Ucrania

***II Málaga Award***

«A good novel and portrait of ordinary people.» J.E. Ayala-Dip, El País

«A voice which stands out from the crowd.» A. Fontana, ABC

«Sensitivity, emotion and tenderness, skilfully sprinkled with irony and humor.» Á. Basanta, El Cultural

«Commitment, humour and sensitivity. These continue to be the traits that identify the work of this author.» A.J. López, Sur

«Dialogues and monologues that are well constructed and perfectly seasoned with irony and humour» Alejandro Luque, El Correo de Andalucía

(Ukraine) These is a novel whose characters, and their ups and downs, are familiar and recognizable. A woman who comes from the Ukraine in search of a better life and a group of three friends whose friendship was forged during their teens are the characters around which this novel revolves. Ukraine is a novel filled with love (sometimes unrequited), friendship, frustrations, conflicts and small pleasures. With a superb combination of humor and tenderness, Ukraine tackles those desires that invariably contradict reality; what we are as opposed to what we thought we would be. Pablo Aranda offers us morsels of harsh reality, told with sensitivity, irony and skill, as he guides us through a story that is appealing, familiar and insightful to a surprise ending. A moving and powerful story on the pursuit of love, friendship and dreams which are not always fulfilled.