BOOK CLUB Book Review

‘A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian’ by Marina Lewycka is set in Peterborough. It is narrated by Nadezhda (Nadia) whose father, Nikolai has invited Valentina, a Ukrainian, to come over to England to marry him. The title is a little off-putting, but there is relatively little about the history of tractors and nothing in Ukrainian. Not all the members of the book club enjoyed it, but most felt it was an easy read although it did not really warrant the praise “uproariously funny, a comic feast” given in the blurb. It was however thought provoking and engendered much discussion amongst the book club members, as it raised a number of topical issues including the expectations of Valentina, who arrived in England with an unrealistic idea of what life would be like: the immigration service: divorce and the Nikolai’s daughters who are not delighted at the prospect of the new wife, we felt the relationship between the two sisters was particularly well portrayed.

The next book will be ‘Lorna Doone’ by R.D. Blackmore, as this is a longer book it will be running over the next two months (December and January) so in December’s meeting we will be looking at favourite Christmas Poems.

The book club meets the first Thursday of every month in the Workhouse bar. New members are always welcome.