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A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian
 
 
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A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (Paperback)

by Marina Lewycka (Author) "Two years after my mother died, my ferner fell in love with a glamorous blonde Ukrainian divorcée ..." (more)
3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (200 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Viking; Open Market Ed edition (May 2005)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 014102576X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0670915941
  • ASIN: 0670915947
  • Product Dimensions: 21 x 13.4 x 2.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (200 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 37,241 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Synopsis
This tender, deeply funny novel is about an eccentric elderly Ukranian widower in England and the struggles of his two feuding daughters to thwart the voluptuous young gold digger from the old country, who sweeps him off his feet.

From the Inside Flap
"Two years after my mother died, my father fell in love with a
glamorous blonde Ukranian divorcee. He was eighty-four and she was
thirty-six. She exploded into our lives like a fluffy pink grenade,
churning up the murky water, bringing to the surface sludge of sloughed-off
memories, giving the family ghosts a kick up the backside." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Two years after my mother died, my ferner fell in love with a glamorous blonde Ukrainian divorcée. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

200 Reviews
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 (67)
4 star:
 (51)
3 star:
 (38)
2 star:
 (17)
1 star:
 (27)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (200 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A good easy read, though perhaps a little light to carry the full weight of the story., 8 Aug 2006
This review is from: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (Paperback)
Marina Lewycka - A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian.

This is an intriguing novel - it is not comic in the conventional sense, but perhaps the comedy is in the tragedy and vice versa. There is comedy in the real-life events, even if the light tone of the writing regrettably never matches the depth of tragedy which lies behind the tale.

The story is narrated by Nadia, the grown-up daughter of Ukrainian parents now living in England. Nadia's octogenarian father, Nikolai, falls `in love' with a Ukrainian woman, Valentina, whose blonde hair and enhanced breasts mark her out as a stereotype of cardboard cut-out precision. She clearly has no true love for Nikolai, but simply wishes for marriage, residency in Britain and money - unfortunately for her, it becomes clear that in seeing the affluent west as a solution to her problems, she too has fallen for a common stereotype. The novel's characters are revealed as Nikolai's two daughters, Nadia and Vera unite after two years' no-speaking to prevent this blonde bombshell from stealing both money and dignity from their father.

Under the surface of the book is a cast of conflicting characters jostling to find peace at each other's expense - of course, this is an equation that will never be balanced. It is Nadia in her narration who has painted the vile and voluptuous Valentina as a stereotype, although the author provides just enough information to demonstrate that there is a more tragic side to her story, even if the reader never entirely sympathises with her.

Nikolai is a more complex character; intelligent and erudite, but totally utterly lost in life. At times he is comic; at times heartbreaking. It becomes clear that he suffered greatly during the Second World War, escaped in a less-than-heroic manner and fought only for the survival of himself and his family. It is perhaps because of his gruelling life-story, or perhaps because of his erudition, that he appears more respectable to the reader; but this respect makes his continuing desperate attempts to be loved by Valentina (whom, in his playful old age, he clearly loves for her breasts and very little else) all the more tragic. When life with Valentina becomes rocky, he rather sweetly seeks stability by writing an academic book on the history of tractors (writing in his native Ukrainian).

As the story is played out, the narrator begins to discover more about her family's plight during WWII, but their involvement in this battle is similar in character to their current conflict. In family conflict, just as in war, there are no victors: each party can hope only to survive, but at great cost to themselves.
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing in many ways, 29 Dec 2006
By Ralph Blumenau (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (Paperback)
This book has won an award for comic fiction; but, richly comic though the writing is, the story is for the most part essentially a tragic one. I am reminded of Horace Walpole's dictum, `This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.' Nikolai, an 84-year old Ukrainian-born widower who has lived in England since 1946 as an escapee from Stalinist Russia, marries a much more recent immigrant from the now independent Ukraine: Valentina, 36 years old, who is here on a visitor's visa and marries him only to be allowed permanent residence and to gain access to his money and his house. She exploits and bullies the poor and near senile old man mercilessly. His two daughters, Vera and Nadia, are outraged. They have fought with each other all their lives, and they still do; but they make common cause to try to rescue their father and what might be left of their inheritance. In the course of the story we are given glimpses of the history of Ukraine, the terrible sufferings of the civil war, the terror and the famine of the Stalin years, the Second World War, a labour camp; also of the development of tractors - those symbols of the collective farms, of which the old man, a former engineer, is writing a history. Towards the end, the book becomes a near farce, and then modulates into a happier ending than we had any reason to expect. We are even allowed for a moment to see the monstrous gold-digger as herself a victim, too. The descriptions of the individuals and the relationships between them is excellent, the somewhat fractured English spoken by the old man and the even more primitive but expressive mauling of it by Valentina is spot-on. A memorable book.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Funny and satisfying!, 27 May 2006
This review is from: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (Paperback)
This book is a quirky tale of a feisty and disjointed family. It has wildy comic moments and also very sobering educational glimpses into the histories of the characters, and a historical background into Ukrainian 20th century history (which I knew little about prior to reading this).

I enjoyed this book as it doesn't try to be anything grandiose, yet it is moving and also very funny - moments with the family that all of us can relate to in some way. The father is infuriating and selfish much of the time. However, I often felt sorry for him throughout the story as he is so blind to the deceptions and reality of the predicaments that he gets himself into.

I usually go for much grittier stories which are often harder to get to grips with and sometimes, try as I might, I just don't always "get it"! I was pleased to discover that this book was much more impressive than I expected and I enjoyed every page - Its a real page turner!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars fascinating!
ok, so the title does not really invite for a very attractive read but I was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed the book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by LMW

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring from start to finish
If you are thinking of buying this book my advice to you would be not to bother. I got mine in a charity shop for 50p, now I realise why it was there. Read more
Published 1 month ago by L. Alves

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!
Accurately described, well packaged, and quick delivery. I'm really happy with my book, thank you.
Published 1 month ago by Rachel E. Tomlin

4.0 out of 5 stars Tragic comedy
Why on earth did this sit on my bookshelf for so long before I got around to reading it? It is an absolute delight and I kept reading and laughing when I should have been... Read more
Published 2 months ago by LindyLouMac

3.0 out of 5 stars Light and fun
This was great fun with lots of comic characters. Light, warm-hearted, and very easy to read.
Published 3 months ago by emma_scriptwriter

3.0 out of 5 stars The plight of the vulnerable
Holiday reading for me on a trip to Bulgaria. A very good novel (2005), its tone is comic when focused on the modern UK-set story (aged Pappa marrying the younger, mercenary... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Greshon

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't be put off by the title
Have to admit that I was a little curious when this book was given to me as it's not my usual genre, (thrillers are my thing), not usually a black comedy reader. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Hippy chick

5.0 out of 5 stars Tales of a Dysfunctional Ukranian Family Delight and Entertain
Marina Lewycka's tale of illegal immigration, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, tells the story of a family through a variety of generations with a darker side and the... Read more
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4.0 out of 5 stars Not just a comedy
I think it is a shame that this book has been marketed as an "hilarious comedy", there is a tragic, much more interesting side to it that should have been highlighted on the book... Read more
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4.0 out of 5 stars Great Reading
This was a great light read. I really enjoyed it, especially having elderly parents of my own! I loved the characterisation and the wonderful visual pastiche the author created. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Don't post fake reviews

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