Various Pets Alive and Dead

For twenty years Doro and Marcus lived in a commune, convinced lentils and free love would change the world. They didn't. What they did do was give their children a terror of radicalism, dirt, cooking rotas and poverty. Their daughter Clara wants nothing less conformist than her own, clean bathroom. Their son Serge hides the awkward fact that he's a banker earning loadsamoney. So when Doro and Marcus spring a surprise on their kids - just as the world is rocked in ways they always wished for - the family is forced to confront some thorny truths about themselves . . . 'Wonderfully funny. A dizzy, eye-watering treat. Lewycka is somewhere between Hilary Mantel in her satirical mode and Sue Townsend.' Independent 'Made me laugh at least once every chapter. Lewycka's fiction is unlike anything else around at present. The warmth of its zest, its blend of quirky, humane comedy and intellectual seriousness make this a novel to treasure.' New Statesman 'Uses farce, irony and biting wit to explore serious issues . . . features sharply drawn and sharp-tongued characters . . . a series of sparklingly humorous vignettes. Never has reading about something serious been quite so much fun.' Economist 'Hilarious. Lewycka's trademark humour is present in abundance . . . she is not only witty but astute. A charming, beautifully observed novel.' Independent on Sunday 'Every bit as funny as A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian.' Good Housekeeping