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timeakrauszova's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
fbroom's review
5.0
Alina Bronksy
Baba Dunja, an 82 year old lady lives in a town in which radiation levels are dangerous with only few other neighbors. Her daughter wants her to come to live with her because she doesn’t understand how someone can be happy in such a village. She even made the news when she first moved to the famous town because no sane person would do that but Baba Dunja knows exactly what makes her comfortable in life although she admits that learned that at a very old age.
I’m a big fan of Alina Bronsky. The book is delightful, sarcastic and sad at the same time. It uses the same tone as in her previous books Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine and Broken Glass Park.
Quotes: (I was lazy with highlighting, there are many more gems)
"Irina sends me packages. Alexej does not. I’m not sure which one of them I’m more grateful to"
"I don’t pay too close attention. Politics are important, of course, but at the end of the day, if you want to eat mashed potatoes it’s up to you to put manure on the potato plants."
"I’m just a woman like millions of others and still so unhappy, I’m an idiot."
"I know that in reality she doesn’t sit around waiting for my letters. But she wants me to think that she cares about me."
"I get along particularly well with Tamara, Natalja, Lida, and Katja. Tamara killed her husband with an electric iron. Natalja stole a baby out of a stroller in front of a butcher shop. Lida sold sugar tablets as American aspirin, and Katja spray-painted obscenities on a bishop’s garage door."
"She never had a home because I never taught her mother how to feel comfortable in life. I learned it too late myself."
Baba Dunja, an 82 year old lady lives in a town in which radiation levels are dangerous with only few other neighbors. Her daughter wants her to come to live with her because she doesn’t understand how someone can be happy in such a village. She even made the news when she first moved to the famous town because no sane person would do that but Baba Dunja knows exactly what makes her comfortable in life although she admits that learned that at a very old age.
I’m a big fan of Alina Bronsky. The book is delightful, sarcastic and sad at the same time. It uses the same tone as in her previous books Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine and Broken Glass Park.
Quotes: (I was lazy with highlighting, there are many more gems)
"Irina sends me packages. Alexej does not. I’m not sure which one of them I’m more grateful to"
"I don’t pay too close attention. Politics are important, of course, but at the end of the day, if you want to eat mashed potatoes it’s up to you to put manure on the potato plants."
"I’m just a woman like millions of others and still so unhappy, I’m an idiot."
"I know that in reality she doesn’t sit around waiting for my letters. But she wants me to think that she cares about me."
"I get along particularly well with Tamara, Natalja, Lida, and Katja. Tamara killed her husband with an electric iron. Natalja stole a baby out of a stroller in front of a butcher shop. Lida sold sugar tablets as American aspirin, and Katja spray-painted obscenities on a bishop’s garage door."
"She never had a home because I never taught her mother how to feel comfortable in life. I learned it too late myself."
michalhaman's review
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
saramh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
mlafaive's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leoschu's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
buecherfuechsin's review against another edition
5.0
Eine besondere Protagonistin. Ein außergewöhnliches Buch!