This book is a delight - but especially for anyone with any sort of background or experience of Eastern Europe. The characters are amazingly true-to-life - they make you laugh and make you cry, and in doing so illustrate the chequered history of Ukraine. It's a land that's been left a grim legacy by the Soviet Union - but the people bounce back, in whatever way they can. It's a great story of family interactions, between two sisters, their elderly father, and his new wife - and I loved every word.