Book Review: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Marina Lewycka
Class/Genre:   Fiction
Penguin Press, March 2005, 294 pages

Nikolai Mayesvskyj is 84. Eccentric, foolish, self centered, and making sense only when he discusses internal combustion, Nikolai has exasperated his family and friends for his entire life. Now widowed and adrift in a sea of an unaccustomed solitary days and nights, he is a sitting duck for Valentina, an opportunistic woman seeking to gain legal immigration status in the UK.

Still grieving their mother's death, Nikolai's two daughters begin the process of moving Valentina out of their father's house and out of his life. Each visit to their father's home brings new challenges and opens fresh wounds as the two women recall their mother and her nurturing love and impressive homemaking skills and patterns.

Eventually his daughters are able to untangle the legal thicket Nikolai created for himself, and send Valentina on her way. In addition they learn to communicate with each other, share their memories and learn several important truths about their own history.

Woodstock - RAM

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