Review by ollie_again - Milkman

A review by ollie_again
Milkman by Anna Burns

challenging dark 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? Yes

4.0

So that was that. That was me told. And no longer was I a vile old spinster refusing to get married, but now most definitely an unconnected, unbonded loose woman, but her words, insulting and disdaining, came not from her daughter's ill-working of creative raw material, but from her own ill-working of creative raw material; relaying to me too, the latest rumour of me and the milkman whilst managing to perpetuate it on at the same time. As with the milkman -as with all of them - here again was someone who knew the answers so wasn't asking questions, wasn't interested either, in how I might respond.

This was exhausting to read, to finish but despite the stream of consciousness that is not my cup of tea usually, I was sucked in. Infuriated. Angry. Confused. But also more and more paranoid. The tale of gossip, lies and, constant gaslighting from every corner; the disinterest and unlogical acts of the main character. Her trying to get out of the web of spun yarn, fake yarn, yarn that pulled her deeper and deeper into all of the wrongdoings she has supposedly done and does them still. At some point, you doubt everyone and try to see if they are also telling untruths; if they are the danger on the page. Milkman gets into your head and won't leave until the very last page. And maybe he'll stay with you even longer.

Exhausting to get through, but brilliant at the same time.

Content Warnings

A review by ollie_again Milkman by Anna Burns

A review by ollie_again
Milkman by Anna Burns