The Road to Donetsk by Diane Chandler
An idealistic Vanessa, 26, enters the world of international aid, bringing with her youth, beauty and passion to do good in the 'Wild East' of Ukraine after the sudden collapse of communism. The country and its people completely win her heart. As does Dan, a jaded American Deputy Bureau chief of USAID. Highly charged and turbulent, Vanessa and Dan's love for each other is passionate and unyielding. Their romance unfolds in the beautiful lilac-filled city of Kiev, on frequent working trips to the coalfields of Donetsk and on weekend visits to the sparkling seas of Odessa, to the pristine ski runs of the Carpathians, and even to the chilling spectacle of Chernobyl. Older, wiser, Dan laughs at Vanessa's determination to change the world, but helps her navigate the political minefield of overseas aid. He admires her achievements, not least the micro-credit scheme she sets up for the resourceful, magnificent wives of the Donetsk coal miners - her beloved Divas - but warns against her deep-felt passion and idealism. At the age of just 26, Vanessa has landed her dream man as well as her dream job. But then Dan springs a bolt from the blue, which throws her into turmoil...In a world where millions of dollars can either wash away in a moment's corruption, or turn around the lives of the neediest, Vanessa is then forced to pit her own naive desire to make a difference against the chaos of a country in transition.
"A touching love story that illuminates the aid businessCompelling and enjoyable." CLARE SHORT (former Secretary of State for International Development) "Lifts the lid on aid." (LYNN CURTIS, literary consultant) "A loving tribute to Ukraine; Diane Chandler's writing made me smell and taste the country as if I were there." UK Reader "Thinking about the story now and watching the sad news stories about Ukraine unfold on the TV makes me realise what a complicated region the book is set in and how cleverly Diane Chandler brings the richness of this world and time to life." UK Reader "A beautifully written story of love and struggle set in the Ukraine." UK Reade "A book which enlightens and entertains in equal measure. Highly recommended." UK Reade
Diane Chandler worked at the European Commission in Brussels for several years, where she managed overseas aid programmes in Ukraine just after the fall of communism. Ukraine soon worked its way into her heart, and she travelled there extensively, not only to the stunning capital city of Kiev, but down to the coal fields of Donetsk, where the current troubles rage, over to the sparkling seas of Odessa, and even up to the chilling spectacle of Chernobyl. Back in London, when Diane married and her daughter was born, she was able to pursue her passion for writing in those few hours she could snatch, and she chose Ukraine as a setting. The Road to Donetsk is her first novel. Her second novel, Moondance, about a career woman going through the trials of IVF, was published on Nov 1 2016.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780995473546 |
| ISBN 10 | 0995473544 |
| Title | The Road to Donetsk |
| Author | Diane Chandler |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Blackbird Digital Books |
| Year published | 2016-11-08 |
| Number of pages | 310 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |