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The Road Home
A wise and witty look at the contemporary migrant experience.
Lev is on his way from Eastern Europe to Britain, seeking work. Behind him loom the figures of his dead wife, his beloved young daughter and his outrageous friend Rudi who - dreaming of the wealthy West - lives largely for his battered Chevrolet. Ahead of Lev lies the deep strangeness of the British: their hostile streets, their clannish pubs, their obsession with celebrity. London holds out the alluring possibility of friendship, sex, money and a new career and, if Lev is lucky, a new sense of belonging...
Lev is on his way from Eastern Europe to Britain, seeking work. Behind him loom the figures of his dead wife, his beloved young daughter and his outrageous friend Rudi who - dreaming of the wealthy West - lives largely for his battered Chevrolet. Ahead of Lev lies the deep strangeness of the British: their hostile streets, their clannish pubs, their obsession with celebrity. London holds out the alluring possibility of friendship, sex, money and a new career and, if Lev is lucky, a new sense of belonging...
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2007
326 people are currently reading
6686 people want to read
About the author
Rose Tremain
79 books1,106 followersDame Rose Tremain is an acclaimed English novelist and short story writer, celebrated for her distinctive approach to historical fiction and her focus on characters who exist on the margins of society. Educated at the Sorbonne and the University of East Anglia, where she later taught creative writing and served as Chancellor, Tremain has produced a rich body of work spanning novels, short stories, plays, and memoir. Influenced by writers such as William Golding and Gabriel García Márquez, her narratives often blend psychological depth with lyrical prose.
Among her many honors, she has received the Whitbread Award for Music and Silence, the Orange Prize for The Road Home, and the National Jewish Book Award for The Gustav Sonata. She was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Restoration and has been recognized multiple times by the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. In 2020, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to literature. Tremain lives in Norfolk and continues to write, with her recent novel Absolutely and Forever shortlisted for the 2024 Walter Scott Prize.
Among her many honors, she has received the Whitbread Award for Music and Silence, the Orange Prize for The Road Home, and the National Jewish Book Award for The Gustav Sonata. She was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Restoration and has been recognized multiple times by the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. In 2020, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to literature. Tremain lives in Norfolk and continues to write, with her recent novel Absolutely and Forever shortlisted for the 2024 Walter Scott Prize.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,002 reviews
October 22, 2021
Eastern European (country unspecified) middle-aged greying and recently widowed Lev moves to London so that he can raise money to send to his mother, his five-year old daughter and his rambunctious best friend Rudy. The story, told from his perspective is of his time in London, his interrelations with the various classes of people he comes across, his experiences day-2-day and work he undertook. Rose Tremain strongly underlines her high status in literary circle with this very intelligent, and thought provoking look at just one migrant's tale, his dreams, his drives, his perceptions of the West and as importantly of himself; this is all coupled with his striving to heal after being widowed.
Rose Tremain
This book not only completely humanises the migrant experience, but also made me think how far we have fallen in the West, that this writer (and others) felt there was a need for a humanising migrant story. What places this book above almost anything else I've read around similar issues, was that Lev's migrant journey was such a limited part of his personal story; the story at heart is about a man who's lost his way after a personal tragedy is compounded by economic collapse at home; a story of him seeking a solution, initially an economic solution via the West, but then realising that, that was just the beginning and that he needed something more to create a future for himself and his family and friends. Another golden touch, was not to paint Lev as a saint; which added a lot more realism to this read. All in all though, a thought provoking read, one that touched me on multiple levels, but at heart this is a feel-good story, and an inspirational one, despite the fair amount of darkness found within. Almost a Five Star Read, 9.5 out of 12.
Rose Tremain
This book not only completely humanises the migrant experience, but also made me think how far we have fallen in the West, that this writer (and others) felt there was a need for a humanising migrant story. What places this book above almost anything else I've read around similar issues, was that Lev's migrant journey was such a limited part of his personal story; the story at heart is about a man who's lost his way after a personal tragedy is compounded by economic collapse at home; a story of him seeking a solution, initially an economic solution via the West, but then realising that, that was just the beginning and that he needed something more to create a future for himself and his family and friends. Another golden touch, was not to paint Lev as a saint; which added a lot more realism to this read. All in all though, a thought provoking read, one that touched me on multiple levels, but at heart this is a feel-good story, and an inspirational one, despite the fair amount of darkness found within. Almost a Five Star Read, 9.5 out of 12.
January 17, 2025
If I were to describe my feelings after finishing The Road Home in one word, it would be: empathy.
The reason I say empathy is because I believe that anyone who has ever lived away from home, worked hard in a foreign place, can see a part of themselves in Lev. The reasons for being away and the hardships endured may differ, but the bitterness and helplessness of starting anew in an unfamiliar land are universal experiences that only those who have gone through it can truly understand.
Spoiler Alert!
Lev is a farmer from a small Middle Eastern country, living in a peaceful small town for generations. In his middle age, his wife passes away due to illness, his factory closes, leaving him without a job, his mother is elderly, and his daughter is still young. With no other means to survive at home, he travels to London alone to make a living.
In his own country, speaking his language, a 42-year-old man, Lev, prepares as much as he can for his journey to the dream city of London. He enrolls in an English class to learn basic conversation skills, hears that the weekly cost of living in London is £20, and is advised by a travel agency clerk to tell any police officers he meets that he is a legal economic migrant, not seeking asylum.
As a traveler, when I first arrive at a destination, I am excited. I would go to a booked hostel, take a hot shower, chat with the receptionist about local delicacies, and then start my journey casually or adventurously. But Lev is different. He is a genuine foreigner, even a country bumpkin, with no skills, no extra money, no friends, no plans, virtually nothing. After a 5-day bus ride, he can only find a public bathroom to wash up and change clothes to look less disheveled and disgraceful. A man seeking a livelihood in a foreign land but also a dignified man and father, willing to come to this place for the sake of his loved ones, just to make their lives better. Fortunately, Lev meets a kind compatriot, Lydia, on the bus, so he is not entirely alone in London; he has a fellow countryman.
When someone wants to make a change, especially a significant change in their life trajectory, the beginning is undoubtedly difficult. Lev arrives in the bustling and radiant London, homeless and hungry, but he constantly encourages himself not to give up. In the most miserable and distressed times, he recalls the most beautiful moments in his life—his deceased wife Marina, his revered friend Rudi, their youthful and crazy days, his little daughter, and the village called Auror. However, the more beautiful the memories, the more unbearable the reality. Back to reality, the problem of survival remains unsolved, and warm memories can only be swallowed with bitter tears.
Lev is fortunate to find his first job; the boss is a good person who gives him a full meal and a job distributing flyers. The pay is low, of course, but Lev does his utmost. After the brief job ends, Lev musters the courage to seek help from his fellow traveler, Lydia. The kind Lydia helps Lev find a dishwashing job at an upscale restaurant, and Lev, of course, works very hard and treasures it. Thus, his struggling life officially begins.
With a stable job, Lev can send money home every week, make phone calls, and even become friends with his landlord, sharing drinks, smokes, and stories. He is a kind man, a loving father, a reliable friend, and a diligent worker. Such a man firmly establishes himself in London, able to support himself and his loved ones and help friends in need. This is a stark contrast to the helpless Lev who lost his job due to the factory closure. His conversations used to revolve around his admired friend Rudi, but now, in a new environment, after enduring hardships and efforts, Lev even begins a new romance. He has completely changed—no longer timid and confused but capable of helping those more helpless, becoming a responsible, accomplished, and charming man.
The most surprising change is that the old Lev has developed his own thoughts and dreams - to open a restaurant of his own and become the chef of the world's most delicious restaurant.
Sudden changes
After maintaining a stable state for a while, a new crisis arises. Due to his ambiguous relationship with a female colleague, that brief and fragile romance ends, and so does his job, leaving him with nothing once again. Fortunately, because he does not succumb to fate, he begins a new job, but this time, it is merely a setback, not a complete downfall. Following Lev's storyline, I feel as if I am existing with him, wondering what his next move should be.
A foreign land, after all, is a foreign land; is the hometown a distant place one cannot return to?
After a year away, although Lev has been financially supporting his family, his mother and daughter cannot understand or accept his efforts, only wanting him to come home quickly. His best friend is anxious after losing his job because the government plans to redevelop their village, forcing them to relocate and start over. Lev is in great pain at this moment, wanting to save more money for future plans while his family does not understand his sacrifices. He is deeply distressed about losing the village, and even his once-revered friend Rudi is now helpless, unable to assist, and blames him for abandoning them. Suddenly, all the pressure collapses on him. But this resilient man, striving for change, becomes a role model, leading everyone towards a new life, no matter how difficult. His soul has already been running...
A quote from the book: ”Sometimes he would go to the restaurant to check how the tables were set, how clean the glasses and tablecloths were. He always saw people looking through the glass door into the restaurant at dusk. Laura always called them 'dummies,' but most dummies eventually became their customers. Despite many new houses and businesses, the new Barn was still a small town. It didn't take long for everyone to know that the food at Podolsky Street 43 was good and fairly priced, like a forecast of continuous good weather. By the end of winter, reservations had to be made two or three weeks in advance."
The story ends without any thrilling or legendary elements. Lev finds his way home. He is just an ordinary person, once humble and lowly, but he succeeds. He is no longer a mediocre person; he has dreams and is kind, brave, and down-to-earth. He returns to his hometown, using his strength and spirit to lead and inspire others, eventually fulfilling his dreams. Many people may see themselves in Lev - the lost and desperate self on the road, the one with dreams but struggling between reality and dreams. But I believe that those who have dreams will eventually return to their life's path, pursuing their dreams with determination and courage.
Leaving is for a better return.
3.8 / 5 stars
The reason I say empathy is because I believe that anyone who has ever lived away from home, worked hard in a foreign place, can see a part of themselves in Lev. The reasons for being away and the hardships endured may differ, but the bitterness and helplessness of starting anew in an unfamiliar land are universal experiences that only those who have gone through it can truly understand.
Spoiler Alert!
Lev is a farmer from a small Middle Eastern country, living in a peaceful small town for generations. In his middle age, his wife passes away due to illness, his factory closes, leaving him without a job, his mother is elderly, and his daughter is still young. With no other means to survive at home, he travels to London alone to make a living.
In his own country, speaking his language, a 42-year-old man, Lev, prepares as much as he can for his journey to the dream city of London. He enrolls in an English class to learn basic conversation skills, hears that the weekly cost of living in London is £20, and is advised by a travel agency clerk to tell any police officers he meets that he is a legal economic migrant, not seeking asylum.
As a traveler, when I first arrive at a destination, I am excited. I would go to a booked hostel, take a hot shower, chat with the receptionist about local delicacies, and then start my journey casually or adventurously. But Lev is different. He is a genuine foreigner, even a country bumpkin, with no skills, no extra money, no friends, no plans, virtually nothing. After a 5-day bus ride, he can only find a public bathroom to wash up and change clothes to look less disheveled and disgraceful. A man seeking a livelihood in a foreign land but also a dignified man and father, willing to come to this place for the sake of his loved ones, just to make their lives better. Fortunately, Lev meets a kind compatriot, Lydia, on the bus, so he is not entirely alone in London; he has a fellow countryman.
When someone wants to make a change, especially a significant change in their life trajectory, the beginning is undoubtedly difficult. Lev arrives in the bustling and radiant London, homeless and hungry, but he constantly encourages himself not to give up. In the most miserable and distressed times, he recalls the most beautiful moments in his life—his deceased wife Marina, his revered friend Rudi, their youthful and crazy days, his little daughter, and the village called Auror. However, the more beautiful the memories, the more unbearable the reality. Back to reality, the problem of survival remains unsolved, and warm memories can only be swallowed with bitter tears.
Lev is fortunate to find his first job; the boss is a good person who gives him a full meal and a job distributing flyers. The pay is low, of course, but Lev does his utmost. After the brief job ends, Lev musters the courage to seek help from his fellow traveler, Lydia. The kind Lydia helps Lev find a dishwashing job at an upscale restaurant, and Lev, of course, works very hard and treasures it. Thus, his struggling life officially begins.
With a stable job, Lev can send money home every week, make phone calls, and even become friends with his landlord, sharing drinks, smokes, and stories. He is a kind man, a loving father, a reliable friend, and a diligent worker. Such a man firmly establishes himself in London, able to support himself and his loved ones and help friends in need. This is a stark contrast to the helpless Lev who lost his job due to the factory closure. His conversations used to revolve around his admired friend Rudi, but now, in a new environment, after enduring hardships and efforts, Lev even begins a new romance. He has completely changed—no longer timid and confused but capable of helping those more helpless, becoming a responsible, accomplished, and charming man.
The most surprising change is that the old Lev has developed his own thoughts and dreams - to open a restaurant of his own and become the chef of the world's most delicious restaurant.
Sudden changes
After maintaining a stable state for a while, a new crisis arises. Due to his ambiguous relationship with a female colleague, that brief and fragile romance ends, and so does his job, leaving him with nothing once again. Fortunately, because he does not succumb to fate, he begins a new job, but this time, it is merely a setback, not a complete downfall. Following Lev's storyline, I feel as if I am existing with him, wondering what his next move should be.
A foreign land, after all, is a foreign land; is the hometown a distant place one cannot return to?
After a year away, although Lev has been financially supporting his family, his mother and daughter cannot understand or accept his efforts, only wanting him to come home quickly. His best friend is anxious after losing his job because the government plans to redevelop their village, forcing them to relocate and start over. Lev is in great pain at this moment, wanting to save more money for future plans while his family does not understand his sacrifices. He is deeply distressed about losing the village, and even his once-revered friend Rudi is now helpless, unable to assist, and blames him for abandoning them. Suddenly, all the pressure collapses on him. But this resilient man, striving for change, becomes a role model, leading everyone towards a new life, no matter how difficult. His soul has already been running...
A quote from the book: ”Sometimes he would go to the restaurant to check how the tables were set, how clean the glasses and tablecloths were. He always saw people looking through the glass door into the restaurant at dusk. Laura always called them 'dummies,' but most dummies eventually became their customers. Despite many new houses and businesses, the new Barn was still a small town. It didn't take long for everyone to know that the food at Podolsky Street 43 was good and fairly priced, like a forecast of continuous good weather. By the end of winter, reservations had to be made two or three weeks in advance."
The story ends without any thrilling or legendary elements. Lev finds his way home. He is just an ordinary person, once humble and lowly, but he succeeds. He is no longer a mediocre person; he has dreams and is kind, brave, and down-to-earth. He returns to his hometown, using his strength and spirit to lead and inspire others, eventually fulfilling his dreams. Many people may see themselves in Lev - the lost and desperate self on the road, the one with dreams but struggling between reality and dreams. But I believe that those who have dreams will eventually return to their life's path, pursuing their dreams with determination and courage.
Leaving is for a better return.
3.8 / 5 stars
February 20, 2016
Fiction so convincing that it could be a true story.
The journey begins with Lev's bus journey from his home in Eastern Europe to the loneliness of impersonal London. Lev is into his early forties, has recently lost his wife to cancer and believes that the only way that he can support his very young daughter and his mother is to find himself a job in London. His life-long friend, who supposedly knows such things, has told Lev that he should be able to get by in London on £20 a week. The truth becomes apparent within 24 hours of his arrival at Victoria Bus Terminus when he finds out how much it's going to cost for one night's B&B.
During the bus journey, Lev has struck up a friendship with a female teacher who already has good contacts in London. Throughout the book, this lady comes to Lev's rescue in times of trouble. Unsurprisingly, finding work is not as easy has Lev had thought it would be. However, following his adventures, with their ups and downs, is an enjoyable ride, liberally splashed with some good humour and many touching moments and reminiscences.
This book will make you laugh and it will make you cry. It will make you think about the society that we live in. It is a wonderful book.
The journey begins with Lev's bus journey from his home in Eastern Europe to the loneliness of impersonal London. Lev is into his early forties, has recently lost his wife to cancer and believes that the only way that he can support his very young daughter and his mother is to find himself a job in London. His life-long friend, who supposedly knows such things, has told Lev that he should be able to get by in London on £20 a week. The truth becomes apparent within 24 hours of his arrival at Victoria Bus Terminus when he finds out how much it's going to cost for one night's B&B.
During the bus journey, Lev has struck up a friendship with a female teacher who already has good contacts in London. Throughout the book, this lady comes to Lev's rescue in times of trouble. Unsurprisingly, finding work is not as easy has Lev had thought it would be. However, following his adventures, with their ups and downs, is an enjoyable ride, liberally splashed with some good humour and many touching moments and reminiscences.
This book will make you laugh and it will make you cry. It will make you think about the society that we live in. It is a wonderful book.
March 2, 2012
I ordered The Road Home with the usual expectations that one would have for a book by an admired author. But, oh dear. It is unbelievable at so many levels, as well as schematic and sentimental.
There are irritating little mistakes of fact that Rose Tremain shouldn't make: London underground trains running on Christmas Day; a man's mobile is stolen, he gets another and is instantly rung on it, even though of course the sim card will have remained in the stolen phone so no one would know his new number...and so on. But then, take her main character, Lev, who comes from an unnamed Baltic country which has just become an EU accession state: he was latterly a manual worker in a wood mill, until it closed because there were no trees left to process, yet his speech patterns (in his native tongue) veer from the almost stupid to the incredibly wordy; his inner life doesn't seem to belong to a man of his life experience and background.
He falls for a young, plump kitchen worker in an upmarket restaurant where he does the washing up. She speaks of 'emporia'! Really? I doubt she'd know the word, and if she did, she'd say 'emporiums'. There is something astonishingly cloth-eared in the dialogue, as if all the accents and dialect Tremain gives her characters came out of a handbook.
But it's plot more than anything that enrages. One can see every twist and turn coming, down to the gift to Lev of money from a wealthy old woman in a nursing home for whom he has cooked good meals; down to the uncanny physical similarity between a young waitress he meets on his return home to his beloved but deceased wife; down to his keen-eyed observation of the cooking that goes on in the kitchen where he washed up to his own future proficiency as a chef. I closed the book in something approaching fury.
There are irritating little mistakes of fact that Rose Tremain shouldn't make: London underground trains running on Christmas Day; a man's mobile is stolen, he gets another and is instantly rung on it, even though of course the sim card will have remained in the stolen phone so no one would know his new number...and so on. But then, take her main character, Lev, who comes from an unnamed Baltic country which has just become an EU accession state: he was latterly a manual worker in a wood mill, until it closed because there were no trees left to process, yet his speech patterns (in his native tongue) veer from the almost stupid to the incredibly wordy; his inner life doesn't seem to belong to a man of his life experience and background.
He falls for a young, plump kitchen worker in an upmarket restaurant where he does the washing up. She speaks of 'emporia'! Really? I doubt she'd know the word, and if she did, she'd say 'emporiums'. There is something astonishingly cloth-eared in the dialogue, as if all the accents and dialect Tremain gives her characters came out of a handbook.
But it's plot more than anything that enrages. One can see every twist and turn coming, down to the gift to Lev of money from a wealthy old woman in a nursing home for whom he has cooked good meals; down to the uncanny physical similarity between a young waitress he meets on his return home to his beloved but deceased wife; down to his keen-eyed observation of the cooking that goes on in the kitchen where he washed up to his own future proficiency as a chef. I closed the book in something approaching fury.
June 6, 2014
This is the tale of Lev an immigrant from an unnamed Eastern European accession country comes to London to seek his fortune, He is 42, his wife has recently died and he leaves his daughter, Maya with his mother. There is an element of the fairy tale about this and we see London as a foreign and unfamiliar land through Lev’s eyes.
Most of the people who are kindest to Lev are also similar to him. Lev works in a variety of restaurants and take aways and for a brief while on the land in East Anglia. He also helps out in a care home for older people, manages to fall in and out of love and finds a friend in a divorced Irishman called Christy. Lev sends money home and develops a dream of returning to his own country to open his own restaurant; if only if he could raise enough money.
There you have it; there are some engaging characters, especially Christy and Rudi (Lev’s best friend back home) and it does feel a little like a fairytale. There are a couple of coincidences and plot turns which reinforce this. At times the dialogue doesn’t sit easily and there is one particular moment of violence which strikes a discordant note. The reader spends most of the book in Lev’s head and he is likeable until one act which feels very out of character and is difficult to reconcile with what has gone before. Apart from that one note the characters are flawed and loveable and there is a sense of community amongst the poor and oppressed which is illuminating and uplifting, sad and melancholy at the same time.
There were some serious flaws and irritations but I’m a sucker for a fairy tale and it provided a different perspective on my country which was welcome and thought-provoking.
Most of the people who are kindest to Lev are also similar to him. Lev works in a variety of restaurants and take aways and for a brief while on the land in East Anglia. He also helps out in a care home for older people, manages to fall in and out of love and finds a friend in a divorced Irishman called Christy. Lev sends money home and develops a dream of returning to his own country to open his own restaurant; if only if he could raise enough money.
There you have it; there are some engaging characters, especially Christy and Rudi (Lev’s best friend back home) and it does feel a little like a fairytale. There are a couple of coincidences and plot turns which reinforce this. At times the dialogue doesn’t sit easily and there is one particular moment of violence which strikes a discordant note. The reader spends most of the book in Lev’s head and he is likeable until one act which feels very out of character and is difficult to reconcile with what has gone before. Apart from that one note the characters are flawed and loveable and there is a sense of community amongst the poor and oppressed which is illuminating and uplifting, sad and melancholy at the same time.
There were some serious flaws and irritations but I’m a sucker for a fairy tale and it provided a different perspective on my country which was welcome and thought-provoking.
March 19, 2013
An actual novel which stands out for its realism and easy approach.
This is the story of Lev, a middle aged man from Eastern Europe who has to flee from his own country in search for work, leaving his little daughter and his mother back in his beloved village, Baryn.
London is the city where he travels to, weary and ignorant of his fate, harassed by mourning memories of her deceased wife, he has to struggle to find a decent life and a new sense of belonging in this strange city.
I think I really loved this novel. And I say "I think" because it wasn't after having finished the book and after having fallen asleep with the last chapter on my mind that I realised how affected I was by Lev's story.
He was flesh and bones, so real did he feel to me. I found myself sympathising with him at the beginning, then hating him oftener that I thought possible, and partly understanding him by the end of the novel.
He is a haunted character, passionate and selfish and very human. He doesn't act as he should sometimes, specially where women are concerned, and his flaws are exactly what make him such a believable character. So imperfect but so dear to the reader.
This is, in the end, a sad and melancholic story. But it's also a challenging one, where it's proved that with good effort, good intentions and with a little help from your friends, you can make your dreams come true. And what's more beautiful, you can start over without forgetting your roots or whom you did meet on the way, learning along to look forward to the future, maybe not a better one, but the one you fought for.
*SPOILER*
I found this last paragraph brilliant:
" "We won't stay here long," said Christy quietly, "because I can imagine what you're feeling. I surely can, because you know what? There's something about it reminds me of Ireland. Something extreme. Eh, fella? Know what I'm sayin´? Something wild and beautiful and full of woe." "
This is the story of Lev, a middle aged man from Eastern Europe who has to flee from his own country in search for work, leaving his little daughter and his mother back in his beloved village, Baryn.
London is the city where he travels to, weary and ignorant of his fate, harassed by mourning memories of her deceased wife, he has to struggle to find a decent life and a new sense of belonging in this strange city.
I think I really loved this novel. And I say "I think" because it wasn't after having finished the book and after having fallen asleep with the last chapter on my mind that I realised how affected I was by Lev's story.
He was flesh and bones, so real did he feel to me. I found myself sympathising with him at the beginning, then hating him oftener that I thought possible, and partly understanding him by the end of the novel.
He is a haunted character, passionate and selfish and very human. He doesn't act as he should sometimes, specially where women are concerned, and his flaws are exactly what make him such a believable character. So imperfect but so dear to the reader.
This is, in the end, a sad and melancholic story. But it's also a challenging one, where it's proved that with good effort, good intentions and with a little help from your friends, you can make your dreams come true. And what's more beautiful, you can start over without forgetting your roots or whom you did meet on the way, learning along to look forward to the future, maybe not a better one, but the one you fought for.
*SPOILER*
I found this last paragraph brilliant:
" "We won't stay here long," said Christy quietly, "because I can imagine what you're feeling. I surely can, because you know what? There's something about it reminds me of Ireland. Something extreme. Eh, fella? Know what I'm sayin´? Something wild and beautiful and full of woe." "
October 28, 2013
This review is from: The Road Home: A Novel (Paperback)
This is a truly moving story about a man who loses everything. His wife dies and his job is finished so he moves to England to make a new start. He is still mourning, hoomesick and ill prepared to make this transition. Yet every day he gets up and chooses life. He finds work, learns a new trade, finds housing, makes friends and gets a girlfriend. He never gets over his homesickness but he makes steps forward each and every day. He plans a future and works for it.
Truly an incredible book about a man who overcomes each and every obstacle and never loses his focus. His focus is providing for his family and living a life with meaning. It just spoke to me about his choices to just live his life. The best book I've read in quite some time. I highly recommend it.
This is a truly moving story about a man who loses everything. His wife dies and his job is finished so he moves to England to make a new start. He is still mourning, hoomesick and ill prepared to make this transition. Yet every day he gets up and chooses life. He finds work, learns a new trade, finds housing, makes friends and gets a girlfriend. He never gets over his homesickness but he makes steps forward each and every day. He plans a future and works for it.
Truly an incredible book about a man who overcomes each and every obstacle and never loses his focus. His focus is providing for his family and living a life with meaning. It just spoke to me about his choices to just live his life. The best book I've read in quite some time. I highly recommend it.
November 26, 2009
From the jacket blurb, this sounded really promising. An important contemporary issue. Culturally relevant. Immediate! Orange Prize winner!
I've been able to see some of the effects of the wave of Eastern European (mostly Polish) immigration here in Scotland over the past couple years. A Polish deli opened here in Oban and then almost immediately closed down again. People complained in the newspaper about the bus drivers not speaking English. English classes have been in high demand. Many of these newcomers have now left, perhaps gone back home to families with some money in their pockets.
This book was disappointing on so many levels. There were the niggly little things that bugged me throughout, which a good editor should have eliminated. For instance, Tremain went to GREAT lengths to avoid giving Lev a specific country of origin. Every time he met someone 'from his country' (which happened pretty often) you could see Tremain doing an elaborate dance of avoidance around THE COUNTRY WHICH MUST NOT BE NAMED. Awkward.
The list of unbelievable moments is pretty long, as is the list of unconvincing characters. Some examples:
I did like some bits. The pompous, showy chef GK Ashe is hilarious as a portrait of the enormous EGO you might expect to find behind a high-end urban restaurant. Kitchen assistant Simone's irreverent menus for the old-people's home made me laugh aloud for several minutes.
Overall, I found Lev's character too inconsistent to follow intimately. He was brilliant and talented one minute and then a blockhead the next. He also struck me as weirdly emotionless. The other characters, such as Rudi, made wonderful sidekicks, but I wanted Lev to call the shots. He's the chef, after all?
Like so many others, Lev is on his way from Eastern Europe to Britain, seeking work. He is a tiny part of a vast diaspora that is changing British society at this very moment.
I've been able to see some of the effects of the wave of Eastern European (mostly Polish) immigration here in Scotland over the past couple years. A Polish deli opened here in Oban and then almost immediately closed down again. People complained in the newspaper about the bus drivers not speaking English. English classes have been in high demand. Many of these newcomers have now left, perhaps gone back home to families with some money in their pockets.
This book was disappointing on so many levels. There were the niggly little things that bugged me throughout, which a good editor should have eliminated. For instance, Tremain went to GREAT lengths to avoid giving Lev a specific country of origin. Every time he met someone 'from his country' (which happened pretty often) you could see Tremain doing an elaborate dance of avoidance around THE COUNTRY WHICH MUST NOT BE NAMED. Awkward.
The list of unbelievable moments is pretty long, as is the list of unconvincing characters. Some examples:
-Newcomer Lev's mobile phone rings during the opening of a fancy classical concert; he runs away. Mortifyingly idiotic.
-Mole-faced compatriot Lydia totally repulses Lev; why then does he keep calling her?
-Sophie the Gorgeous and Sexy Vixen ends up being just as treacherous as Christy the Bitter Irishman had predicted. Go figure.
-Lev leaves London for a bizarre but brief interlude in the asparagus fields where he gets seduced by two indistinguishable, effeminate Chinese boys. No follow up to this; he goes back to London and carries on where he left off, training to be a chef. Whatever!
-Lydia becomes pampered mistress to ancient symphony conductor from 'their country' and never calls Lev back.
I did like some bits. The pompous, showy chef GK Ashe is hilarious as a portrait of the enormous EGO you might expect to find behind a high-end urban restaurant. Kitchen assistant Simone's irreverent menus for the old-people's home made me laugh aloud for several minutes.
Creme brulee jacked... from a recipe at GK Ashe
or
Watermelon sorbet with no black seeds or rubbish in it
Overall, I found Lev's character too inconsistent to follow intimately. He was brilliant and talented one minute and then a blockhead the next. He also struck me as weirdly emotionless. The other characters, such as Rudi, made wonderful sidekicks, but I wanted Lev to call the shots. He's the chef, after all?
February 1, 2014
The plot is fairly straightforward: Lev has recently emigrated from an unnamed Eastern European country to find work in London. He meets people in this unfamiliar city that help him find his way and, when tragedy strikes back home, he finds a way to combine what he's learned in his new life with what he loves about his old life to save the day. Not groundbreaking stuff. However, there are virtues. Tremain's descriptions, when they aren't "and"ing themselves to death, are so detailed and engrossing you can't help but find yourself knee-deep in Lev's world.
If that were all, I would have said this was an average story told in an above average way and moved on. However, that isn't all. More than once I read things in this otherwise average story that still make my skin crawl just thinking about them. Our main character nearly strangles his romantic interest at a party, and later forces himself on her in a child's bedroom. It's left intentionally unclear whether or not the act was consensual. He laments to his friend that he's pretty sure he raped this woman, but this is met with little more than an "oh, darn", and the book fully expects us to still be sympathetic to his character.
At another point we're introduced to two gay Chinese men, who are portrayed as incredibly feminine and childish. The childish part is what bothered me. They seduce Lev while he's drunk, insisting that they're providing a service, just helping him out, giving sexual favors to make Lev feel better. Their touch is described as "like a girls", and when Lev leaves them, he cuddles them "like children" and thanks them for their services. The whole thing just felt very predatory and creepy.
By the time the happy ending rolled around, I wasn't rooting for the main character anymore. It would be one thing if we were meant to feel conflicted by Lev's behavior, but the book makes it pretty clear that Lev is supposed to be the hero. Flawed, maybe, but in an "aren't we all" sort of way. Unfortunately, I lost all empathy the minute he described the woman he potentially assaulted as "his animal" with "irresistible greed for the male..."
Not great.
Even more complaining here.
If that were all, I would have said this was an average story told in an above average way and moved on. However, that isn't all. More than once I read things in this otherwise average story that still make my skin crawl just thinking about them. Our main character nearly strangles his romantic interest at a party, and later forces himself on her in a child's bedroom. It's left intentionally unclear whether or not the act was consensual. He laments to his friend that he's pretty sure he raped this woman, but this is met with little more than an "oh, darn", and the book fully expects us to still be sympathetic to his character.
At another point we're introduced to two gay Chinese men, who are portrayed as incredibly feminine and childish. The childish part is what bothered me. They seduce Lev while he's drunk, insisting that they're providing a service, just helping him out, giving sexual favors to make Lev feel better. Their touch is described as "like a girls", and when Lev leaves them, he cuddles them "like children" and thanks them for their services. The whole thing just felt very predatory and creepy.
By the time the happy ending rolled around, I wasn't rooting for the main character anymore. It would be one thing if we were meant to feel conflicted by Lev's behavior, but the book makes it pretty clear that Lev is supposed to be the hero. Flawed, maybe, but in an "aren't we all" sort of way. Unfortunately, I lost all empathy the minute he described the woman he potentially assaulted as "his animal" with "irresistible greed for the male..."
Not great.
Even more complaining here.
December 14, 2021
An Absolutely Wonderful novel!
August 22, 2023
Protagonist Lev is a forty-something man from Eastern Europe. When his wife dies and his job ends, he decides to move to London to earn money to support his mother and daughter. When he arrives in London, he discovers a number of unanticipated obstacles. He eventually gets a job and a place to stay but faces many hurdles due to his obvious lack of fitting in with the local culture, such as his accent, manner of dress, and unfamiliarity with local customs. He keeps in touch with his family and his friend, Rudi. The narrative follows Lev’s journey, and his struggles.
One of the standout features of this novel is the characterization, especially of Lev and his outlandish friend Rudi. The storyline inspires empathy in the plight of an immigrant trying to adapt to many changes all at once. Lev is a man of principle, and though others occasionally treat him abysmally, he tries to maintain his positive outlook and focus on his goal of providing a better life for his family. He has flaws, and the way he is depicted seems realistic. I maintained my interest throughout, though it probably could have been shortened without losing much. I very much enjoyed this book.
One of the standout features of this novel is the characterization, especially of Lev and his outlandish friend Rudi. The storyline inspires empathy in the plight of an immigrant trying to adapt to many changes all at once. Lev is a man of principle, and though others occasionally treat him abysmally, he tries to maintain his positive outlook and focus on his goal of providing a better life for his family. He has flaws, and the way he is depicted seems realistic. I maintained my interest throughout, though it probably could have been shortened without losing much. I very much enjoyed this book.
June 5, 2021
4.5*
There is so much in the media about immigration these days, sadly, much of it giving a very negative view, and quoting soulless numbers and statistics, but how often do we get to meet the people who make up those numbers?
The main character in this book may be a fictional representation of one of these people, but he feels real and believable, and I became very invested in his story....the author made me care about him, and feel the emotions he was feeling.......
We meet Lev as he travels by bus, across Europe, on a journey that he hopes will take him towards new opportunities in London, and allow him to leave behind the grief and uncertainty that was his life in his own country.
He also leaves behind his young Daughter, convincing himself that he will earn enough money in England to allow him to improve her life once he returns.
He finds life in London confusing and frightening, and the tiny amount of money he’s brought with him certainly isn’t going to sustain him, but he’s determined, and slowly but surely, and with the help and kindness of those he meets along the way, he makes a kind of life for himself.
The pull of his family and friends back home is always there, and as he strives to improve his life, learning new skills, we learn of what his life had been, and why he felt he had to leave it behind.....at least for a while.
This is a book full of great characters, which tells the story of both Lev’s present, and his recent past, and takes us with him as he plans his future....a great read from a favourite author.
May 7, 2017
Review from 2009
Tremain is clearly a talented writer with very descriptive writing, good dialogue, good pacing (I found the story enjoyable and interesting albeit not compelling) and the ability for good and complex characterisation and story line. The descriptions of the restaurant were surprisingly engaging (unlike the modern art and plays described), Rudi a strong character (although his complete breakdown when the dam is proposed in contrast to his usual confidence is not really explored) and Ina’s ability to make Lev guilty and downcast well portrayed.
However in many other ways the novel is very flawed and in particular seems to lack authenticity. Unfortunately her creative writing training does not seem to have taught her basic research and plot ending skills, which are needed here as she actually tries to write a normal novel rather than a Makine, Andrei type meditation.
Issues include: Tremain’s non-specification of Lev’s country simply seems to point to an unwillingness to do any research or alternately a stereotyped view that all Eastern European countries are the same; incidental characters are entirely (the two Chinese farm workers, an Indian landlady and Christy’s eventual wife – both sari wearers, a rural farmer) or partly (Christy’s drinking and moroseness) stereotypes; Lev’s English ability and sudden huge pay rise when needed from minimum wage to £900 a week (as a head chef in a nursing home that previously had partial casual partial voluntary workers); two scenes in the Nursing Home (a Christmas lunch argument over crackers and cracker gifts was more of a farce, the incident when later Lev works at the home cooking GK Ashe style food with his black co-worker writing a menu with descriptions such as “wickedly lovely chicken with totally brilliant jus” is close to embarrassing); a too heavy handed attempt to draw out a wider migrant theme (a kebab shop owner who gave Lev his first job later moans, completely out of the context of the book, about the lot of Arabic Muslims post 7-7; in the last sentence of the book Christy suddenly decides Lev’s country is exactly like Ireland).
Tremain is clearly a talented writer with very descriptive writing, good dialogue, good pacing (I found the story enjoyable and interesting albeit not compelling) and the ability for good and complex characterisation and story line. The descriptions of the restaurant were surprisingly engaging (unlike the modern art and plays described), Rudi a strong character (although his complete breakdown when the dam is proposed in contrast to his usual confidence is not really explored) and Ina’s ability to make Lev guilty and downcast well portrayed.
However in many other ways the novel is very flawed and in particular seems to lack authenticity. Unfortunately her creative writing training does not seem to have taught her basic research and plot ending skills, which are needed here as she actually tries to write a normal novel rather than a Makine, Andrei type meditation.
Issues include: Tremain’s non-specification of Lev’s country simply seems to point to an unwillingness to do any research or alternately a stereotyped view that all Eastern European countries are the same; incidental characters are entirely (the two Chinese farm workers, an Indian landlady and Christy’s eventual wife – both sari wearers, a rural farmer) or partly (Christy’s drinking and moroseness) stereotypes; Lev’s English ability and sudden huge pay rise when needed from minimum wage to £900 a week (as a head chef in a nursing home that previously had partial casual partial voluntary workers); two scenes in the Nursing Home (a Christmas lunch argument over crackers and cracker gifts was more of a farce, the incident when later Lev works at the home cooking GK Ashe style food with his black co-worker writing a menu with descriptions such as “wickedly lovely chicken with totally brilliant jus” is close to embarrassing); a too heavy handed attempt to draw out a wider migrant theme (a kebab shop owner who gave Lev his first job later moans, completely out of the context of the book, about the lot of Arabic Muslims post 7-7; in the last sentence of the book Christy suddenly decides Lev’s country is exactly like Ireland).
June 3, 2009
I wasn't disappointed by this book, because I am now pretty sure Rose Tremain will never write another book as brilliant as Music & Silence. This is a good read, with a topical subject: a Polish man who has to come to find work in the UK to support his mother and daughter back in Poland. I liked Lev; he was a believable character, and most of the ups and downs of his life in Britain were realistic -- though he was much luckier than most new immigrants when he found a job in a very smart restaurant! On the other hand it was rather predictable that he would end up at some point picking asparagus and living in a caravan.
The book mingles humour and pathos well, and is good at conveying the sense of alienation and loneliness felt by an unwilling immigrant who knows he will never really belong, and his return home is not all sweetness and light. I also liked the way he almost accidentally discovered something he really wanted to do. So I did enjoy it and found it a satisfying read in many ways, but it's not a masterpiece.
The book mingles humour and pathos well, and is good at conveying the sense of alienation and loneliness felt by an unwilling immigrant who knows he will never really belong, and his return home is not all sweetness and light. I also liked the way he almost accidentally discovered something he really wanted to do. So I did enjoy it and found it a satisfying read in many ways, but it's not a masterpiece.
March 2, 2010
Tremain's writing sweeps you off like a soft stroll through fall leaves. It is completely effortless, and you are completely immersed in her world from the first page. The characters, many of whom come from different cultures and backgrounds, are real people. They just are, and you never question it. The story, although interesting, isn't the big draw here. Rather, it's Tremain's way of immediately drawing you in from the first, and somehow churning you out when she's finished, leaving you with the feeling that you've traveled to these places, and actually experienced life with these people. This was my first Tremain, but I really must read all of hers now. It won't matter what the book is about. I'll just want the experience.
July 11, 2019
Много ми се искаше да напиша това ревю на английски език, но осъзнах, че английският ми не е никак добър, че да мога си изразя омразата доволно без да стана на посмешище. Така, че ще си хейтя на български на воля. :)
През живота си не бях чела толкова обидна книга. Нищо чудно, че Брекзит съществува. Адски ми е трудно да опиша колко обидена, ядосана и гневна съм след тази книга. Представя източноевропейците, емигрилали във Великобритания, като най-голямата измет на света, идваща от страни, където няма ток, вода и живеят като пещерняци. Ок, преувеличавам леко, но усещането, което създава е такова. Визирайки как целенасочено избягва да спомене от коя източноевропейска страна е героя й, то става много ясно каква е крайната цел - събирателен образ на всички източноевропейци, което е толкова обидно, че нямам думи.
Има толкова абсурди в тази книга и клишета и реално неверни данни, че стоиш и се чудиш как може толкова обидна към толкова много народи книга да има награда за литература?! Смисъл, 20 лири не са достатъчни за седмица живот в никоя източноевропейска страна, колкото и силна да е била едно време лирата. Стигат за един пазар и толкоз. И, щом, описаната от нея събирателна източноевропейска страна е член на ЕС, само да вметна, че не е така лесно да станеш част от съюза без да отговориш на някои минимални стандартни, което автоматично показва, че не живеем в пещерни времена. Мога да продължавам цял ден с простотиите от тази книга, но само се ядосвам още повече. Най-малкото, не всеки емигрант, иска да се върне обратно в страната си. Като всички емигранти по света, някои просто имат търсещи души, искащи да намерят своя дом, който не винаги е там, където си роден. Просто... тотален, ама тотален абсурд.
Обидно е. Засрамена съм, че българско издателство е издало книгата на български и съм ужасена, че дадох пари за този боклук. :/
This book is total bullshit. Това е достатъчно описание на книгата на английски, друго не й трябва. :)
През живота си не бях чела толкова обидна книга. Нищо чудно, че Брекзит съществува. Адски ми е трудно да опиша колко обидена, ядосана и гневна съм след тази книга. Представя източноевропейците, емигрилали във Великобритания, като най-голямата измет на света, идваща от страни, където няма ток, вода и живеят като пещерняци. Ок, преувеличавам леко, но усещането, което създава е такова. Визирайки как целенасочено избягва да спомене от коя източноевропейска страна е героя й, то става много ясно каква е крайната цел - събирателен образ на всички източноевропейци, което е толкова обидно, че нямам думи.
Има толкова абсурди в тази книга и клишета и реално неверни данни, че стоиш и се чудиш как може толкова обидна към толкова много народи книга да има награда за литература?! Смисъл, 20 лири не са достатъчни за седмица живот в никоя източноевропейска страна, колкото и силна да е била едно време лирата. Стигат за един пазар и толкоз. И, щом, описаната от нея събирателна източноевропейска страна е член на ЕС, само да вметна, че не е така лесно да станеш част от съюза без да отговориш на някои минимални стандартни, което автоматично показва, че не живеем в пещерни времена. Мога да продължавам цял ден с простотиите от тази книга, но само се ядосвам още повече. Най-малкото, не всеки емигрант, иска да се върне обратно в страната си. Като всички емигранти по света, някои просто имат търсещи души, искащи да намерят своя дом, който не винаги е там, където си роден. Просто... тотален, ама тотален абсурд.
Обидно е. Засрамена съм, че българско издателство е издало книгата на български и съм ужасена, че дадох пари за този боклук. :/
This book is total bullshit. Това е достатъчно описание на книгата на английски, друго не й трябва. :)
April 6, 2017
Here's the thing about fiction: I could read for hours about the plight of immigrants and still not know what it felt like to BE an immigrant. But within a few pages of this beautiful, heartbreaking novel I could empathize with Lev and begin to imagine what it would feel like to start over in a foreign place (for Lev, London is his new home).
I have lived all my life in two states in Western US. I love to travel, but I always know home is waiting there for me. What a hardship it would be to leave your country and try to make a better life in a strange land and often deal with hostile people.
I know I used the word "heartbreaking", but don't be put off by that. There are moments of comedy and joy as well. It's not a downer. At one point he is given a copy of Hamlet and it was delightful to watch how he came to understand Shakespeare. There is also a cell phone scene that I shall never forget. Eek!
This is a timely book and it deals with an issue that I am passionate about. Highly recommended.
Another THANK YOU to Simon Savidge for the recommendation!
I have lived all my life in two states in Western US. I love to travel, but I always know home is waiting there for me. What a hardship it would be to leave your country and try to make a better life in a strange land and often deal with hostile people.
I know I used the word "heartbreaking", but don't be put off by that. There are moments of comedy and joy as well. It's not a downer. At one point he is given a copy of Hamlet and it was delightful to watch how he came to understand Shakespeare. There is also a cell phone scene that I shall never forget. Eek!
This is a timely book and it deals with an issue that I am passionate about. Highly recommended.
Another THANK YOU to Simon Savidge for the recommendation!
August 27, 2020
4.5 Stars from 5
This is not a perfect book but it is a very moving book that succeeds in forcing the reader to embrace a 40+ year old man who is on a journey to remake his life after the death of his wife. He leaves his young daughter in the care of his emotionally-distant mother in the cold and barren land of Eastern Europe post Communism.
His experiences after the long bus ride to London are realistically challenging. With very basic language skills he somehow survives the initial barriers to finding somewhere to live and work whilst faithfully sending money back home.
Through thick and thin, a failed romance and the learning of cooking skills he hatches a dream to save his family that results in opening a restaurant back home.
Library Loan
This is not a perfect book but it is a very moving book that succeeds in forcing the reader to embrace a 40+ year old man who is on a journey to remake his life after the death of his wife. He leaves his young daughter in the care of his emotionally-distant mother in the cold and barren land of Eastern Europe post Communism.
His experiences after the long bus ride to London are realistically challenging. With very basic language skills he somehow survives the initial barriers to finding somewhere to live and work whilst faithfully sending money back home.
Through thick and thin, a failed romance and the learning of cooking skills he hatches a dream to save his family that results in opening a restaurant back home.
Library Loan
July 5, 2020
Леко измъчени три звезди от мен за този роман. Първото главно нещо, което ми направи впечатление, е това как историята оставя усещането за недобро планиране. Романът започва разточително и протяжно, много бавно, а в края си включва на скорост и препуска бясно и даже някак уплашено. Сякаш авторката е била притисната от времето, което са ѝ дали за написването на историята и изведнъж се е сетила, че не остава много и единственото, което може да се направи, е финалните щрихи да са нанесени, без да се развиват.
Главният герой е леко неестествен за мен и малко комично неадекватен за дадената му роля, само че в лош смисъл. Подразни ме и опитът историята да се представи в тъмна, депресираща светлина, като бе съвсем ясно колко много образът на Лев иска да излезе от наложения му калъп и да строши веригите. Просто като цяло романът вечно се накланя към жанра "И заживели щастливо", но авторката му всеки път казва "А, не, не, всъщност той е депресиран загубеняк и всичко ЗАДЪЛЖИТЕЛНО трябва да се тълкува чрез тъгата и самотата, това е сериозен роман, не роман за щастието на моя главен герой".
Донякъде съществуваше една интересна атмосфера, определено светоусещане, което е някак приятно, стига човек да се разграничи от често адски нелепите опити за вмъкване на споменатата отчаяност (както и от неприятния привкус от това как едва ли не този тъп селяк, Лев, е като маймуна в модерния свят). Това е, общо взето, причината малко да надценя преживяването.
Главният герой е леко неестествен за мен и малко комично неадекватен за дадената му роля, само че в лош смисъл. Подразни ме и опитът историята да се представи в тъмна, депресираща светлина, като бе съвсем ясно колко много образът на Лев иска да излезе от наложения му калъп и да строши веригите. Просто като цяло романът вечно се накланя към жанра "И заживели щастливо", но авторката му всеки път казва "А, не, не, всъщност той е депресиран загубеняк и всичко ЗАДЪЛЖИТЕЛНО трябва да се тълкува чрез тъгата и самотата, това е сериозен роман, не роман за щастието на моя главен герой".
Донякъде съществуваше една интересна атмосфера, определено светоусещане, което е някак приятно, стига човек да се разграничи от често адски нелепите опити за вмъкване на споменатата отчаяност (както и от неприятния привкус от това как едва ли не този тъп селяк, Лев, е като маймуна в модерния свят). Това е, общо взето, причината малко да надценя преживяването.
November 21, 2009
This well wrought book tells an immigrant's experience, which seems to be a popular theme these days. London in particular has served as the locus for many of these novels, but rarely has one been so well presented as this. Lev, Tremain's widower hero, leaves an unnamed Eastern Bloc country, taking the familiar route of heading to a more prosperous country in order to provide a better life for his family back home. But the vitality of the writing and the characterizations are so vividly drawn that this makes for compelling reading. Even Lev himself is not a cookie cutter innocent, wide eyed and naive, but complex and flawed who at times makes questionable choices. He remains sympathetic because of his motivations. And there are satiric set pieces that are equally horrific and hilarious (such as the description of a play "no one in London has seen the likes of," and thank God for that). There is also the pretentiousness of the art scene, and the tyrannical hierarchy of restaurant working. It would be unfair to tell any more of the plot, since Lev's journey should be experienced by a reader first hand.
March 23, 2018
'The Road Home' is another profound and moving novel by the always reliable Rose Tremain.
How does Rose Tremain create such flawed but compelling characters?
And think her way into their mindset, and evoke their inner lives so convincingly?
In this instance, the central character is Lev, an unemployed father from eastern Europe, who travels to London to seek work. Through Lev's eyes, we get a chillingly accurate view of London through the eyes of a newly arrived, modern-day economic migrant, and it's not pretty.
Gradually, Lev gets himself on his feet and so begins a peripatetic, occasionally comic, often traumatic, journey through London, which Tremain uses to illustrate broader themes.
Finally, after many ups and downs, Lev develops a compelling vision to sustain him, as yet another splendid novel by Rose Tremain wends towards its moving and satisfying climax.
4/5
How does Rose Tremain create such flawed but compelling characters?
And think her way into their mindset, and evoke their inner lives so convincingly?
In this instance, the central character is Lev, an unemployed father from eastern Europe, who travels to London to seek work. Through Lev's eyes, we get a chillingly accurate view of London through the eyes of a newly arrived, modern-day economic migrant, and it's not pretty.
Gradually, Lev gets himself on his feet and so begins a peripatetic, occasionally comic, often traumatic, journey through London, which Tremain uses to illustrate broader themes.
Finally, after many ups and downs, Lev develops a compelling vision to sustain him, as yet another splendid novel by Rose Tremain wends towards its moving and satisfying climax.
4/5
December 28, 2018
The Road Home
Rose Tremain
P.406 "In Lev's kitchen - his adored domain - the gas flames burned an obedient blue, leaped to yellow on sudden, triumphant command; the salamanders glowed and shimmered to violent vulcan red. And the sight of all this rainbow heat could often wake in Lev a feeling of joy as absolute as anything he'd ever felt. Because he'd mastered it. At long last in his life, these roaring, unquantifiable wonders had become obedient to his will."
P.384 Rudi now rubbed his eyes and it was as though he was shining them up, because when he turned, Lev could see them sparkling."
I went out yesterday to get a couple of new audio books plus I bought a new book, to prepare myself for finishing this book today. I will miss being in Lev's world. I'm savoring every last word!
Rose Tremain
P.406 "In Lev's kitchen - his adored domain - the gas flames burned an obedient blue, leaped to yellow on sudden, triumphant command; the salamanders glowed and shimmered to violent vulcan red. And the sight of all this rainbow heat could often wake in Lev a feeling of joy as absolute as anything he'd ever felt. Because he'd mastered it. At long last in his life, these roaring, unquantifiable wonders had become obedient to his will."
P.384 Rudi now rubbed his eyes and it was as though he was shining them up, because when he turned, Lev could see them sparkling."
I went out yesterday to get a couple of new audio books plus I bought a new book, to prepare myself for finishing this book today. I will miss being in Lev's world. I'm savoring every last word!
August 25, 2016
Zanimljiva priča o liku - mladom udovcu koji iz jedne države u Istočnoj Europi (članice EU) ide tražit posao u London. Malu kćerkicu ostavlja baki na brizi...Što ga sve čeka i kako će završiti ta njegova patraga za poslom i ušteđevinom, vrijedi čitanja jer spisateljica jako lijepo piše...iako pred kraj malo mi je izgledalo da je imal i vraški dobru sreću...al sve u svemu jako, jako dobro!! 4,5 zvijezdica
November 17, 2014
Sorry ladies but I didn't manage to like this book as the majority of the readers have done. Perhaps I am not in the right mood for read this book.
June 1, 2019
"Vorbe scrise cu mult, mult timp in urma pot calatori alaturi de tine si te pot ajuta in momente in care nu mai poti vedea drumul"
November 20, 2021
Rose Tremain’s The Road Home won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2008. It follows Lev, an immigrant from a nameless Eastern European country, as he struggles to make a life for himself in England while sending money home to his mother and his young daughter. For much of the novel, Lev is positioned as a neutral social observer, and Tremain often seems to be using him (as well as some of the other characters that he meets) as a mouthpiece for the things she wants to say about the weirdnesses and excesses of English society. For example, when Lev goes to see an experimental new play that features a character who watches child pornography, he thinks it’s ‘disgusting’ and gets into an argument with his girlfriend, Sophie, about it:
“I think it’s brilliant,” said Sophie… “it’s radical and brave and – ”
“It’s shit,” said Lev… “I understand you now. You don’t see anything! You see what is “fashion”, what is “smart”. That’s all that matters to you. Because you don’t know the world… I’m not sick, like this play. At home I have a daughter, Maya. I love this daughter – “
“Who cares?” said Preece [an artist.] “That’s so not relevant. Who cares if you’ve got a daughter? This is art. This is cutting edge.”
Because of this, Lev doesn’t develop a distinctive voice or character of his own. For much of the novel, he remains a cipher, flipping between different registers depending on what Tremain wants from the interaction; which makes the one scene where he smashes out of his anodyne default even more shocking. As this argument about art heats up, he suddenly, for no obvious reason ‘grabbed Sophie and locked her body to his with his arm around her neck… She began to choke and gasp.’ Later on, when she comes round to see if he’s OK after he’s fired from his job, he rapes her. Nevertheless, the reader seems to be expected to continue keeping company with Lev as if all of this is forgivable and understandable; it’s not presented as a line that he’s crossed.
While this is horrific enough by itself, the problems with this novel run even deeper. As I’ve suggested, Tremain uses Lev to criticise certain aspects of English society, but this never amounts to a fundamental engagement with the problems of capitalism and globalisation. In other exchange where she seems to be making her characters spell out one of the messages she wants to impart, Lev is talking to Midge, the owner of an asparagus farm that employs migrant labour. Lev thinks that Midge’s Chinese employees are so happy all the time because “in England, they feel more… free than in China. And this freedom gives them happiness.” (The Chinese stereotypes in this novel are something else.) Midge replies: “Never think of our lives as “free”, do we? Think of them as one long work shift… But perhaps, in this country, we take a lot for granted.” Later, Lev is talking to a friend who works as a mortgage advisor: she comments ‘We have a mountain of personal debt in this country… in Britain, everybody wants it now, hurry-scurry: new house, new car, new fridge, new kitchen…’. This novel was published just before the financial crisis, but this message is still pretty awful: England is the promised land, and individuals’ problems are their own greedy fault. It’s notable that Lev encounters barely a jot of xenophobia throughout the whole novel, despite anti-immigrant sentiment being rife at the time; prime minister Gordon Brown made his infamous ‘British jobs for British workers’ statement the year this novel was published.
So if England is mostly all right, actually, what about the nameless country Lev has left behind, and which he still thinks of as ‘home’? The trouble is that we don’t know anything about it. Not only is it never identified, everything we do learn is generic; it’s poor, people struggle to get work, vodka is the most popular drink, Lev’s mother sews traditional things, Lev’s best friend runs a dodgy taxi business with a patched-together car. By refusing to make this country real, Tremain plays into stereotypes of a faceless, grim Eastern Europe defined solely by its Communist past, and contrasts this no-place with the opportunities offered by a England – mostly by a London – that is rendered in specific detail. As Eveline Kilian argues in her analysis of the novel, ‘There is nothing in Lev’s country that seems worth preserving: no traditions, no culture, no political ideas; it is a place with “[n]o future”‘. It’s only by adopting British values that Lev can build a successful life for himself back home, opening a restaurant that he’s sure will make money because it will be ‘the first one in my country where the food will be truly good’. I can’t imagine that The Road Home felt especially timely or insightful even in 2008, and I fervently hope that it wouldn’t win the Women’s Prize if it were published today.
“I think it’s brilliant,” said Sophie… “it’s radical and brave and – ”
“It’s shit,” said Lev… “I understand you now. You don’t see anything! You see what is “fashion”, what is “smart”. That’s all that matters to you. Because you don’t know the world… I’m not sick, like this play. At home I have a daughter, Maya. I love this daughter – “
“Who cares?” said Preece [an artist.] “That’s so not relevant. Who cares if you’ve got a daughter? This is art. This is cutting edge.”
Because of this, Lev doesn’t develop a distinctive voice or character of his own. For much of the novel, he remains a cipher, flipping between different registers depending on what Tremain wants from the interaction; which makes the one scene where he smashes out of his anodyne default even more shocking. As this argument about art heats up, he suddenly, for no obvious reason ‘grabbed Sophie and locked her body to his with his arm around her neck… She began to choke and gasp.’ Later on, when she comes round to see if he’s OK after he’s fired from his job, he rapes her. Nevertheless, the reader seems to be expected to continue keeping company with Lev as if all of this is forgivable and understandable; it’s not presented as a line that he’s crossed.
While this is horrific enough by itself, the problems with this novel run even deeper. As I’ve suggested, Tremain uses Lev to criticise certain aspects of English society, but this never amounts to a fundamental engagement with the problems of capitalism and globalisation. In other exchange where she seems to be making her characters spell out one of the messages she wants to impart, Lev is talking to Midge, the owner of an asparagus farm that employs migrant labour. Lev thinks that Midge’s Chinese employees are so happy all the time because “in England, they feel more… free than in China. And this freedom gives them happiness.” (The Chinese stereotypes in this novel are something else.) Midge replies: “Never think of our lives as “free”, do we? Think of them as one long work shift… But perhaps, in this country, we take a lot for granted.” Later, Lev is talking to a friend who works as a mortgage advisor: she comments ‘We have a mountain of personal debt in this country… in Britain, everybody wants it now, hurry-scurry: new house, new car, new fridge, new kitchen…’. This novel was published just before the financial crisis, but this message is still pretty awful: England is the promised land, and individuals’ problems are their own greedy fault. It’s notable that Lev encounters barely a jot of xenophobia throughout the whole novel, despite anti-immigrant sentiment being rife at the time; prime minister Gordon Brown made his infamous ‘British jobs for British workers’ statement the year this novel was published.
So if England is mostly all right, actually, what about the nameless country Lev has left behind, and which he still thinks of as ‘home’? The trouble is that we don’t know anything about it. Not only is it never identified, everything we do learn is generic; it’s poor, people struggle to get work, vodka is the most popular drink, Lev’s mother sews traditional things, Lev’s best friend runs a dodgy taxi business with a patched-together car. By refusing to make this country real, Tremain plays into stereotypes of a faceless, grim Eastern Europe defined solely by its Communist past, and contrasts this no-place with the opportunities offered by a England – mostly by a London – that is rendered in specific detail. As Eveline Kilian argues in her analysis of the novel, ‘There is nothing in Lev’s country that seems worth preserving: no traditions, no culture, no political ideas; it is a place with “[n]o future”‘. It’s only by adopting British values that Lev can build a successful life for himself back home, opening a restaurant that he’s sure will make money because it will be ‘the first one in my country where the food will be truly good’. I can’t imagine that The Road Home felt especially timely or insightful even in 2008, and I fervently hope that it wouldn’t win the Women’s Prize if it were published today.
February 3, 2024
The most average book I've ever read. Entirely unremarkable. I wish I could give it 2.5 stars.
December 19, 2008
My book of the year 2008. You cannot argue with literature that makes you laugh, cry and change the way that you think of the world. And this book does all three.
Lev is an eastern european immigrant to the UK, believing that he can live on £20 a week. He meets Lydia on the way and this is the start of the first lesson - the kindness of strangers and the working classes (real working classes, not dolescum) is the first lesson.
Lev has a dark history - he has lost his job, his wife died tragically of leukemia and he has had to leave his young daughter and friends to try and earn a living in the UK.
He starts at the bottom - delivering leaflets for kebab shops and living rough until he finds a place to live with an Irish immigrant. Although some of this characters are a little bit stereotypical - the second lesson is how friendships with people from different backgrounds can be formed.
He then gets a job in a restaurant (is this the restaurant of Gordon Ramsey?) and works his way up from washer to salad prep chef. He also starts a relationship with Sophie.
In the strangest part of the book - she hooks up with vacuous celebrity artists and the relationship goes sour - getting to the point where he both attacks her in public and eventually rapes her. This is against everything else that we know of Levs character - who has been nothing but gallant with morals all the way through. What was Tremain trying to say here? The working classes are all prone to violence? Even good men complete evil actions. Not sure.
This forces him to leave his dream job - and start as a vegetable picker in the country. Another chance for friendships to build in unexpected places and again, like in the Colour, he has a homosexual experience which is quite beautifully written.
In a fairy tale experience, Lev dreams of opening his own restaurant in his home town - which is no under threat from a dam being built. Eventually, the actions of his good deads (helping out at an old peoples home) get him in a position where he can earn enough money to return and live his dream.
You are not sure where the author is going to go here - will it be a sad or happy ending here. Could have gone either way, but I am glad it went the way it did.
The main lesson to be learnt from this book is that I know look at people who are serving me at hotels etc. in a completely different light. They all probably have stories of some similarity to Lev.
In terms of writing - the characterisation is second to none and the pathos is interrupted with some truely hilarious set pieces that dont seem too convulted. The mobile ringing in a concert performance was one such moment.
Wonderful book with plenty to think about and plenty to say about working classes, immigration, celebrity culture and real people.
Lev is an eastern european immigrant to the UK, believing that he can live on £20 a week. He meets Lydia on the way and this is the start of the first lesson - the kindness of strangers and the working classes (real working classes, not dolescum) is the first lesson.
Lev has a dark history - he has lost his job, his wife died tragically of leukemia and he has had to leave his young daughter and friends to try and earn a living in the UK.
He starts at the bottom - delivering leaflets for kebab shops and living rough until he finds a place to live with an Irish immigrant. Although some of this characters are a little bit stereotypical - the second lesson is how friendships with people from different backgrounds can be formed.
He then gets a job in a restaurant (is this the restaurant of Gordon Ramsey?) and works his way up from washer to salad prep chef. He also starts a relationship with Sophie.
In the strangest part of the book - she hooks up with vacuous celebrity artists and the relationship goes sour - getting to the point where he both attacks her in public and eventually rapes her. This is against everything else that we know of Levs character - who has been nothing but gallant with morals all the way through. What was Tremain trying to say here? The working classes are all prone to violence? Even good men complete evil actions. Not sure.
This forces him to leave his dream job - and start as a vegetable picker in the country. Another chance for friendships to build in unexpected places and again, like in the Colour, he has a homosexual experience which is quite beautifully written.
In a fairy tale experience, Lev dreams of opening his own restaurant in his home town - which is no under threat from a dam being built. Eventually, the actions of his good deads (helping out at an old peoples home) get him in a position where he can earn enough money to return and live his dream.
You are not sure where the author is going to go here - will it be a sad or happy ending here. Could have gone either way, but I am glad it went the way it did.
The main lesson to be learnt from this book is that I know look at people who are serving me at hotels etc. in a completely different light. They all probably have stories of some similarity to Lev.
In terms of writing - the characterisation is second to none and the pathos is interrupted with some truely hilarious set pieces that dont seem too convulted. The mobile ringing in a concert performance was one such moment.
Wonderful book with plenty to think about and plenty to say about working classes, immigration, celebrity culture and real people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2017
Almost escapist literature, light and pleasant, with some dark corners - funny at times, somewhat predictable at others, less so at others, but flowing well and making you think every so often.
What I really loved in Tremains' style is in describing the characters true possibly other characters' dialogue: so based on the protagonist Lev's own words I was picturing this man hailing from some unspecified Easter European country, who turned to Vodka as often as possible, as some burly, borderline alcoholic stout man; but it does not take long that this is just how Lev sees himself, broken and wounded, and it does not take long to figure out that he is actually a quite "tasty" man in the midst of his best years.
Yes, he is the stereotypical hard worker, starting off as the humblest kitchen pot washer in London's fine dining kitchens, which we can tell straightaway will go on to better things, but there are also some truly nasty aspects to the man, like - although here Tremain cannot hold steady, and Lev is so regretful and self-conscious of his misdeed so as to make it hardly believable in the first place.
But these are details, and overall this book is great to relax without completely switching off, possibly also thanks to Pacey Steven's acting skills.
My edition: unabridged audiobook
What I really loved in Tremains' style is in describing the characters true possibly other characters' dialogue: so based on the protagonist Lev's own words I was picturing this man hailing from some unspecified Easter European country, who turned to Vodka as often as possible, as some burly, borderline alcoholic stout man; but it does not take long that this is just how Lev sees himself, broken and wounded, and it does not take long to figure out that he is actually a quite "tasty" man in the midst of his best years.
Yes, he is the stereotypical hard worker, starting off as the humblest kitchen pot washer in London's fine dining kitchens, which we can tell straightaway will go on to better things, but there are also some truly nasty aspects to the man, like - although here Tremain cannot hold steady, and Lev is so regretful and self-conscious of his misdeed so as to make it hardly believable in the first place.
But these are details, and overall this book is great to relax without completely switching off, possibly also thanks to Pacey Steven's acting skills.
My edition: unabridged audiobook
February 5, 2013
After reading this, I felt exactly like Lev did when he watched the play Peccadilloes. Furious. Tremain has beautiful language at her disposal, but she makes up a story full of bad clichés.
Lev is an immigrant from an unknown (Ukraine, I think) Eastern European country. He behaves exactly as one would expect an immigrant to behave in a cliché-ridden book. Atrociously. But his dream of making some money so he can feed his ungrateful mother and daughter back home is worthy enough to excuse him all his faults. Even . Had this been a book about British born people, the stunt he pulls at a high society press event would have resulted in a restraining order. So why the patronizing? Why say that the reason a woman who's literally god's gift to Lev doesn't call him back is because she has feelings for him and not that he spurns her repeatedly, calls her only when he's in trouble, and is a selfish, needy bastard in every way when he does talk to her?
Sophie, the young co-worker that seduces him, is a caricature. She's the quintessential Londoner, who will take Lev's soul and eat it up with Ranch dressing if he lets her get close. She seeks him out, because he's a dish. He's a needy, jealous bugger who gets upset when she meets up with her friends. Does he make an effort to make friends with the people she cares about? Absolutely not. She does though. She helps him take out his drunk, barely-any-visitation-rights owner's little girl to a beach. She's introduced as a caring person, who volunteers at a home for elderly people. But this is just setting up for Lev to get his just reward, no, undeserved windfall. Because, lo and behold, Sophie is now cavorting around with an artist by name Preece, and has no time for older people. Never mind that she always had celebrity friends, and that she knew this Preece character from before.
The celebs are portrayed as vapid, materialistic, and lacking in basic sense. Their art is also crass and materialistic. Also, Eastern European men do not understand black comedy or satire. I'm assuming that, because apparently Eastern European men also lack the ability to concentrate enough to describe the play their watching. They're boors. They cannot go to a concert without turning their cellphones off, and when it does go off in pin drop silence, they're mortified enough to leave their date in a lurch. They get so infuriated by their girlfriend's interpretation of art that they will strangle them in front of the press no less. But, they have enough of a know how to comment on how/why Howard Preece works his art installations.
My serious question after reading this. Was this a parody? Did Tremain put together some bad novels about immigrants and put her own spin on it? Because this can't be a serious piece of literature that won a prestigious award. I still give it two stars, because the writing is lovely. I almost believed in it, but I couldn't ultimately abide by the paper-thin characterization, and the brushing under the carpet of the main character's flaws.
Lev is an immigrant from an unknown (Ukraine, I think) Eastern European country. He behaves exactly as one would expect an immigrant to behave in a cliché-ridden book. Atrociously. But his dream of making some money so he can feed his ungrateful mother and daughter back home is worthy enough to excuse him all his faults. Even . Had this been a book about British born people, the stunt he pulls at a high society press event would have resulted in a restraining order. So why the patronizing? Why say that the reason a woman who's literally god's gift to Lev doesn't call him back is because she has feelings for him and not that he spurns her repeatedly, calls her only when he's in trouble, and is a selfish, needy bastard in every way when he does talk to her?
Sophie, the young co-worker that seduces him, is a caricature. She's the quintessential Londoner, who will take Lev's soul and eat it up with Ranch dressing if he lets her get close. She seeks him out, because he's a dish. He's a needy, jealous bugger who gets upset when she meets up with her friends. Does he make an effort to make friends with the people she cares about? Absolutely not. She does though. She helps him take out his drunk, barely-any-visitation-rights owner's little girl to a beach. She's introduced as a caring person, who volunteers at a home for elderly people. But this is just setting up for Lev to get his just reward, no, undeserved windfall. Because, lo and behold, Sophie is now cavorting around with an artist by name Preece, and has no time for older people. Never mind that she always had celebrity friends, and that she knew this Preece character from before.
The celebs are portrayed as vapid, materialistic, and lacking in basic sense. Their art is also crass and materialistic. Also, Eastern European men do not understand black comedy or satire. I'm assuming that, because apparently Eastern European men also lack the ability to concentrate enough to describe the play their watching. They're boors. They cannot go to a concert without turning their cellphones off, and when it does go off in pin drop silence, they're mortified enough to leave their date in a lurch. They get so infuriated by their girlfriend's interpretation of art that they will strangle them in front of the press no less. But, they have enough of a know how to comment on how/why Howard Preece works his art installations.
My serious question after reading this. Was this a parody? Did Tremain put together some bad novels about immigrants and put her own spin on it? Because this can't be a serious piece of literature that won a prestigious award. I still give it two stars, because the writing is lovely. I almost believed in it, but I couldn't ultimately abide by the paper-thin characterization, and the brushing under the carpet of the main character's flaws.
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