I really loved this book. It took me quite a long time to finish, but that had nothing to do with the book and everything to do with me being stubborn and lazy regarding my German. It is a gorgeous story, highly recommend. ( )

Set in Ukraine near the site of the Chernobyl disaster, this book follows Baba Dunja, a feisty elderly woman, and her neighbors, as they make what they can of life in the nearly deserted town of Tscheronowo. Her husband has died, and her children have moved away. She receives a letter from her granddaughter but cannot read it since it is written in another language. They live on food from their gardens and raise a few chickens. They live with few modern amenities. Occasionally, outsiders will arrive to monitor radiation levels or conduct interviews. One day a man arrives with his small daughter, which leads to a serious situation that disrupts the status quo.

Baba Dunja and her neighbors are quirky characters. She becomes a leader of this small community, though she does not seek the role. Chernobyl is not mentioned by name, but it clearly looms over the story. It is filled with dark humor and more serious topics. It is a story of the longing for peace and tranquility of home, the “last love” of the title, even in the face of environmental tragedy. It will appeal to those who enjoy eccentric characters, ecological topics, or stories off the beaten path.
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This was perfectly charming but there was nothing spectacular here. The believeable and mundane charcters set against a backdrop of unlikely events creates the most unexpectedly engaging tale. I didn't want it to end where it did. If there were a sequel, I would be all over it.

Thank you to Europa Editions who sent me this review copy. ( )

Baba Dunja is a force to be reckoned with—a matriarch (but whose daughter and granddaughter live abroad), a town elder (but with only the barest of semblance of a town remaining), and an aging widow (but whose husband’s ghost is a matter-of-fact presence in her life). She has returned to her home village in the Ukraine several years after a nuclear reactor accident forced everyone to evacuate. Despite the radiation, she wants to go home and a handful of others join her. The colorful cast of characters include Marja, a hypochondriac whose housemates include a goat and a derelict rooster; Sidorow, an ancient lover in search of a bride; and Petrow, a cancer-ridden romantic. When an unknown father and daughter appear and a death occurs, everyone turns to Baba Dunja to take charge.

I love the character of Baba Dunja. She is smart, acerbic, and capable, with a wicked humor. I’ve read this short novel a couple of times now and enjoy it as much every time. Great fun. ( )

This is my third Bronsky book and my favorite one to date. Why? In part, because Bronsky’s writing style and story telling continues to refine and polish. Her characters are offbeat personalities that radiate off the pages – and no, that is not a deliberate pun on the fact that this story involves a group of settlers that have returned to live in Tschernowo (which I assume is Chernobyl or a nearby village) after the nuclear accident. Not exactly my first choice for residence but we learn that Baba Dunja and her neighbors each have their own reasons for choosing to come and live in the “dead zone”, to the horror of the authorities. This story offers a rare juxtaposition: the impression of an idyllic, peaceful village life where the residents take the odd visits from scientists (in radiation suits), reporters and authorities as a minor annoyance to just shrug off. For Baba Dunja, this was her home before the reactor accident, she is old (over 80) and her closest living family are her daughter Irina and granddaughter Laura (who she has never met), who live in Germany.

Each one of Bronsky’s stories draw a connection between Russia and Germany. While the previous two books – [Broken Glass Park] and [The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine] – had more of a German setting, this one is squarely set in Russia. Once again, Bronsky has managed to take weighty topics and communicate them as delightful antidotes from the vantage point of her wonderful characters. At a mere 136 pages in length, a quick read. ( )