Reviews

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

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mitziatratum's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

souppiggy's review

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funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book got me out of my slump. Nice quick pace and a light enough story to read but enough depth to give you something to think about. Always interesting to gain a little insight into a different cultures history.

brynawel's review

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emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

julieclair's review

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funny informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I chuckled my way all the way through this book, which captured so well the exasperation that adult children often feel when dealing with each other and with aging parents. These characters all felt so real! But despite the lighthearted tone, this book deals with some very emotional and poignant subjects, including the turbulent history of Ukraine. Written in 2005, but very timely for our world today.

jlsjourneys's review

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3.0

3.5 stars, if I could, so a kind-hearted 3. I liked this much more than I expected. My biggest criticism is that the young Ukrainian wife to the elderly father of the main characters is extremely thinly drawn and quite stereotypical. But the fact this family, survivors of WWII, mask their long-buried or forgotten trauma with humor or petty feuds actually felt quite touching. It’s a light, quick, compelling read for what it is.