A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian in The Roundtable

Oct 22, 2014 Genia Lukin rated it did not like it

Shelves: satire, other, 1001-books

I think I may have actually not enjoyed this book because, and I am going to level with people here, I am prejudiced against Ukrainians.

Let me just elaborate here, in order to clarify statement. Much of my family comes from the Ukraine, in one form or another. my father's mother is Ukrainian, my grandfather is from Cossac stock... but the major part of my family are Ukrainian Jews, by way of Russia. And as Ukrainian culturally Russian Jews... Well, let's just say that the major Ukrainian nationa I think I may have actually not enjoyed this book because, and I am going to level with people here, I am prejudiced against Ukrainians.

Let me just elaborate here, in order to clarify statement. Much of my family comes from the Ukraine, in one form or another. my father's mother is Ukrainian, my grandfather is from Cossac stock... but the major part of my family are Ukrainian Jews, by way of Russia. And as Ukrainian culturally Russian Jews... Well, let's just say that the major Ukrainian national heroes are our giant traumatic monsters. I'm looking at you, Bogdan Khmelnitski.

So when I read about the plight of Ukraine, all I can think of is 'yeah, and guess whom you took it all out on'. And the father of the family is horrifically anti-Russian, including anti-Russian language, which, you know, probably isn't helping. And then the author goes and uses a metaphor along the lines of "Snow [...] settled like the pillows of innocent children on the slopes of Babi Yar."

Er. Uh. Just... Babi Yar. Really. Next time let's find a Polish book talking about the virgin forests of Auschwitz.

There are other reasons, too. This book is trying too hard to be cutesy, including over things that really don't lend themselves to cutesy treatment. Abuse, haha. It might have been meant ironically, of course, but the irony didn't come through. it felt more like a farce or a tragedy than a satire, in a lot of ways. The style itself didn't really do me much good. And the characters were one and all extremely unsympathetic.

It also bothered me, quite a bit, that the entire dialogue was in broken, choppy English. Even when, presumably, the people speaking would be doing so in Ukrainian and would have no reason whatsoever to sound like they're two days off the boat. I mean, are we really expected to think that the father and Valentina would be yelling in English at each other?

On the other hand, I can't deny that the book is readable. it's not trying to be abstruse, it flows pretty decently, it took me relatively little time, and as a read was fairly enjoyable. There were moments of good dialogue, and some things that made this child of immigrants sort of smile and roll her eyes. So there's that. ...more

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Jun 06, 2014 Heather(Gibby) rated it really liked it

Shelves: august-15-challenge, 1001-to-read

This is a very fast read, with a little bit of everything thrown in. Its overarching story is very entertaining, as two feuding sisters try to undo the mess their father gets himself into when he marries a much younger woman, whose motives are questionable. Then scattered throughout is some of the family's history and the story of the family both per and post world war 2, and the differences being born before or after the war, had on the 2 sisters perspective on the family and the world.

The boo ...more

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Jun 13, 2021 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-books, parents-n-kids, 2021

This one reminded me somewhat of the show Fleabag, what with the darkly humorous account of two very different sisters forced to bond after the death of their mother when they find themselves dealing with the stepmother from hell. Even the little fourth-wall breaking moments of Fleabag, where the main character turns to address the viewer mid-scene, pop up here as parenthetical asides.

"So what was she like? my sister asks, over the phone.
I describe the mini-skirt, the hair, the make-up. My tone ...more

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Feb 18, 2008 Rosana rated it liked it

Shelves: 2008

I just needed something light. Life has been hectic and I needed some laughter. Well, this book served the purpose. I could pick it apart if I did wish to do it, but I have decided to take it at face value. It is light, it is fun. It does have aspects that I found more disturbing than comic - elderly abuse should not be taken unthinkingly – and the degree of family dysfunction gets to heights only seen in Greek tragedies. But, again, I stayed true to my own vow to just relax and enjoy it, withou ...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Petra rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a fun read and a really sweet & compassionate story.
About immigrant families, birth order as it relates to family history, events, interpretation and outlook. This is also a story of discovery of one’s family past and how the past shapes people, how what is not known can hurt relationships and build walls. The characters of this book are enjoyable and likeable (although not always; they are perfectly human) and their stories told in an entertaining, humorous way. This is a fun read with so ...more

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