Tractors in the Ukraine
August 2nd 2007 08:53
Image: fantasticfiction.com
Nikolai Majevskyj is an elderly widower, living out his last years in Britain where he and his wife raised their two daughters after leaving a war torn Ukraine. Vera and Nadia, the daughters, have been squabbling ever since their mother’s death and Nikolai has little patience with either of them. But when he announces his intentions of marrying a young Ukrainian divorcee so she can stay in England, he has little chance they will sit by quietly. In fact, they patch up their quarrel quick smart and come out with all barrels firing. They may be modern, westernized women, but their ethnic roots run deep and anyone looking to take their ‘Pappa’ for a ride is in for a tough fight. Mind you, Valentina, the bride to be, is Ukrainian also, with plenty of hard-core spunk and wonderful breasts. Something Nikolai has been aware of from day one!
Family relationships can’t get more complicated than this but amongst it all Lewycka feeds us plenty of background in Ukrainian history – and not just of tractors. The suffering of innocents during the country’s years of turmoil is well told through both family’s stories as Vera (War Baby) enlightens Nadia (Peace Baby) of their parents experiences before coming to England. There is also a nice comfy slice of multicultural perspective – both daughters married British partners – that help bring the characters to life.
I have a personal friend whose parents fled to Australia from the Eastern block before she was born, and the cultural adjustments they made (and those they didn’t) had a very real and deep impact on their family relationships. Many of the arguments and scenes between Nikolai and his daughters were very similar to what my friend has described to me.
Looking after and watching out for elderly parents can be a full-time, nerve-wracking job. Something plenty of us out there are or will be doing at some point in our busy lives. This book, although giving a worse case scenario, gives us a rollicking, hilarious view at how it can be done. And if you have a cranky, demanding ageing parent that you’re caring for, after reading this I’m sure you’ll consider yourself, if not lucky at least marginally fortunate!
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
This one sounds amusing. Maybe I should buy it for myself!
Michaelie
Comment by Joanne
Open Book