Rebecca's review
Two Caravans
by Marina Lewycka
Rebecca's review
Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka
Rebecca's review
rating:
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 there are lots of astute points in there about immigration, Western consumerism, relationships, etc. etc. Not to mention an accurate insight into a dog's mind - ahh, poor dog - that was one of the sad bits. Perhaps the summer strawberry picking was a bit unrealistic too - she never mentions rain, it's all a bit Famous Five-like only on a sliced white bread diet. Oh, and Marta's inventive cooking on a limited budget had my mouth watering. Nice light easy read but some food for thought in there too.
