We Are All Made of Glue Large Print [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Marina Lewycka (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 2009

Georgie Sinclair's life is coming unstuck. Her husband's left her. Her son's obsessed with the End of the World. And now her elderly neighbour Mrs Shapiro has decided they are related. Or so the hospital informs her when Mrs Shapiro has an accident and names Georgie next of kin. This, however, is not a case of a quick ward visit: Mrs Shapiro has a large rickety house full of stinky cats that needs looking after that a pair of estate agents seem intent on swindling from her. Plus there are the 'Uselesses' trying to repair it (uselessly). Then there's the social worker who wants to put her in a nursing home. Not to mention some letters that point to a mysterious, painful past. As Georgie tries her best to put Mrs Shapiro's life back together somehow she must stop her own from falling apart...

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An exuberantly comic writer whose work is characterised by both great humanity and unusual charm Evening Standard A witty, touching story about an unlikely friendship Express Gorgeously funny Independent Had me crying with laughter Daily Telegraph Vibrant dialogue, a family in meltdown, a clash of cultures and wonderful cast of expertly observed characters. Pure laugh-out-loud social comedy Daily Mail Hilarious. A big-hearted confection of the comic and the poignant Literary Review A big, bustling novel, told with enthusiasm by a narrator who is warm, winningly disaster-prone and, crucially, believable Spectator Georgie is a lively, intensely sympathetic narrator ... brimming with warmth and busyness Guardian Marina Lewycka is an instantly likeable writer, funny, intelligent and refreshingly generous in her assessments of people and their motivations. She writes about modern life so well. An extremely enjoyable read New Statesman Uplifting. Lewycka's style is so appealing, so friendly Sunday Times A truly engaging and funny book Woman Lewycka is a good, serious writer with a strong, original voice Sunday Telegraph A very funny and touching story of a friendship and a mystery unravelled Woman & Home --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Marina Lewycka was born in Kiel, Germany at the end of the war and grew up in England. Her two previous novels, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian and Two Caravans, are available in Penguin now. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 651 pages
• Publisher: Rnib; Large type edition edition (October 14, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 1444501283
• ISBN-13: 978-1444501285
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,062,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Connections, August 9, 2010

By 

Kate Oszko (Brisbane, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: We Are All Made of Glue (Paperback)

Georgie Sinclair is the main character in this book set in London. She has separated from her husband Rip and is trying to sort out her life.

She has just thrown a whole heap of his LPs into the skip in front of her house when a neighbour rummages through the rubbish to "rescue"some of the refuse. The neighbour is Mrs Shapiro (A Jewish immigrant), and Georgie is drawn to her, although they are quite different. Mrs Shapiro lives in a squalour, with malodorous cats, but they have a strong connection.

Georgie's job is to research and contribute to the publication "Adhesives in the Modern World", but she is drawn into Mrs Shapiro's story and her life, including the mystery about her husband.

I loved the references and connections to glue and human experience; I loved how Lewycka was able to capture Mrs Shapiro's speech so well. There is a cast of really interesting and obnoxious characters - mainly drawn into the story through the possibility of making a profit from the house Mrs Shapiro is in.

I would recommend this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't read this with broken ribs, July 13, 2011

By 

G. Robinson "Rudy" (Western Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We Are All Made of Glue (Kindle Edition)

Absolutely hilarious and ultimately uplifting. Tolerance is the theme: of our madnesses, differences and flaws. With just a hint of magic realism.

1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointing, September 25, 2010

By 

Linda Spring - See all my reviews

This review is from: We Are All Made of Glue (Paperback)

This book was just fine, sensible and funny till it got to the anti-Israeli part, taking a pro-Palestinian course, distorting facts and letting its Palestinian and other characters tell gross inaccuracies about the history of the conflict.