Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka

I have to confess that I put off reading this for ages. I had quite enjoyed A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, although I had felt that it had not lived up to its expectations, and had been overhyped. This book also had the twin enticement/put off of a Malawian character. I had picked up the book a long, long time ago, and had been both entranced by references to Zomba, but also concerned that this character would be some sort of patronised cliche.

I needn't have worried. The character is a very warm one, and since the other characters are also immigrants, is not picked out for special patronisation. All the characters are funny, curious, independent and individual. The settings are poignant with many causes for black humour. Lewycka deals as much with chicken farming as she does with developing love stories, and the book is all the better for it.

I would highly recommend this book - it is much better than Tractors.