. I won't give away the whole plot, but the book centres around an old Ukranian man who is struggling to justify his existence in old age and tries to help others in order to fulfill this need. He ends up being contacted by a well endowed woman from Ukraine who tells him that she needs his help. He brings her to the UK, where he has been living since world war II and they start living together, but not everyone is happy about it. The book gets its title from the novel that the main character is writing himself - A short history of tractors (in Ukranian). As an engineer in the Soviet Union, he worked on tractors and other...

amullett 07.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewycka