We are all made of glue, by Marina Lewycka

Marina's newest book (2010), is her third published novel. I enjoyed her first two books, and am happy to report that I believe her third is her best accomplishment.

There are several threads to follow in the book. First, we meet Georgie Sinclair, lately moved to London from Leeds, she is about to experience the end of a rather traditional relationship with her husband, and embark on a very unusual, comic, sad, mysterious relationship with the elderly Naomi Shapiro. Naomi's experiences in the second world war inform her current condition of squalor and decrepitude. But her wit and humour keep her oblivious to the rundown condition of her home, her clothes, even the rotten food she relishes eating at reduced prices.

Georgie's son, Ben, is bewildering her. After watching his parents separate, Ben seems to find religion, and is busy preparing his soul for the End of Time, and is worried that his heathen parents won't make the cut to heaven because of their lack of faith in Jesus.

Add one or two other oddball characters, including a dark-eyed real estate agent bent on seducting Georgie, and an unscrupulous social worker determined to oust Mrs. Shapiro from her home so she can get a commission on the sale of Naomi's historic estate, and it's a wonder Georgie can keep it together enough to focus on her job of writing promotional material for the wonders of glue!

It's an amazing mix of characters, and a fascinating overview of war, politics, the Middle East, Jewish-Arab relations, and friendshop, romance, and lust. A great read.