Two Caravans - Marina Lewycka

Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka I spotted the novel Two Caravans, being heavily advertised in our local Waterstone's bookshop, due to the fact that it was based on immigrant workers in Kent (where I live). I read the back blurb, and, realising that this would be no 'Darling Buds of May' type Kentish story, but a more realistic exploration of life in this county in the new millennium, decided to buy it. However, I bought it from Sussex Stationers (part of British Stationers) up the road as it was half price at £3.99 as opposed to Waterstone's price of £7.99. I had heard of Marina Lewycka before, as her first novel was strangely entitled 'a ...

With the subject of immigration dominating the news at the moment, Marina Lewycka’s “Two Caravans” could hardly be more topical. The book tells the story of a group of immigrants who, at the beginning of the novel, find themselves crammed into two tiny caravans at a strawberry farm in Kent. The story is told through a succession of first person narratives from the main characters and also “Dog”, a stray dog who attaches himself to the motley band of itinerant workers. I had high hopes for “Two Caravans” having read and enjoyed the author’s debut novel “A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian”. I was also interested in how the sensitive subject of immigration ...

~~~The Setting~~~ This book was recommended to me when down the pub with three girl (see how young we are!!) friends. Two of the three had read Marina Lewycka’s very popular, critically acclaimed and award winning debut novel ‘A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian’ and had thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the three had started to read ‘Two Caravans’ and the rest of us decided that this would be a good first book for a ‘book club’ (between you and me, this is a means for us to legitimise a regular girl’s evening down the pub). ‘Tractors’ (if I may use this as short hand) has ‘its extraordinary distinctiveness, wit and heart’ to thank for its success. I ...