An easy read but overwritten. Many threads were introduced that remained unresolved. The ending was, however, satisfying. The strangeness and faded opulence of the elderly Eastern European immigrants was accurately portrayed, though many of the characters in the book were not well defined and were stereotypical. Mendelson was skilled at describing settings. It was difficult, however, to establish the intended mood of the book. It hints at both comedy and tragedy and ends up with a rather uncomfortable mix. The portrayal of the relationship between mother and daughter was effective. We could feel Marina’s teenage embarrassment and awkwardness, her homesickness and her reluctance to give voice to this. We could also feel her mother’s fear of caring too much and consequently appearing to care too little. The inability of any of the characters to communicate honestly with each other was a central theme of the book. 6/10