Reviews

Milkman by Anna Burns

mitchapalooza90's review against another edition

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challenging funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

milkfran's review against another edition

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I’ve had the Milkman on my TBR pile for a while and was excited when I saw that the audiobook was available from my local library but I only managed 20 minutes of the narration style before I had to throw in the towel: another 13 hours of it sounded like pure torture.

My most recent listens were The Secret History by Donna Tartt (wonderfully and dryly read by herself) and The Innocent by Ian McEwan (read by Steven Pacey, gamely if at times slightly absurdly doing the accents which  if anything just added to the story) so maybe I’ve been a bit spoiled recently. 

Can’t really comment on the content, the themes or the plot (it’s Belfast in the 70s though so go figure) just the tortuous writing style which made me slam the dishes down angrily as I was cleaning them until I decided life is too short to suffer through a book just because it’s won a Man Booker Prize (Howard Jacobson I’m looking at you). 

caitlinswalec's review

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5.0

Like nothing I’ve ever read before. I hated it at a few points, but I couldn’t stop and in the end, and many points before that, loved it.

The community is a bunch of gossipy hens, but middle sister refuses to play their games. Her flat, no nonsense take on every bit of gossip and slander they throw her way is hilarious.

oboejess's review against another edition

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Couldn’t get into it

rhiannonshaw123's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated

3.5

annritz's review against another edition

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5.0

Fascinating story about a time and conflict that has not been well-told in fiction. But not an easy read.

ajeisenberg's review against another edition

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5.0

Not an easy read but very thought provoking

aksie's review against another edition

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https://www.amazon.nl/Milkman-English-Anna-Burns-ebook/dp/B07B8WPQB8

because: man booker prize, sounds fresh

misterdna's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

moniafilipe's review against another edition

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3.0

Sabem aquelas pessoas que começam a contar uma coisa, mas enrolam-se de tal maneira em assuntos paralelos que, às tantas, vocês pensam "ela ou ele não vai conseguir apanhar o fio à meada", mas depois de muitas voltas e baldrocas, consegue mesmo apanhar o fio à meada e volta exactamente ao ponto onde ficou, depois de vos ter contado a sua vida, e pelo meio ainda vos conta a vida da vizinha, mas volta sempre ao ponto onde ficou na história anterior e depois ao ponto em que ficou na história anterior a essa, e vocês ficam tipo hã?, mas percebem tudo, porque, pronto, a história foi contada, e com ela umas duas ou três? Pois este livro é assim.