A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

It is a witty and insightful novel that blends humour with emotional depth. The story explores familiar family dynamics with honesty and warmth, particularly the shifting balance in parent–child relationships as ageing brings new challenges.

At the heart of the novel is the relationship between two sisters, whose tensions and differences feel authentic and relatable. Their lives are further complicated when their elderly father unexpectedly remarries, setting off a chain of events that is at once absurd, touching, and deeply human.

Lewycka skillfully balances comedy with moments of poignancy, capturing both the chaos and tenderness of family life. The result is an engaging, easy read that resonates long after the final page.