Two Caravans
by Marina Lewycka
published
October 31st 2007
by Fig Tree
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binding
Paperback, 320 pages
isbn
1905490321
(isbn13: 9781905490325)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 234)
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Pseudo-Intellectuals / Suckers
This book gets one star for keeping me reading ... although, I'm not sure it counts as keeping me reading just because I wanted to find out what the hell the point was. Bummer, since I loved A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian.
Two Caravans is the kind of follow-up novel that REALLY pisses me off. Take the author's debut novel: easy-to-read page-turner, witty, deep but not depressing, original, and everything nicely tied up in 200 or so pages. (Note: if you're not a Bronte, don't s...more
Two Caravans is the kind of follow-up novel that REALLY pisses me off. Take the author's debut novel: easy-to-read page-turner, witty, deep but not depressing, original, and everything nicely tied up in 200 or so pages. (Note: if you're not a Bronte, don't s...more
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This is a respectable follow-up from her first book, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian. I don't know why I'd describe it as light, when it involves prostitution, minimum wage, exploitation of 'unskilled' workers, not to mention the battery chicken farm episode which has put me off eating poultry for at least the next week. The East European accents may grate after a while, and some of the charming illegal immigrant workers are bordering on stereotypes, as are the pantomime baddies. But th...more
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Read in July, 2008
This story explores the experiences of a random group of Eastern European immigrant workers in the UK. It very cleverly captures the changes that have occurred in the UK over the last 5 years since Europe started expanding into the East. I also like the way the book is written in the voice of all of the characters involved (except for the dog which is just plain stupid). I was thoroughly confused by all of the comments that covered the book from the press about how it was "hilarious",...more
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2 comments
Read in June, 2007
In this follow-up to the charming A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian, Marina Lewycka takes the same theme – immigrants from the former USSR searching for a better life in the United Kingdom – to come up with a novel that tries to be technically superior, and is as droll as her debut.
It opens on an idyllic English countryside – only, this one is populated by strawberry-picking migrants. They’re from Poland, Ukraine, Africa and China, including the Dylan-loving Tomasz, the determi...more
It opens on an idyllic English countryside – only, this one is populated by strawberry-picking migrants. They’re from Poland, Ukraine, Africa and China, including the Dylan-loving Tomasz, the determi...more
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Read in April, 2008
As a follow up to her first book on Tractors in Ukrainian, this is a highly entertaining but at the same time very poignant contemporary look at immigrants (from Eastern European, China, Africa) struggling to make a life - or at least earn a living - in the United Kingdom. We follow the adventures and plights of a group of disparate workers from strawberry fields, to a chicken slaughter house, to seamy trades in human capital - the highs and lows of individual lives, told in the voices of the ...more
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Well, I've reconfirmed my vegetarianism (have strayed a little the last 6 months) after reading the chapters about the chicken processing plant! DO read past them if you pick up this book, it is well worth it!
At times hard to take, yet hard to put down, Lewycka's 2nd novel is much darker and probably closer to the true circumstances of immigrants flooding into all developed countries from poorer countries than most people would care to know, but should care. We take advantage of a 'bargain' ...more
At times hard to take, yet hard to put down, Lewycka's 2nd novel is much darker and probably closer to the true circumstances of immigrants flooding into all developed countries from poorer countries than most people would care to know, but should care. We take advantage of a 'bargain' ...more
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Read in October, 2007
Reading this book, on loan from a friend. It's an interesting story about groups of immigrants doing casual labour as strawberry pickers (and more) in England.
I like it because it brings the different 'tribes' to life and lets me see that they regard each other in the same way we regard them... the Polish look down on the Slavs, they all find the Chinese weird, the Malawian guy is really innocent, etc.
I don't like the part I'm at right now where there's serious exploitation going on f...more
I like it because it brings the different 'tribes' to life and lets me see that they regard each other in the same way we regard them... the Polish look down on the Slavs, they all find the Chinese weird, the Malawian guy is really innocent, etc.
I don't like the part I'm at right now where there's serious exploitation going on f...more
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Read in July, 2008
Absolutely brilliant! The story follows a group of immigrant strawberry-pickers in England, each from a different background, and each with their individual plight. Packed with romance, adventure, irony, and the harsh reality that is many people's lives in Britain today, I read this in two days straight because it was simply impossible to put down. As someone learning Russian, I particularly liked the joke about the confusion between Roman and Cyrillic script. This betters Lewycka's previous nov...more
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Read in April, 2008
This book made me laugh out loud in a way I have never done before. Upon receiving wondering stares for such outburst, all I could do was cover my mouth to suppress more laughs. Behind the antics, the thrill of the road trip, looms the issue of the 'casualties' of globalisation, third world angst, and friendship transcending language barriers. Emanuel's letters to his sister alone are priceless.
Private note to Mah-co: the author used 'riddled' twice in the narrative, see!!
Private note to Mah-co: the author used 'riddled' twice in the narrative, see!!
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in July, 2008
fun..fun..fun...and it went well with my trip to London. Having been an immigrant and still feeling one even though living in the country I should be calling home, this book made me laugh and wonder how more interesting life is and how much more we learn and grow when we're outside our own community. ooh and there's a part of the story that takes place in a chicken factory...yuck.....can't seem to have the appetite for it now.
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Read in August, 2007
A month in the lives of migrant workers in England. And such a month - the book alternates being slapstick and sinister, silly and profound. The author puts a face on the people who are trafficked and become a commodity in globalization. At the same time, some of the characterizations made my teeth hurt.
It's worth reading too. Not as good as her previous book though.
It's worth reading too. Not as good as her previous book though.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
Everyone
I didn't expect this to have a romantic subplot. But it did. And what I took away from this book is that we never know who we will fall in love with. Don't expect to hook up with the "perfect guy" because people are inperfect hence relationships never are perfect. It's a happy middle between being with the one with love and loving the one that we are with.
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Read in July, 2008
Two Caravans is a funny fast paced romp through the world of immigrant workers. There is also the darker underlying side, exploitation and the evil gang masters, neither of which ever seems to dull the hopes and expectations of the workers. An enjoyable read and a worthy follow up to her first book Tractors, with a slight and amusing reference to it.
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Read in April, 2008
I really enjoyed this book and found it both hilarious in places and heart wrenching in others. Excellently written and I love the author's way of conveying accents throughout the novel. Not quite as good as her first book, but still a great read!
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Ik heb dit boek niet helemaal uitgelezen, maar het zag er goed en veelbelovend uit. Ik had plots even geen tijd meer en als ik een boek niet in een week uitlees verlies ik mijn interesse. Waarvoor mijn excuses aan de schrijfster van dienst. :/
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone
Very funny book about Ukranians who go to England to pick strawberries. It's about all foreigners who find themselves in dire circumstances. Very entertaining. I love the way the author narrates for a dog who is a character in the book.
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Funny and yet sad in parts. You feel for the characters struggling to blend in and make a life in England yet the author writes in such a way you find humour in some of the darkest time. I have not eaten chicken in weeks though!
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Read in August, 2008
Another great book by MARINA LEWYCKA, Very funny but also very dark and gives us an understanding and greater understanding of the hard times experienced by those working here illegally but out of economic necessity
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Excellent. Some very gruesome parts (if I were not a vegetarian, I would become one now after reading the chicken factory scenario) and one very sad part at the end. But as enjoyable as A Short History...
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Brilliant just brilliant! A superb madcap account of what it must be like for an Eastern European fruit picker in England in the 21st Century Very light read and heartwarming but so not schlocky!
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