This starts out with comic intent then gets decidedly bleak. Nice resolution at the end. ( )

Daria tiene 23 años, un título en ingeniería y un perfecto dominio del idioma inglés. Pero en Ucrania, esto no es suficiente para mantener un buen trabajo. Daria se ve obligada a desempeñarse como traductora en una agencia matrimonial por internet, en la que solitarios estadounidenses buscan a las desesperadas mujeres de Odessa. Su abuela quiere que ella también se case con algún candidato y huya de la ciudad. Fantaseando con el sueño americano, la joven debe decidir entre el amor por su tierra y la apuesta por una nueva vida en otro continente, junto a Tristan, un profesor que la dobla en edad. Optando por la seguridad que le ofrece Estados Unidos -su imaginaria tierra prometida-, Daria parte hacia su nueva vida. Pero no todo será como lo había imaginado y, en una nación lejana y dentro de un incierto matrimonio, la joven se pregunta hasta dónde está dispuesta a llegar para lograr el tan ansiado sueño americano.

This book had a terrifically interesting premise, but unfortunately the somewhat slow moving narrative and difficult characters made it more of a job than a pleasure to read. Still, I found the storyline interesting enough that I did finish the novel. I wouldn't necessarily read more by this author, but would definitely read another book on this particular subject. ( )

My antipathy to this story and its anti-feminist slant was caused in part by starting the book immediately after finishing Laura Vapnyar's similar Memoirs of a Muse, a poorly written novel about a whiny, neurotic young woman who settles for a rotten man because she wants to. The main character in Moonlight in Odessa reminded me too much of this trope.

This probably is unfair, and, if other reviews are a good gauge, untrue. Perhaps a reread would make me feel differently, but the book didn't really provide an incentive to ponder its themes too closely. ( )

In trying to pursue the "American Dream" Daria lost all of the vivacity, wit, strength and humor that made her so interestingly "Odessan".

She enters the questionable world of international mail order brides and her strength is further weakened and the situation worsens when her American husband is not the man he presented to her in their correspondence and brief meeting before marriage.


"Give a man a centimeter and he'll think he's a ruler."

"My job is to scream cockle-doodle-doo. Don't blame me if the sun doesn't rise." ( )