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mommaslonglegs's review against another edition
2.0
Look, I believe this is a good book I just didn't enjoy it. The authors voice was very unique and she did a great job utilizing it I just hated it. Never naming a character sounds interesting, and it is, but its so hard to follow. Also the repetition of this story was exhausting i really think it coulda been 200 pages shorter and still had the same plot.
reydeam's review against another edition
5.0
“The day Somebody McSomebody put a gun to my breast and called me a cat and threatened to shoot me was the same day the milkman died”
.
This story captivated me, truly! I did not want it to end. When I realized that the story was about to end (with just about 5 min left), I purposefully hit the “stop” button. I just could not let it end, but I did.
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I liked everything about Milkman: the unnamed characters, the setting in Northern Ireland during time of The Troubles in the late 70s (the conflict years), the interpersonal relationships, and the impact of societal rules and gossip.
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The language used was rich, beautiful, and unique in style as the 18 year old unnamed narrator recounts her experience of life during a time where she had to withstand community gossip about herself, false perceptions, “non-conformist” labeling, rules that governed women, politics of the times, unwanted attention and societal expectations, and how this all impacted her life and relationships. Her narration style gave me the feeling of being there, as if she were sitting down next to me. It felt intimate, raw and real. I liked her perspectives, insights, and ability to navigate life as it came to her. She had grit, and courage. I was captivated.
.
One of the unique aspects of this book was the author’s lack of names used - not one name was used. Instead she used terms to show where each character stood in terms of relationship to the narrator, and story. This added another level of richness and depth which helped to create an atmosphere that otherwise would have been absent; the author utilized titles such as “middle daughter” (the narrator of the story), “1st daughter”, “almost a year maybe-boyfriend”, “3rd brother-in-law”, etc. She also used terms such as “ten-minute area” and “the parks and reservoirs” to identify locations and places. I really appreciated this facet of the story.
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This story’s stream-of-consciousness tells a dark tale yet has moments of humor. The stream-of-consciousness prose may be a difficult adjustment for readers, but it’s well worth the effort to adjust; I cannot imagine the story being told any other way.
.
Milkman is told smoothly and with intrigue; in the way that only a good and well crafted book can do, it evoked concern, anxiety and a great wanting to know the story. I truly did not want it to end.
.
This story captivated me, truly! I did not want it to end. When I realized that the story was about to end (with just about 5 min left), I purposefully hit the “stop” button. I just could not let it end, but I did.
.
I liked everything about Milkman: the unnamed characters, the setting in Northern Ireland during time of The Troubles in the late 70s (the conflict years), the interpersonal relationships, and the impact of societal rules and gossip.
.
The language used was rich, beautiful, and unique in style as the 18 year old unnamed narrator recounts her experience of life during a time where she had to withstand community gossip about herself, false perceptions, “non-conformist” labeling, rules that governed women, politics of the times, unwanted attention and societal expectations, and how this all impacted her life and relationships. Her narration style gave me the feeling of being there, as if she were sitting down next to me. It felt intimate, raw and real. I liked her perspectives, insights, and ability to navigate life as it came to her. She had grit, and courage. I was captivated.
.
One of the unique aspects of this book was the author’s lack of names used - not one name was used. Instead she used terms to show where each character stood in terms of relationship to the narrator, and story. This added another level of richness and depth which helped to create an atmosphere that otherwise would have been absent; the author utilized titles such as “middle daughter” (the narrator of the story), “1st daughter”, “almost a year maybe-boyfriend”, “3rd brother-in-law”, etc. She also used terms such as “ten-minute area” and “the parks and reservoirs” to identify locations and places. I really appreciated this facet of the story.
.
This story’s stream-of-consciousness tells a dark tale yet has moments of humor. The stream-of-consciousness prose may be a difficult adjustment for readers, but it’s well worth the effort to adjust; I cannot imagine the story being told any other way.
.
Milkman is told smoothly and with intrigue; in the way that only a good and well crafted book can do, it evoked concern, anxiety and a great wanting to know the story. I truly did not want it to end.
kl4r4's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
megemily1101's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
napping_muse's review against another edition
5.0
Not a w o w 5 - but a solid 5 - aka I need a better rating system
mito9's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
sarajg's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
wondarlice's review against another edition
4.0
weird, subtle, funny, terrifying, long, interesting ! loved the family dynamics and the way the author puts words where all my life as a woman I struggled to.
alexisglitter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
hailthejessiah's review against another edition
The prose is hard to read. Which I could get over if I cared about the plot.
But over 30% in, I wasn't sure there even was a plot - and they kept telling you what was GOING to happen anyway! Which I could also get over, if the characters engaged me. But nameless and stilted in their dialogue, they might well have not been there. It was a very lonely read- that part, at least, is likely deliberate and is effective. But I didn't enjoy it.
But over 30% in, I wasn't sure there even was a plot - and they kept telling you what was GOING to happen anyway! Which I could also get over, if the characters engaged me. But nameless and stilted in their dialogue, they might well have not been there. It was a very lonely read- that part, at least, is likely deliberate and is effective. But I didn't enjoy it.