Telegraph Book of the day: Two Caravans by Marina LewyckaTWO CARAVANS
Marina Lewycka - Penguin
Marina Lewycka’s second novel, dedicated to the migrant Chinese cockle-pickers of Morecambe Bay, tells the story of a promised land that breaks its promises.
In the middle of a field in Kent, a group of strawberry-pickers shipped from the Ukraine, Malawi and China live in two ramshackle caravans. They have all the difficulties of living on a dusty highway without any of the romance: Irina finds herself pursued by Vulk, a person of “minimum culture” and minimum morals, who attempts to recruit her to his network of streetwalkers.
In the middle of a field in Kent, a group of strawberry-pickers shipped from the Ukraine, Malawi and China live in two ramshackle caravans. They have all the difficulties of living on a dusty highway without any of the romance: Irina finds herself pursued by Vulk, a person of “minimum culture” and minimum morals, who attempts to recruit her to his network of streetwalkers.
Amazing that a year after Lewycka toured NZ to promote this title the book is still attracting review coverage. Publishers Penguin will be delighted I am sure. And it is a great read although I didn't think it quite matched her brilliant first novel, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian.
Very strange when reading Short History of Tractors in Ukranian followed roughly ( and I sure co-incidentally) the same plot as Gotta Have Balls by Lily Brett ( which was great by the way)...
ReplyDelete