Book cover of My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner: A Family Memoir

Book description

From the author of the acclaimed novel A Pigeon and a Boy comes a charming tale of family ties, over-the-top housekeeping, and the sport of storytelling in Nahalal, the village of Meir Shalev’s birth. Here we meet Shalev’s amazing Grandma Tonia, who arrived in Palestine by boat from Russia in…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Meir Shalev is a witty, funny author who writes in his own distinctive style. This little book is most charming. It is based on family stories, focusing on Shalev’s grandmother Tanya. At the centre is the “svieeperrr” she received from her brother-in-law who immigrated to Los Angeles, instead of Israel, and succeeded in business. The successful capitalist sent her this vacuum cleaner because he was well aware of Tanya’s main enemy in life, the dirt, and because he knew that Aharon, his socialist brother, could not return this machine to him. It was too big. The proud Aharon refused to…

If you love My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner...

Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Want books like My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 2 books like My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner.

Browse books like My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner

Share your top 3 reads of 2026!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

165

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner, you might also like...

Book cover of The Tao of Poison

The Tao of Poison by Isham Cook,

A poisonous maiden, a Daoist sex cult, and a violent insurgency.

The polyandrous Yan family in China's rural Shaanxi Province takes in two carpenter brothers. When one brother is convicted of murder after killing their neighbor in a dispute, a constable threatens to expose the family's rumored polyandry and extorts…

Book cover of Big Ideas... For Small Businesses: Simple, Practical Tools and Tactics to Help Your Small Business Grow

Big Ideas... For Small Businesses by John Lamerton,

Big Ideas… for Small Businesses is a straight-talking, no-nonsense guide to growing a small business without sacrificing your lifestyle. Written by a former civil servant turned entrepreneur, the book challenges hustle culture and instead champions the idea of an "ambitious lifestyle business" - one that provides freedom and financial stability,…