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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
Okay, I officially ADORE this author! I enjoyed her first book (A short history of tractors in Ukrainian) but I found it very painful to read since it was a very touchy subject regarding my past and that of Eastern Europe countries. I laughed myself silly over her second book (Two caravans) since it was a carefree adventure ride; but boy oh boy, THIS was a treasure!!! I simply ran through it in 2 days, savouring every page!
The story was witty, her language superb, her capacity for making each character sparkle-wonderful! And her trademark political and historical sub plot made it all the more enjoyable. For the first time in my life I actually understood the whole Iraq vs Palestine affair, uncovering deep and dark secrets, saving families and protecting historical houses on the way.
Hats off to Ms. Lewycka. May she keep the novels coming.
The story was witty, her language superb, her capacity for making each character sparkle-wonderful! And her trademark political and historical sub plot made it all the more enjoyable. For the first time in my life I actually understood the whole Iraq vs Palestine affair, uncovering deep and dark secrets, saving families and protecting historical houses on the way.
Hats off to Ms. Lewycka. May she keep the novels coming.
Tämä oli viihdyttävää ja hauskaa luettavaa, mutta jotenkin vaivaannuin siitä, että kirjaan oli mahdutettu niin paljon: kepeää rakkaushömppää, juutalaisuuden historiaa, erokriisiä, vanhemmuutta, ystävyyttä... Tyylilaji vaihteli huumorista faktapitoiseen palestiinalaisten ja israelilaisten suhteen kuvaukseen. Pidin molemmista päähenkilöistä, keski-ikäisestä Georgiesta ja vanhasta Naomista, ja heidän keskinäisen ystävyytensä kuvauksesta. Kerronta oli niin elävää, että pystyin lukiessani suorastaan näkemään vanhan ränsistyneen talon ja siellä vilisevät kissat.
Kertojana Lewycka vakuutti samoin kuin kirjassa Traktorien lyhyt historia ukrainaksi, pidin niistä molemmista. Sen sijaan kirja Two Caravans jäi minulle tavoittamattomaksi, eikä siitä edes ole jäänyt paljon muistijälkiä.
Kertojana Lewycka vakuutti samoin kuin kirjassa Traktorien lyhyt historia ukrainaksi, pidin niistä molemmista. Sen sijaan kirja Two Caravans jäi minulle tavoittamattomaksi, eikä siitä edes ole jäänyt paljon muistijälkiä.
I really enjoyed 'A Short History of Tractors...' so I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately it didn't really do anything for me.
There are quite a few themes in here but nothing is allowed to take centre stage and provide focus for the novel.
So, Georgia is a 40-something woman who has recently separated from her husband who befriends an elderly neighbour who lives in a large yet rundown house.
The book focuses on evil estate agents and social services trying to con the old lady out of the house. There are flashbacks to the past as Georgia attempts to find out more about her friend. This segues into themes of the Holocaust and the Israeli-Palestine conflict. It does come across as 'why can't we live together' (which simplistic as it is actually isn't a bad idea...) I suppose that's one of the things that doesn't really work for me in the sense that in quite a light hearted novel such serious issues are treated in a 'light' manner. There are themes of land and home and who has right of possession which are interesting but I think this should be explored further.
Georgia also works for a publication related to adhesives and glue seems to be a theme throughout the novel but we have pages after pages of descriptions of the various qualities of glue and it really doesn't add anything to the book.
Georgia has a teenage son who starts to get into religious extremism and then snaps out of it because he has epilepsy or something. It's a plot line that a book could be based on but again it's something thrown out there and resolved without too much effort.
There are other plot strands in the book - Georgia is writing revenge porn in relation to her marriage breakup, she's having a sexual awakening with an estate agent.
Lot's going on, but little glue holding things together....
There are quite a few themes in here but nothing is allowed to take centre stage and provide focus for the novel.
So, Georgia is a 40-something woman who has recently separated from her husband who befriends an elderly neighbour who lives in a large yet rundown house.
The book focuses on evil estate agents and social services trying to con the old lady out of the house. There are flashbacks to the past as Georgia attempts to find out more about her friend. This segues into themes of the Holocaust and the Israeli-Palestine conflict. It does come across as 'why can't we live together' (which simplistic as it is actually isn't a bad idea...) I suppose that's one of the things that doesn't really work for me in the sense that in quite a light hearted novel such serious issues are treated in a 'light' manner. There are themes of land and home and who has right of possession which are interesting but I think this should be explored further.
Georgia also works for a publication related to adhesives and glue seems to be a theme throughout the novel but we have pages after pages of descriptions of the various qualities of glue and it really doesn't add anything to the book.
Georgia has a teenage son who starts to get into religious extremism and then snaps out of it because he has epilepsy or something. It's a plot line that a book could be based on but again it's something thrown out there and resolved without too much effort.
There are other plot strands in the book - Georgia is writing revenge porn in relation to her marriage breakup, she's having a sexual awakening with an estate agent.
Lot's going on, but little glue holding things together....
A light and funny book that actually has considerable depth to it.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed reading this funny, clever, strange book about two unusual women - Georgie and her elderly neighbour Mrs Shapiro - and the strange twists and turns that absurd and unusual relationship can take.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Georgie (Georgina, George, Lady Georgiana..) is an instantly likeable character. She is easy to relate to, and highly amusing whilst emotive at the same time.
I enjoy Marina Lewycka's writing - but actually found her most famous "Tractors" a little too dark. Perhaps an odd thing to say about someone generally thought of as a comic writer, but that was how I felt about it. "We Are All Made of Glue" did not have that problem for me (I'm not sure why is was a problem, mind you.) It was a gem. It was, in turn, funny, absurd, moving and sad. Very real. I believed in the main character and although many of the other characters were real eccentrics and the situation someone just worked. I would really recommend this - pacy, exciting and ultimately uplifting.
Ultimately feel-good and everything neatly stuck together at the end, in a way that didn't just feel predictable or limp.
Really enjoyed it.
I enjoy Marina Lewycka's writing - but actually found her most famous "Tractors" a little too dark. Perhaps an odd thing to say about someone generally thought of as a comic writer, but that was how I felt about it. "We Are All Made of Glue" did not have that problem for me (I'm not sure why is was a problem, mind you.) It was a gem. It was, in turn, funny, absurd, moving and sad. Very real. I believed in the main character and although many of the other characters were real eccentrics and the situation someone just worked. I would really recommend this - pacy, exciting and ultimately uplifting.
Ultimately feel-good and everything neatly stuck together at the end, in a way that didn't just feel predictable or limp.
Really enjoyed it.
When Georgie Sinclair meets her elderly neighbour Mrs Shapiro, this is the last thing she needed to make her life a complete mess. Her husband has just left her for another woman. Her son flees into a world of Armageddon and her job for a company which produces glue also is not really satisfying. But old Mrs Shapiro need her help. After an accident she is in hospital and due to her age, the vultures are on the watch for her house in a financially interesting area.
What Marina Lewycka can do like hardly any other is creating characters which are so unique that they cannot compare to any other in the most positive way. Mrs Shapiro’s way of speaking, her one the one hand hard-boiled but on the other hand loving way of treating people, compared with her witty and clever mind make her a rather strange but hard not to love person. She definitely has known how to cope with life’s adversities. Georgie also gains character and profile through the novel, she grows with the responsibilities. What I found most interesting is the way her work on text related to all types of glue is mixed with the plot. Albeit a bit strange in the beginning, they make more and more sense. All in all, a novel full of extraordinary humour and great fun to read.
What Marina Lewycka can do like hardly any other is creating characters which are so unique that they cannot compare to any other in the most positive way. Mrs Shapiro’s way of speaking, her one the one hand hard-boiled but on the other hand loving way of treating people, compared with her witty and clever mind make her a rather strange but hard not to love person. She definitely has known how to cope with life’s adversities. Georgie also gains character and profile through the novel, she grows with the responsibilities. What I found most interesting is the way her work on text related to all types of glue is mixed with the plot. Albeit a bit strange in the beginning, they make more and more sense. All in all, a novel full of extraordinary humour and great fun to read.