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wordsofclover's review
3.0
3.5-4 stars
The Lubetkin Legacy follows Berthold Sidebottom and a young woman called Violet who are both residents in a council flat in London. Their lives become somewhat connected as they mingle with the different types of people found in the apartment block and they both struggle to figure out what they want to do in life - all the while Bert pretends an elderly Ukrainian woman living with him is his recently deceased mother so he won't be kicked out of the spacious flat he's lived in his whole life.
This was a bit of a weird one. It didn't follow a particular plot per se and seemed to go in a different direction every time I felt like I knew where it was heading. But while I saying that, I did enjoy the book. I definitely got what Lewcyka was trying to show us - the absolute diversity that is living in a city like London. The flat had English, Ukranian, Romanaian, African and all sorts of other people, cultures, traditions within it, yet while everyone seemed a bit different on the outside, they were all more or less the same on the inside.
I think I warmed to Bert more than Violet, I felt while Violet grew as a character, there was a bit more life and humor to Bert's story. I did like him but there were times he would think certain things that made him turn into a complete creep and I'd inwardly groan (like calling his penis 'the beast'). He also had a mild obsession with George Clooney. I felt like I didn't quite get enough out of Violet's story, I think I would have liked another chapter or two with her at the end.
The Lubetkin Legacy follows Berthold Sidebottom and a young woman called Violet who are both residents in a council flat in London. Their lives become somewhat connected as they mingle with the different types of people found in the apartment block and they both struggle to figure out what they want to do in life - all the while Bert pretends an elderly Ukrainian woman living with him is his recently deceased mother so he won't be kicked out of the spacious flat he's lived in his whole life.
This was a bit of a weird one. It didn't follow a particular plot per se and seemed to go in a different direction every time I felt like I knew where it was heading. But while I saying that, I did enjoy the book. I definitely got what Lewcyka was trying to show us - the absolute diversity that is living in a city like London. The flat had English, Ukranian, Romanaian, African and all sorts of other people, cultures, traditions within it, yet while everyone seemed a bit different on the outside, they were all more or less the same on the inside.
I think I warmed to Bert more than Violet, I felt while Violet grew as a character, there was a bit more life and humor to Bert's story. I did like him but there were times he would think certain things that made him turn into a complete creep and I'd inwardly groan (like calling his penis 'the beast'). He also had a mild obsession with George Clooney. I felt like I didn't quite get enough out of Violet's story, I think I would have liked another chapter or two with her at the end.
edgwareviabank's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Even though the two main characters (Berthold and Violet) didn't come across to me as particularly likeable, I enjoyed "The Lubetkin Legacy" for the lighthearted, entertaining story it was built to be.
I picked it up hoping for another dose of Marina Lewycka's humour (which I had enjoyed in "Various Pets Alive and Dead") and was not disappointed. I don't agree with every character's way of seeing the world and other people, but when the irony is used to show the flaws and cruelties of the British way of leaving people without means to fend for themselves, it is effective nonetheless.
The plot resolved too quickly for my liking in the final sections: some of the episodes could have unfolded at a slower pace earlier in the book, or not have taken place at all, given there is a plot twist nearly in every single chapter. Not necessarily a bad thing, as it kept me interested and immersed in the crazy, colourful world of Madeley Court, and, eventually, made me root for a happy ending. However, there are good chances a less convoluted series of events could have done the same, without the feeling that some narratives or characters are just left hanging.
I picked it up hoping for another dose of Marina Lewycka's humour (which I had enjoyed in "Various Pets Alive and Dead") and was not disappointed. I don't agree with every character's way of seeing the world and other people, but when the irony is used to show the flaws and cruelties of the British way of leaving people without means to fend for themselves, it is effective nonetheless.
The plot resolved too quickly for my liking in the final sections: some of the episodes could have unfolded at a slower pace earlier in the book, or not have taken place at all, given there is a plot twist nearly in every single chapter. Not necessarily a bad thing, as it kept me interested and immersed in the crazy, colourful world of Madeley Court, and, eventually, made me root for a happy ending. However, there are good chances a less convoluted series of events could have done the same, without the feeling that some narratives or characters are just left hanging.
rachm77's review
3.0
This was a frustrating read - while the characters were interesting I felt the plot really dragged and the humour was perhaps too quirky for me.
The story centres around the 'legacy' of a flat in London, and on an emotional level, the legacy of love and relationships left for a socially awkward, or even inept middle aged man. The writing was quite humorous, or at least, I could see that it was meant to be, but it just left me a bit irritated.
The story centres around the 'legacy' of a flat in London, and on an emotional level, the legacy of love and relationships left for a socially awkward, or even inept middle aged man. The writing was quite humorous, or at least, I could see that it was meant to be, but it just left me a bit irritated.
jooniperd's review
2.0
so... the farcical elements of this novel made the book silly for me, instead of funny and engaging. it was all a bit over-the-top, which would have worked had the story been weighted down a bit more solidly. the characters were caricatures, instead of a fully fleshed out cast. marina lewycka is a fine writer and i totally enjoyed [b:A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian|828387|A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian|Marina Lewycka|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327935785s/828387.jpg|4240781]. unfortunately, the lubetkin legacy was a disappointment for me.
this review in the guardian sums up how i felt: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jun/02/lubetkin-legacy-marina-lewycka-review
this review in the guardian sums up how i felt: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jun/02/lubetkin-legacy-marina-lewycka-review
fornostalgicpurposes's review
3.0
Overall an enjoyable book, although I did have two problems with it.
1) it felt like Violet and Berthold's stories were at times two separate stories that didn't have much to do with each other
2) most of the time, I couldn't stand Berthold, who came off a selfish, horny, and lazy.
1) it felt like Violet and Berthold's stories were at times two separate stories that didn't have much to do with each other
2) most of the time, I couldn't stand Berthold, who came off a selfish, horny, and lazy.
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