Suggestions for September's book?

Well, as you may have guessed, my pick would be 'Strawberry Fields'. However, if I remember correctly, it was my brainy idea to read short stories in May after totally flopping with 'Fruit', and Dawne's pick was 'Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bible' for June. Does anyone else have any suggestions? As our newest victim, how about you, Lisette?

Dear witty women,

I just read the most amazing book (thanks, Ruth!). It's called Strawberry Fields and is by Marina Lewycka, the author of another we've read: A Short History of Tractors in the Ukraine. I was so impressed with Strawberry Fields (called Two Caravans in the UK) that I emailed the author and she was gracious enough to respond (see below). If you're looking for a book with which to end the summer with a bang, I recommend this one.

Carla

Dear Carla

Thanks so much for your letter, and I'm glad you enjoyed Strawberry Fields. You know, not long after I finished the Tractors book, someone thrust a leaflet into my hand saying, "Here, you're Ukrainian -this'll interest you." It was Called 'Gone West: Ukrainians at work in Britain today' - and the more I read, the more horrified I was. And I started to think, there's a story in this. And then I thought, this is my story to tell - if I don't tell it no one else will. So that's how it started.

It's so sad that once one group of people finds the courage and resources to stand up to this kind of exploitation, they simply bring in another lot from somewhere else. I know Canada is a country of immigrants - there are plenty of us Ukrainians over there - and maybe you have stricter employment laws over there. Though we have fairly tough employment laws over here, which are simply not enforced. But I didn't want to paint a totally dismal picture. I think most immigrants, like my parents when they arrived in the UK, just want the chance to earn money and raise themselves out of poverty and have a laugh and a few nice meals, and for their children to have a better life than they did. It should be so simple - but it seldom is!

Thanks once more for taking the trouble to write, All best wishes, Marina

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Subject: Strawberry Fields

Dear Marina, I'm in Fredericton, N.B. Canada and just finished reading your book while on vacation. It is amazing. I read your first novel and also very much enjoyed it -- so very clever, original and funny ("crap car"), but I think I enjoyed this one even more. I teach psychology and my partner is a sociologist, but I had never really considered the immigrant's experience.

Irina and Andriyi were with me yesterday as I explored the Glace Bay miner's museum in N.S. with my children. Like them, these miners were literally owned by British barons into the middle of the 20th century and were outrageously exploited. Forced to perform very hazardous work, families were routinely blackmailed into sending their children (as young as eight) into the mines when fathers were incapacitated. In 1925 $708 was the average miner's salary and out of this was deducted $461 for accommodations, the gear they needed to do their jobs, oil for their lanterns etc. During this particular year there was a labour riot against BESCO, which brought to mind the scene in your book at the poultry farm. It amazes me that these practices continue into the 21C.

Thank you for writing this amazing book, which not only entertained but also informed.

Best wishes, Carla Gunn