May 12, 2007

• I never would have known that this book was meant to be funny if it were not for the quote 'Extremely funny' from The Times printed on the cover of my copy.  I don't think I laughed once while reading this book. Some reviewers of the book have mentioned that it's fast reading since it's just over 300 pages.  I agree.  It did get through this book quickly but only because I wanted to be done with it!  I found just about all the characters annoying and the the author repetitive. 

  Two sisters who normally only squabble are forced to work together when their 84 year old father decides to rescue a 36 year old 'blonde bombshell' from a harsh life in the Ukraine and gives her a better one in England.  The younger sister, who never knew her father very well, slowly begins to find out about her family history during this battle against the blonde bombshell.  The author punctuates the book with flashbacks of the family's life back in Eastern Europe in order for us to gain a better understanding of their complicated relationship.  I found these accounts too abruptly inserted into the story and gave it a very chopped up feeling. I gather these accounts were meant to give you more background to empathize with the characters but I've come away from the book with only cold feelings.

  • 10:38 am
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