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Diverse dieren, levend en dood by Marina…
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Diverse dieren, levend en dood (original 2012; edition 2013)

by Marina Lewycka (Author), Anneke Bok

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
2831192,654 (3.56)9
Marco and Doro's children have grown up rather different from them: primary schoolteacher Clara craves order and clean bathrooms; son Serge is pretending to his parents that is still doing a Maths PhD at Cambridge, while in fact making loadsamoney in the City; third child Oolie Anna, who has Down Syndrome, is desperate to escape home and live on her own. Once the truth starts breaking through, who knows what further secrets will be revealed about any of them? Set half in Doncaster, half in London, this is a very funny riff on modern values, featuring hamsters, cockroaches, poodles, a chicken and multiplying rabbits, told by Marina Lewycka in her unique and brilliant combination of irony, farce and wit.… (more)
Member:funkturm1969
Title:Diverse dieren, levend en dood
Authors:Marina Lewycka (Author)
Other authors:Anneke Bok
Info:Breda : De Geus; 412 p, 22 cm; http://opc4.kb.nl/DB=1/PPN?PPN=355352672
Collections:Gelezen in 2021, Gelezen in 2015, Romans
Rating:****
Tags:None

Work Information

Various Pets Alive and Dead by Marina Lewycka (2012)

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English (10)  German (1)  All languages (11)
Showing 1-5 of 10 (next | show all)
Well written and the subject matter that tipped me into giving 4 stars. I guess I'm the right age group to enjoy it and the author has thrown enough plot into it to make 3 or 4 books - which I love. Needed to pay attention to follow it all.... Doncaster, communes, miners, economics, short selling, allotments, schools and reunions to name a few. ( )
  Ma_Washigeri | Jan 23, 2021 |
I really enjoyed this book, I hope there is a sequel.
The main characters are all likeable. the story line is good.
There are some really funny moments too ( )
  karenshann | Dec 31, 2019 |
Well written and the subject matter that tipped me into giving 4 stars. I guess I'm the right age group to enjoy it and the author has thrown enough plot into it to make 3 or 4 books - which I love. Needed to pay attention to follow it all.... Doncaster, communes, miners, economics, short selling, allotments, schools and reunions to name a few. ( )
  Ma_Washigeri | May 27, 2018 |
This novel is full of unhappy characters, many of which are unlikeable. The telling of the story flits between different members of a family, mum and brother and sister and moves between the present and back to the past when the family lived in a commune. I didn't find the novel laugh out loud funny and it was the saddness that dominated it for me. Marina Lewycka usually has a bitter-sweet aspect to her novels and usually I find that the humour wins out but not this time. ( )
  CarolKub | Aug 21, 2017 |
Filled with Marina Lewycka's trademark quirky characters and unusual situations, Various Pets Alive and Dead is a really good read. It started off a little slow I thought, but once I had really got into the story I loved it.

Doro and Marcus lived in a commune in Doncaster in the 70s and 80s and that's where their children, Serge and Clara, were brought up, along with their adopted sister, Oolie-Anna. Serge and Clara have rebelled against the free living of their childhood and work in banking/trading (Serge) and as a teacher (Clara). The story is set against the backdrop of the finance crisis in 2008.

I loved the characterisations and how the story played out. There's not a plot as such as it's more a slice of life story, but oh what lives these characters live! Such a lot of fun. ( )
1 vote nicx27 | Mar 2, 2016 |
Showing 1-5 of 10 (next | show all)
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The whole world is deranged, though most people haven't noticed yet.
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Marco and Doro's children have grown up rather different from them: primary schoolteacher Clara craves order and clean bathrooms; son Serge is pretending to his parents that is still doing a Maths PhD at Cambridge, while in fact making loadsamoney in the City; third child Oolie Anna, who has Down Syndrome, is desperate to escape home and live on her own. Once the truth starts breaking through, who knows what further secrets will be revealed about any of them? Set half in Doncaster, half in London, this is a very funny riff on modern values, featuring hamsters, cockroaches, poodles, a chicken and multiplying rabbits, told by Marina Lewycka in her unique and brilliant combination of irony, farce and wit.

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Penguin Australia

3 editions of this book were published by Penguin Australia.

Editions: 1905490917, 1905490550, 0141044942

 

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