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A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian
by Marina Lewycka

Published: 2006-03-28
Paperback : 304 pages
3 members reading this now
9 clubs reading this now
3 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 2 of 2 members
With this wise, tender, and deeply funny novel, Marina Lewycka takes her place alongside Zadie Smith and Monica Ali as a writer who can capture the unchanging verities of family. When an elderly and newly widowed Ukrainian immigrant announces his intention to remarry, his daughters must ...
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Introduction

With this wise, tender, and deeply funny novel, Marina Lewycka takes her place alongside Zadie Smith and Monica Ali as a writer who can capture the unchanging verities of family. When an elderly and newly widowed Ukrainian immigrant announces his intention to remarry, his daughters must set aside their longtime feud to thwart him. For their father’s intended is a voluptuous old-country gold digger with a proclivity for green satin underwear and an appetite for the good life of the West. As the hostilities mount and family secrets spill out, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian combines sex, bitchiness, wit, and genuine warmth in its celebration of the pleasure of growing old disgracefully.

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Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
  "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian"by Leslie P. (see profile) 01/06/14

If there was any consensus on this book it was that it was both sad and funny and while it meandered in plot, the characters-- and especially the language they used--kept us reading. A Short History of... (read more)

 
  "Champagne Book Club Reads Short History"by gina c. (see profile) 09/13/13

Good story - funny, poignant. We all felt better about our own family relationships after discussing the characters in the book!

 
  "Not what the cover offers."by MaryAnne P. (see profile) 01/20/09

This is wrongly sold as an amusing book.
While there are amusing elements - not least the outrageous insults that Valentina hurls at her enemies when riled - it is overall a sad refection
... (read more)

 
  "Tragic/comedy. The elements of humor help with the pain reflected in the novel. Good writing/storytelling"by Karen C. (see profile) 11/10/07

About half our group of 12 liked the book and found it highly amusing. The rest found it hard to read due to the reflection on personal family dynamics. Regardless, it was a well written story about... (read more)

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