Luke Taylor-Clarke

So many of the reviews which have gone before show how much reading pleasure can be ruined by expectations from hype and other reviews. Fortunately I read this novel (A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian) not knowing that it had won a comedy award and with simply a basic sense of interest. I loved it.

Not much mention of the tractors so far ????

For me it was the perfect novel. It's a straightforward narrative, it sustains our acquaintance with convincing characters, contains warmth, quirkiness and interest in something unfamiliar - if you're not familiar with Ukraine, which I'm not. It's funny, touching, humane, disturbing, interesting by turns and frankly, a story I was sad to finish and will read again. The characterization is excellent: Nikolai and Valentina are vividly drawn, maddening and loveable by turns, the sisters' relationship suitably two -edged - and goodness me we have a husband who is simply allowed to be a likeable and supportive guy. Well how unusual. And she writes with such loving care about gardens.

Brief mention of Ukrainian but still no tractors?
The other touch I admired was the way the family's past ordeals in Ukraine are introduced often quite obliquely, hinted at rather than fully drawn, and are the more haunting for that. And the ending was perfect - quirky, hopeful, inspiring. Thanks Marina - I'm looking forward to the next one.

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