The Road Home: From the Sunday Times bestselling author

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Lydia – Lev’s co-passenger, Lydia is a middle-aged woman who has left her job as an English teacher in a school in her village, Yarbl, as she literally wants a change of scenery. As her migration is more out of choice than compulsion, unlike Lev’s, she appears to be more at ease with the prospect of migration, her fluency in English also aiding her confidence. Significant Cigarettes | Significance of the Title Brownrigg, Sylvia (9 June 2007). "No place like home | Books". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022 . Retrieved 7 November 2008. Yes,' said Lev. 'By dawn we were there. We were pretty tired. Well, we were very tired. And the gas tank was almost empty. That car's so greedy it's going to bankrupt Rudi.'

The Road Home - Penguin Books UK

Lev’s experience is very different to this. With the help of his friend Lydia, who is a fluent English speaker, he finds a job as a kitchen porter at a trendy restaurant. 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.

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. Alberge, Dalya (5 June 2008). "Rose Tremain wins Orange prize for The Road Home". The Times. Archived from the original on 4 September 2008 . Retrieved 7 November 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.

The Road Home | Books | The Guardian The Road Home | Books | The Guardian

It is interesting how Tremain connects the idea of the present (of ‘sleeping’) with the past (Lev’s father). exampracticeFor a writer more accustomed to the distant past of the historical novel, the story of a modern-day economic migrant is a bold move, but Rose Tremain does not disappoint. The Road Home is thematically rich, dealing with loss and separation, mourning and melancholia, and what might underlie the ostensibly altruistic act of moving to another country to earn money for one's family. As always, her writing has a delicious, crunchy precision: plants sold in a market are 'fledgling food'; winter is described as having a 'deep, purple cold'; new buds on larch trees are 'a pale dust, barely visible to the eye'. The Road Home has attracted praise from the critics and won this year’s Orange Prize for women’s fiction. It tells the story of Lev, a 42-year old man from an unnamed eastern European country who comes to Britain to look for work. 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."

The Road Home by Rose Tremain

This extract is the start of the novel. Lev is on a bus from Eastern Europe to London. He is alone in the beginning but then he starts talking to Lydia, who is sat next to him. Lev tells us about his unemployment and that he decided to go to London to support his family. contextSchillinger, Liesl (31 August 2008). "Book Review | 'The Road Home,' by Rose Tremain". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022 . Retrieved 5 September 2008. The Road Home is beautifully written, like all of Tremain’s previous work, most of which are historical novels. It is impressive that she has decided to explore the life of a migrant worker. Lev’s internal life and personal history are rendered convincingly. But where the novel does fall down is in its depiction of the lives of migrant workers in Britain. Most face harsh treatment from gangmasters and ruthless employers who want to squeeze as much from them as possible. 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.