Customer Reviews: Read 184 more reviews...
 Squishy squashy, flippy floppy September 20, 2008
Two years after Nadia's mother dies, her 84 year old father marries voluptuous Ukranian Valentina, who is 36. Nadia and her sister Vera see through the gold-digger and bury the hatchet to unite in their determination to protect their father, who is soon being taunted with cries of "squishy squashy, flippy floppy" and worse. The story of how the sisters' family themselves left the Ukraine during the second world war, and the book about tractors their father is writing, reveal much of the tragic history of that country in flashes through the laugh-out-loud humour. A real tragi-comedy with a feel-good ending.
 The pits September 18, 2008
The author weaves a very, very weak story set in modern day Britain essentially around the many tragedies of twentieth century Ukraine. The historical bits are indeed interesting but the story, characters, dialogue, humour...its all truly lousy. How this book can be considered so worthwhile by so many people is depressing...Stay well away!!!
 Almost very good indeed August 16, 2008
I liked this-with reservations. The writing is light, sprightly, with real humour. The characters are interesting. The relationship between the two sisters is beautifully portrayed and developed and the idiosyncrasies of the father are both touching and amusing. I didn't feel that the character of Valentina was quite as well developed as it could have been, although her abusive tirades in broken english had me in stitches. For me, the best feature of the story was the way it juxtaposed the two types of 'immigrant': the refugee from horror and atrocity and the 'modern' aspirant to a western lifestyle. This made me think and inspired me to learn more about the history of the Ukraine. My main negative comment is that I felt the ending was a bit of a let down, and didn't really live up to what had been set up before: I felt it was a little rushed and somewhat incongruous, certainly not satisfying my feeling that something hilarious/touching or fundamental was going to happen. It rather fizzled out.
That said, still a very enjoyable read and an insight into a community and a history that I knew nothing of previously.
(Not big or clever) August 13, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I really wanted to like this book (yeah, right). It had been recommended to me (like I need recommendations from anyone) so I was sure I'd enjoy it (oh?). Unfortunately (trying to sound disappointed), I didn't get through it because it wasn't really my cup of tea (trying not to say outright that it was awful). I don't give up on many books (only rubbish ones) but I found the style challenging (so incredibly annoying) and I thought the humour (what humour????) was not all that amusing (like pulling teeth). Maybe it was because I'd just come off the back of reading 'A Prayer For Owen Meany' (now that's a book!) and my expectations were maybe a little high (not that they'd have to be high to be disappointed by this garbage). Anyway, I'm sure that there's a market for this sort of thing (Lord above help us!) and that many people will derive some pleasure from reading it (Lord above help them!). Oh, and that thing she does with parentheses (brackets to you and me) is a little bit distracting (AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!). Enjoy!
 Trashy July 22, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Trashy, badly written, unexplored 1D characters, Overhyped.
As well crafted as this review.
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