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Wodka, or Tea with Milk
Wodka, or Tea with Milk’ takes the reader on an immersive, rollercoaster ride into the Solidarnosc years in 1980s Poland. Marya Weiclawski is second-generation British, the daughter of Polish refugees who fled during World War Two. When her Cambridge University interview goes wrong – her fault actually – she resolves to seek out her Polish family whom no one speaks of, and her father’s RAF comrade, Pyotr Murkowski, whom her beloved dad, Jerzy, has suddenly stopped talking about. Marya becomes involved in the shipyard strikes in Gdansk in 1980 and falls in love with Jan, a shipyard worker. Jan is well liked by colleagues, unflappable and down-to-earth - a bit too much so for volatile Marya – but he appears to have no family and in Poland family is everything.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2023
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 10, 2023
I received and read a copy of Wodka or Tea with Milk by Rosemary Johnson from the The Conrad Press Ltd. in exchange for an honest review.Thank you. 🙏I have to say, I'm really disappointed to give it just one star.🥺
I almost gave up on this book, and I rarely do that, even if I'm not enjoying the story. The premise had potential, but the way it was written just didn't work for me. It felt like the author missed the mark in capturing the essence of the characters and the Polish setting.
Speaking of Polish, I'm fluent in the language, and I couldn't help but notice some grammar mistakes and awkward phrasing. Plus, the dialogue didn't sound natural at all. Polish people just don't talk like that. And there were moments when the text repeated itself, and conversations seemed to be cut off abruptly, making it a frustrating read.
I really wanted to like this book. Wodka or Tea with Milk promised to take me on a journey into 1980s Poland during the Solidarność years, but it left me feeling unsatisfied. The characters were hard to connect with, and the storylines felt disjointed. I hoped for a great experience, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver it for me.
I almost gave up on this book, and I rarely do that, even if I'm not enjoying the story. The premise had potential, but the way it was written just didn't work for me. It felt like the author missed the mark in capturing the essence of the characters and the Polish setting.
Speaking of Polish, I'm fluent in the language, and I couldn't help but notice some grammar mistakes and awkward phrasing. Plus, the dialogue didn't sound natural at all. Polish people just don't talk like that. And there were moments when the text repeated itself, and conversations seemed to be cut off abruptly, making it a frustrating read.
I really wanted to like this book. Wodka or Tea with Milk promised to take me on a journey into 1980s Poland during the Solidarność years, but it left me feeling unsatisfied. The characters were hard to connect with, and the storylines felt disjointed. I hoped for a great experience, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver it for me.
November 15, 2023
I really enjoyed the historical journey from England to Poland and learnt so much about their history.
The characters all felt real and believable, and it reflected well on how families and the modern generation at the time adapted to political changes.
The sublime love of 2 people never fails and only grows. There are some heartbreaking and nerving situations to comprehend with. The family all sticks together no matter what, and there are some beautiful moments too.
If you love historical fiction, I highly recommend this book!
The characters all felt real and believable, and it reflected well on how families and the modern generation at the time adapted to political changes.
The sublime love of 2 people never fails and only grows. There are some heartbreaking and nerving situations to comprehend with. The family all sticks together no matter what, and there are some beautiful moments too.
If you love historical fiction, I highly recommend this book!
December 26, 2023
Rosemary Johnson has written a finely honed and fascinating story centred around the outspoken Marya Weiclawska and her immersion in the world of the Solidarnoscz or Solidarity years in Poland, which she visits the summer after her A-levels. Johnson strikes the right balance of engaging characterisation, political intrigue and historical detail with a good dose of humour and a convincing love story. Highly recommended.
April 6, 2025
This is the story of a ‘gobby’ girl. And Marya’s gobbiness certainly gets her into a lot of trouble.
We follow her to Cambridge and Poland twice.
The title is intriguing and the cover doesn’t give a lot away. It’s a huge door-stopper of a book but good writing and wide margins help the reader through. Personally I found it difficult to put down and was always glad to return to the novel when I’d been forced to stop reading.
A touching and heart-warming story.
We follow her to Cambridge and Poland twice.
The title is intriguing and the cover doesn’t give a lot away. It’s a huge door-stopper of a book but good writing and wide margins help the reader through. Personally I found it difficult to put down and was always glad to return to the novel when I’d been forced to stop reading.
A touching and heart-warming story.
October 7, 2023
Well done!
I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it.
December 4, 2024
In Poland family is everything
I remember in the 1980s hearing the name Lech Walesa and watching TV news coverage of strikes and political upheaval in Poland. Rosemary brings this turbulent period of Polish history to life through the character of Marya. She travels from England to Poland to visit family. While there she becomes involved in events at the Gdansk shipyard and meets shipyard striker Jan. Once I started reading, I was eager to find out how life turned out for Marya and her family, who stick together no matter what, and the many other characters in the book.
I remember in the 1980s hearing the name Lech Walesa and watching TV news coverage of strikes and political upheaval in Poland. Rosemary brings this turbulent period of Polish history to life through the character of Marya. She travels from England to Poland to visit family. While there she becomes involved in events at the Gdansk shipyard and meets shipyard striker Jan. Once I started reading, I was eager to find out how life turned out for Marya and her family, who stick together no matter what, and the many other characters in the book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews