false 2 0 false false Mon May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri May 08 23:21:44 -0700 2009 Mon May 11 00:28:42 -0700 2009
There are at least 3 quotes on the cover of this book by well respected English publications claiming that this book is funny. My guess is that a majority of people who grew up in the US will not find the humor here. Old guy humiliated in love by younger woman who is not really interested in him is, actually, *the* comic opera plot. (Hey, you learned something.) A 36 year old woman hitting an old frail guy is not funny to me. I also don't like Punch and Judy, so am fundamentally missing some part of English humor.

This is more in the vein of family/immigration/war drama than humor. The underlying family history informed what was going on in the present day experience of the family. The history, where it comes through, was very well done and very personal. I enjoyed the parts about the past. I didn't really enjoy the parts about the present day that much, which is about 90% of the book. I don't know if the point is really to enjoy the book... maybe you are just supposed to understand where the differences between people come from. I did, at the end, see this (similar to my experience reading 'The Joy Luck Club' all those years ago.)

It is also difficult not to compare 'Ukrainian Tractors' to Jonathan Safran Foer's 'Everything is Illuminated' (if you have read both books.) Foer's book is more literarily ambitious. It's funny and sad and I loved reading it. There are people who really hate Foer's narrative style. They may enjoy this book more than I did.

I don't think 'Ukrainian Tractors' is badly written. It's just not my thing. ]]>