This is a clever little comedy, and one which would likely enjoy success as an independent film, were it to be made. The flamboyant Ukranian tart Valentina is a catalyst who arrives in this family of two squabbling sisters and an aging eccentric and love-struck father "like a fluffly pink grenade." The father is completely infatuated with Valentina to the utter consternation of the sisters; and meanwhile, we get excerpts from his magnum opus: a history of the tractor. By the story's end, conflicts are resolved, everyone undergoes a change, and all live happily ever after. Formulaic in that respect. . . but. The novel provides an amusing little window, of necessarily limited scope, into the transplanted Slavic family and its mindset - a condition full of history, tragedy and quirkiness. I have been trying to think why this work would be be considered one of the '1001 books I must read before I die,' and I conclude it may be primarily because of its unique comedic Slavic voice. An easy read. ( )

i did not finish it; it did not hold my interest ( )

A bit of mildly amusing fluff, "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian" brings us the adventures of a naturalized British citizen, who gives up feuding with her older sister to work toward getting a Ukrainian woman divorced from their 84 year-old father.

This is a comic effort, mostly of the word-play kind; the sisters wind up sisters again, and interact happily ever after, presumably. There is some charm here, and no harm, but also no compelling reason to pick it up. ( )

Intriguing and delightful, this stale of a gold-digging Ukrainian seeking a better life in England kept me going to the end. Bitterness separate Nikolai's two daughters till they find common ground fighting the advances of Valentina who is set to benefit from her marriage to their 80-somethings father. ( )

fun to read ( )