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I am finding it a little difficult to get back into the blogging rhythm after my Chinese adventures. They were so rich with life and brimming with excitement. It feels like I have been running an exhilarating marathon and the cooling down is taking more time than usual. In Marina Lewycka’s “Strawberry Fields” a group of Ukranian migrants look forward to a similarly colorful life when they come to England to be strawberry pickers. And colorful their life is. After they are forced to run away from the farm that they were working in, the group travels across England seeking work. This is the story of these workers, their dreams and shattered illusions.
What impressed me about the book was its dark humor and keen observations about the life of migrants. Many of them come with high hopes and expectations and while some are fulfilled, several are dashed to doom. This is illustrated by the fate of the Chinese girls. With the promise of a new job gleaming in their eyes, they trust Vitaly, the man with the “mobilfon” and therefore power and influence, to go across the seas to a new life. But the abrupt end to their story in the book denotes the sad end to their hopes, which is all too clear to the reader.
On the other hand, are Irina and Andriy who stick through all that life throws their way and end up with a better foothold.
“Maybe he and Irina could stay in Sheffield and find jobs for themselves, and maybe he would even go to college and train to be an engineer. He would buy a mobilfon, not for doing business, but to talk to his friends, and at weekends they would come to a bar like this, and drink and laugh.”
But despite imagining a very normal future like this, Andriy is aware that he “could never be one of them.” He knows that he or Irina can never fully integrate into the English society because “they live in a different world.”
It is such tender musings, the result of wising up after many adventures that lends a quiet grace to Strawberry Fields. Also known by its alternative title of “Two Caravans,” perhaps the book could have been a bit more fast paced. Still, though not as wildly popular as Lewycka's previous book, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, I would say it’s a nice read and offers not a shallow perspective on immigrant life.
Verdict: Humourous and entertaining
Rating: 3.5/5
What impressed me about the book was its dark humor and keen observations about the life of migrants. Many of them come with high hopes and expectations and while some are fulfilled, several are dashed to doom. This is illustrated by the fate of the Chinese girls. With the promise of a new job gleaming in their eyes, they trust Vitaly, the man with the “mobilfon” and therefore power and influence, to go across the seas to a new life. But the abrupt end to their story in the book denotes the sad end to their hopes, which is all too clear to the reader.
On the other hand, are Irina and Andriy who stick through all that life throws their way and end up with a better foothold.
“Maybe he and Irina could stay in Sheffield and find jobs for themselves, and maybe he would even go to college and train to be an engineer. He would buy a mobilfon, not for doing business, but to talk to his friends, and at weekends they would come to a bar like this, and drink and laugh.”
But despite imagining a very normal future like this, Andriy is aware that he “could never be one of them.” He knows that he or Irina can never fully integrate into the English society because “they live in a different world.”
It is such tender musings, the result of wising up after many adventures that lends a quiet grace to Strawberry Fields. Also known by its alternative title of “Two Caravans,” perhaps the book could have been a bit more fast paced. Still, though not as wildly popular as Lewycka's previous book, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, I would say it’s a nice read and offers not a shallow perspective on immigrant life.
Verdict: Humourous and entertaining
Rating: 3.5/5
I saw this book in the library, but I wasn't sure if I should pick it up. After reading your review, I am still not sure, haha!
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Birdy! The title of this book is very beautiful and I love the cover too. The story also looks quite interesting from your review. I haven't read any of Marina Lewycka's books though I have 'A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian' in my bookshelf waiting to be read. Thanks for this nice review.
ReplyDeleteSoul - Maybe you should try it.
ReplyDeleteVishy - Thanks :) I would say it's worth a try, it's funny in places.