A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian meets Desperate Housewives in this exploration of the booming business of Russian e-mail-...
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reviews
Mar 09, 2011
Dan
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I received this book through the First Reads giveaway program on Goodreads.
Daria loves her hometown of Odessa, Ukraine. She loves its history, its culture, and its Black Sea beaches. What she doesn't love about Odessa is its economy. An engineer by education, she works as a secretary for an import company and as an interpreter for an online matchmaking service in order to provide food and a place to live for herself and her grandmother. She's also less than happy with her prospe More...
Daria loves her hometown of Odessa, Ukraine. She loves its history, its culture, and its Black Sea beaches. What she doesn't love about Odessa is its economy. An engineer by education, she works as a secretary for an import company and as an interpreter for an online matchmaking service in order to provide food and a place to live for herself and her grandmother. She's also less than happy with her prospe More...
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Dec 22, 2009
Lindsay
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I loved the first half of this book. The setting and plot were intriguing, and Daria was such a strong, interesting character. I'd like to steal her grandmother, too! The second half... petered out, in my opinion. It was less engaging, though there were still good moments. In the end it all works out for the best. So despite the lull in the middle, I did really enjoy this book and would recommend it as a quick read. Also for anyone thinking of visiting the Ukraine! (Thanks FirstReads for the adv
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(3 people liked it)
Aug 30, 2011
Wendy
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It's a hard knock life in Odessa. Daria struggles to avoid her boss's unwelcome advances, keep the Ukrainian mafia at bay, and look after her Boba. She gets a second job (moonlights, you see) at a place called Soviet Unions, a matchmaking service providing American men the chance to meet and marry women in the Ukraine. Despite seeing the pitfalls in such relationships, she ends up dating one of the men herself, and soon has to decide between the city she loves and the chance at realizing her dre
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Jan 08, 2011
Irene
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Most of Janet Skeslien Charles’ debut, Moonlighting in Odessa is extremely well-written and substantially believable. Daria, the main character defies overwhelming odds in post-perestroika Ukraine, and with disciplined forethought, she not only achieves her goals, but also develops into a successful exception to what most of her peers seek, but never achieve. When her questioning relentless mind jumps into overdrive, her enchanting perception of the “American Dream” casts a meandering pale over
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Dec 27, 2009
Linda
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I'm looking forward to reading Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles. There is an interesting interview with the author at the following website: http://www.jskesliencharles.com/intervie...
December 2009
Getting to know the character of Daria, her family, her dreams, her relationships was enjoyable and insightful. I anticipate the next chapter of the story. More than just the characters though is the setting - it was interesting to read about Odessa and life in More...
December 2009
Getting to know the character of Daria, her family, her dreams, her relationships was enjoyable and insightful. I anticipate the next chapter of the story. More than just the characters though is the setting - it was interesting to read about Odessa and life in More...
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Feb 26, 2011
CuteBadger
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Daria is an educated Ukranian in her twenties who lives with her Boba (grandmother) and works for a foreign shipping firm. She tries to see her home city of Odessa through rose-tinted spectacles, but can’t help but see the poverty and inequality that followed the break-up of the Soviet Union. To make ends meet she moonlights at an introduction agency which puts American men and Ukranian women together with a view to marriage.
Though she is a modern woman fighting to survive in a harsh More...
Though she is a modern woman fighting to survive in a harsh More...
Aug 08, 2010
Fredsky
rated it:
This is a wonderful, charming book. The narrator, Daria, is a very savvy young woman in Ukraine who takes a secretarial job because she can't find work as an engineer. She's smart, she's funny, she's gorgeous, she's proud and warm-hearted and casually ruthless as she struggles to make her way. She loves Odessa. She and her grandmother are happy together in their one-room apartment. But it's dangerous to be so beautiful in an impoverished town. Her boss pursues her and so does the gangster w
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May 09, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
It sounds like a cheesy romance novel, right? But it isn't, not at all.
It's set in Odessa (in Ukraine, not Texas) and the narrator, Daria, is probably one of the top five coolest fictional characters I've met this year.
Daria works for a shipping company as a secretary and moonlights (hence the title!) at a mail-order bride company. She works as a translator at the socials where the Russian women meet their prospective husbands.
Eventually she has to choose More...
It's set in Odessa (in Ukraine, not Texas) and the narrator, Daria, is probably one of the top five coolest fictional characters I've met this year.
Daria works for a shipping company as a secretary and moonlights (hence the title!) at a mail-order bride company. She works as a translator at the socials where the Russian women meet their prospective husbands.
Eventually she has to choose More...
Jan 15, 2010
Courtney
rated it:
This is a first novel from this author and it reads like a first novel. It's a little choppy at first, but smooths out as it goes on. It's about a Ukrainian woman who deals with foreign men at work and in her social life and eventually realizes her dream to come to the U.S. Having lived in Ukraine and other countries of the Former Soviet Union, I am admittedly sensitive to the cultural comments and comparisons. I don't necessarily disagree with them, but felt sometimes they were awkwardly insert
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Oct 22, 2009
Claire
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I won this book in the goodreads book giveaway. I ended up liking this book better than I thought I would when I started. At the beginning, it was a pleasant read, but I read it more out of a sense of duty than desire.
But as it went on, I started to feel way more connected to the heroine, and interested in her life and circumstances. The story is well written, in a way that really allows you to understand the motivations behind, not just the main character's decisions/actions, but those of More...
But as it went on, I started to feel way more connected to the heroine, and interested in her life and circumstances. The story is well written, in a way that really allows you to understand the motivations behind, not just the main character's decisions/actions, but those of More...
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Sep 28, 2009
Heather
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Daria is a young woman living an oppressive life in Ukraine, where the economy is so poor that most people struggle to survive. Though she has a stable and well paying job as a secretary, her future seems uncertain; she worries that her boss, Mr. Harmon, will fire her after she refuses his sexual advances. In order to keep him at bay, she decides to set him up with a long-time friend, who immediately latches onto the man and then strangely turns on Daria. In fear for her job, Daria begins to moo
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(3 people liked it)
Sep 02, 2009
Sara
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Typically when I finish a book, I can’t help but feel somewhat proud as if I have accomplished something. It is more rare for me to come to the end of the book longing for more—just a few chapters, pages, anything! I definitely felt that I became so invested in the characters and story of Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles that I was bummed to finish it.
The book begins with Daria (who has a degree in Engineering) landing a dream job (secretary at a shipping company): More...
The book begins with Daria (who has a degree in Engineering) landing a dream job (secretary at a shipping company): More...
Jul 20, 2009
Crina
rated it: 
I could not put this book down! Moonlight in Odessa is about a woman from Odessa, Ukraine, who is slowly seduced by the American dream when she starts working at a foreign shipping firm. Daria loves English and longs to escape the hardships of life in her country. She applies for jobs in Western countries but is turned down because she does not having working papers.
When she begins moonlighting at a matchmaking agency, she meets American men and wonders if this is a way to get to Ame More...
When she begins moonlighting at a matchmaking agency, she meets American men and wonders if this is a way to get to Ame More...
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(5 people liked it)
Jul 06, 2009
Colleen
rated it:
Lackluster novel that started out strong but faded fast
I really wanted to like this book which has such an interesting premise and started out strong. Daria is a great character, and I felt truly invested in her struggles and her life in Odessa. The descriptions of trying to work in the post-Soviet era Ukraine are hysterical. The entire mail-order bride business is both amusing and tragic, and is very well depicted in this novel.
Unfortunately, once Daria makes a choice More...
I really wanted to like this book which has such an interesting premise and started out strong. Daria is a great character, and I felt truly invested in her struggles and her life in Odessa. The descriptions of trying to work in the post-Soviet era Ukraine are hysterical. The entire mail-order bride business is both amusing and tragic, and is very well depicted in this novel.
Unfortunately, once Daria makes a choice More...
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Oct 05, 2010
Doreen
rated it:
I'm not sure what I expected going into this book. Certainly something fluffier, and nothing near what the back cover blurb promised. Instead, I was happily surprised to find that Ms Charles, to quote Booklist, truly "explores the dichotomy between Eastern and Western cultures, as well as the assumptions and sacrifices people make in the hope of a better life." Daria is a well-thought-out, well-fleshed character, and it's hard not to read this book almost as an autobiography (which it'
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Aug 19, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
My overall impression of this book is postitive. I feel like the writing was strong, good use of detail and atmosphere. My conflict about a more postive review is due to plot. I found the first half of the book really enjoyable. I loved Daria and her grandmother. Really strong, likable characters. I felt less enamoured with who Daria became and how the plot and writing reflected that. I think what I really liked about the first half was the palatable mix of dark and humour. It was candid writing
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Sep 24, 2009
Corey
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This book reminded me of Catch-22. Only without the War, crack-pot characters, South Pacific and Yossarian. Instead it had mail order brides, Boba, the Ukraine and mangoes. Not to mention a more sane sounding writing style.
The book read like a two-parter. The main character's personality and the tone of the story seemed to reverse mid-way through the book. Like Catch-22, the first half of the book oozed with dark humor while the second half lost the humor and fell into a pit of despa More...
The book read like a two-parter. The main character's personality and the tone of the story seemed to reverse mid-way through the book. Like Catch-22, the first half of the book oozed with dark humor while the second half lost the humor and fell into a pit of despa More...
Aug 24, 2009
Cynthia
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Oct 17, 2010
Josephine
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Apr 08, 2011
Meg
rated it:
Janet Skeslien Charles’ Moonlight In Odessa is addictive, unexpected and a deeply acquired taste — I’ll say that right off the bat. It’s bawdy. A little over-the-top. Funny but also tragic; fascinating, but almost morbidly so. Deeply entrenched in romance, love, sex — and everything in between. It’s about making choices and where those choices lead you.
I started this book on a sunny afternoon, intimidated by its girth, but it wasn’t long before I was hopelessly sucked into Daria’s stor More...
I started this book on a sunny afternoon, intimidated by its girth, but it wasn’t long before I was hopelessly sucked into Daria’s stor More...
Feb 07, 2010
Sue
rated it:
After seeing this novel in the New York Times Book Review a couple of weekends ago I felt that it could be a interesting read. Mail order brides? Seriously? Now there's something you don't hear about every day!
The lovely protagonist Daria is a young and witty secretary who dreams of coming to the United States to fulfill the "American Dream". After refusing her boss's sexual advances and potentially sacrificing her job security this dream is more urgent than ever.
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The lovely protagonist Daria is a young and witty secretary who dreams of coming to the United States to fulfill the "American Dream". After refusing her boss's sexual advances and potentially sacrificing her job security this dream is more urgent than ever.
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Apr 05, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
Daria is a tough, smart, and sexy twenty-something living in Odessa, Ukraine. She managed to get a college degree in engineering but, in the economic aftermath of perestroika, finally has to take a job as a secretary at a foreign firm. She earns fairly good money, but her boss, Mr. Harmon, is a bit lecherous. To ward off his advances, she finds him another mistress, who promptly goes after Daria’s job. Worried about her job, she moonlights as an interpreter for “Soviet Unions,” a company that fi
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Aug 19, 2009
Danette
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 20, 2009
Monique
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Oct 01, 2010
Susan
rated it:
This book kept me up way past my bedtime last night because I just had to finish reading it. It was that good. I think I was a little surprised that it was as good as it was, because, after all, the mail order bride business just doesn't sound like an exciting theme.
The protagonist, Daria, is an educated, beautiful, young Ukrainian woman. But sadly, in her country many people who are educated work at menial jobs for little pay. She is pursued by her boss for sexual favors, has to d More...
The protagonist, Daria, is an educated, beautiful, young Ukrainian woman. But sadly, in her country many people who are educated work at menial jobs for little pay. She is pursued by her boss for sexual favors, has to d More...
Jul 26, 2010
Leah
rated it:
Twenty five year old Daria has finally managed to find a well-paid job in Odessa after months of searching. Prices in Odessa are rising whereas employment is falling so as soon as Daria hears about the job, working for a shipping company, she does whatever it takes to get herself the job. ‘Whatever it takes’ turns out to be sleeping with the boss, Mr Harmon. To distract him from pursuing her, Daria introduces him to her friend Olga which soon turns out to be a big mistake and Olga ends up making
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Aug 24, 2011
Juliane
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Rezension auch hier: http://buechertruhe.blogspot.com/2011/08...
Inhalt:
Darja ist eine junge Ukrainerin, die in der Hafenstadt Odessa lebt. Aber nicht nur für die Lage am schwarzen Meer und die Oper ist Odessa bekannt - nein, auch für die Onlinebräute.Zunächst findet die studiert Darja eine Anstellung bei Mr. Harmon in einer Reederei. Sie ist fleißig, beliebt und fühlt sich in ihrem Job wohl, gäbe es nicht das eine Manko: Sie soll mit ihrem Chef schlafen. Das will sie nicht un More...
Inhalt:
Darja ist eine junge Ukrainerin, die in der Hafenstadt Odessa lebt. Aber nicht nur für die Lage am schwarzen Meer und die Oper ist Odessa bekannt - nein, auch für die Onlinebräute.Zunächst findet die studiert Darja eine Anstellung bei Mr. Harmon in einer Reederei. Sie ist fleißig, beliebt und fühlt sich in ihrem Job wohl, gäbe es nicht das eine Manko: Sie soll mit ihrem Chef schlafen. Das will sie nicht un More...
Oct 14, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
Daria is a clever girl. She has a degree in engineering, speaks Hebrew, Russian and English and is hopelessly suck in Odessa - A city as renown for it's beauty as it is for it's rampant poverty and form Soviet status. When she finds a job at a Israeli shipping firm, but her new boss David keeps not so sublet hinting that in exchange for her high wages, new electronics and constant gifts will eventually come at a higher price. Finding a way out of sleeping with her boss is easier then expected, a
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May 04, 2011
Johanna
rated it: 
I had to read this novel for a writer's workshop I am attending, where the author will be running some of the sessions.
I hated it. It encapsulated so many of my pet hates in writing. Most significantly, it often assumed that the reader was a little bit... dim, and needed the author to butt in and explain things. For instance, when a character visits another character's house, they leave their shoes by the door. We do not need the author to then throw themselves into the narrative (int More...
I hated it. It encapsulated so many of my pet hates in writing. Most significantly, it often assumed that the reader was a little bit... dim, and needed the author to butt in and explain things. For instance, when a character visits another character's house, they leave their shoes by the door. We do not need the author to then throw themselves into the narrative (int More...
Oct 07, 2011
Leila
rated it:
About a 2, maybe 2.5, out of 5. Interesting--I think that this is the first novel I've read set in the post-Communist world of the former Soviet Union. I've certainly read newspaper articles about the hardships of life behind the old Iron Curtain in the 1990s--about how living conditions actually worsened for many people when the Communist governments collapsed. But understanding this through characters' lives was new for me. The world of mail-order brides was also interesting to read about
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