unicorndeburgh reviewed Strawberry fields by Marina Lewycka
Review of 'Strawberry fields' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
A picaresque tale of adventure and romance that's also about the exploitation of migrant workers. Not your typical combination. The protagonists are migrant workers in England, from eastern Europe, Africa and Malaysia. You meet them working at a small strawberry farm that turns out to be the (relative) paradise that they're thrown out of, to wander and struggle on their separate paths. Lewycka does a balancing act, keeping the narrators naive and positive as they encounter various specimens of humanity, including grasping farmers, a chef, stoned tree sitters, and some well-intentioned liberals. The only out-and-out evil characters are the labor contractors. In retrospect, it reminds me a bit of Candide. I recommend it highly.