I've read many good comments on the BC forums about this book so when I saw it discounted at McNally Robinson when I went for Corey Redekopp's (aka Stone-Junction) reading of his book, Shelf Monkey, I had to pick it up. (Wow, that was a long run-on sentence, wasn't it?)

Here it goes onto Mount TBR!

The first paragraph reads:
"Two years after my mother died, my father fell in love with a glamorous blond Ukrainian divorcee. He was eighty-four and she was thirty-six. She exploded into our lives like a fluffy pink grenade, churning up the murky water, bringing to the surface a sludge of sloughed-off memories, giving the family ghosts a kick up the backside."

And that pretty much describes the book. It is written from the point of view of Nadezhda, the younger daughter, who is a sociology instructor (but her family keeps calling her a social worker). Her father, Nikolai, and mother and older daughter, Vera, moved to England after the Second World War where Nadezhda was born. Her parents were married for sixty-five years before her mother died of cancer. After the mother's death the two daughters fought about their mother's will and haven't spoken since. However, the news about the impending nuptials with the Ukrainian divorcee (Valentina) necessitates desperate measures and Nadezhda calls Vera.

The title comes from a book Nikolai is writing and excerpts are scattered throughout the book. Nikolai was an engineer and worked in a tractor factory so he does know his stuff. He is not too smart in terms of money and scheming women though. His marriage to Valentina only ran smoothly as long as his money held out.

I couldn't decide if this book was a tragedy or a comedy but perhaps it is a combination of both just as life is for most of us. There are some funny passages but mostly it is just a story about a family.

I'm going to be sending this on a trip but I can't say where because it's a secret.

Oh my goodness. Guess what finally arrived gypsysmom???? Yes! Your wonderful birthday package filled with books, chocolate blueberries, a magnetic cow, a magnet and some yummy chocolate milk drink mixes.

Thank you so much! I was stoked to see this finally arrive and felt so lucky to have a wonderful friend like you. Please keep an eye out on your postbox because a small 'thank you' is on its way. I admit - I'm a bit low on moolah at the mo, but am planning something special for when I am flush again.

Thank you gypsysmom - I'd been feeling a bit down, and this certainly put a smile on my face. Thank you. You're the best. xxxxxxx

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book when I read an extract in the local paper, but there was something about it that made me put it on my wishlist. Then my lovely buddy, gypsysmom sent it to be as part of a birthday rabck - and I have to say - I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Yes, it is a book about families and their secrets. It's also about tractors (funny that). Thing is - the tractor is an underlying icon of (in my humble opinion) - all the characters in some way, shape or form. I loved how the characters developed and often transformed into someone completely different. Definitely an 'onion' book where you could read it again and again, until you completely unraveled the layers.

Am very tempted to put this into my Permanent Collection, but I feel it is something that should be shared first.

Thank you again gypsysmom for being so thoughtful - I loved this book! xx

Sending as part of my revived surprise book baggie.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sorry - I'm so lazy as I've only got a short window tomorrow (050508) to get these posted, so I'll make 'em a 'wild controlled release'. Off to amberC as part of the revived surprise book baggie.

Taken from the bookbag. It's a wishlist book!!

I got a few funny looks at work when people saw the title. When I started telling them it was a really good book and I had trouble putting it down, they would sort of go....umm sure, and wander off. I think I've found the secret to uninterrupted reading at work, lol.

The story of the family sort of tied up with the history of tractors, and I was surprised how interesting I found the bits about tractor history.

This has been chosen on the Make Me Read It Relay.

Off to a new reader. Enjoy!

Thanks AmberC. That was fast! Looking forward to read this.

I've read this book ages ago and enjoyed it very much. I've passed it on to an aquaintance who should recognise a lot in this book