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A review by thepurplebookwyrm
Milkman by Anna Burns
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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? No
3.75
Full video review: https://youtu.be/75W25oszzcE.
What a nice feeling it is to end the reading year on a very good book! 🙂
Outside of considerations of prose (the style of which I really enjoyed here), the effective conveying of dialect (which I was really able to appreciate given my partner is from the North of Ireland), or the satisfying depth of the book's character work... I primarily want to praise Milkman for its excellent (and most definitely, feminism-informed) theming on the actual intersection of axes of oppression – or forms of discrimination – as experienced within the context of a (rather complex) civil war (in this specific case, the Irish Troubles), and the experience of intimidation, fear and trauma on both a personal and a communal level. There was so much nuanced thought put into the substance of this text; a lot of hard, heart-hitting moments as well, that I could personally relate to, or relate to by proxy, in a way, given my now more personal connection to Irish culture and that particular chapter of Irish history. This is definitely one I would happily recommend!
What a nice feeling it is to end the reading year on a very good book! 🙂
Outside of considerations of prose (the style of which I really enjoyed here), the effective conveying of dialect (which I was really able to appreciate given my partner is from the North of Ireland), or the satisfying depth of the book's character work... I primarily want to praise Milkman for its excellent (and most definitely, feminism-informed) theming on the actual intersection of axes of oppression – or forms of discrimination – as experienced within the context of a (rather complex) civil war (in this specific case, the Irish Troubles), and the experience of intimidation, fear and trauma on both a personal and a communal level. There was so much nuanced thought put into the substance of this text; a lot of hard, heart-hitting moments as well, that I could personally relate to, or relate to by proxy, in a way, given my now more personal connection to Irish culture and that particular chapter of Irish history. This is definitely one I would happily recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: War
The story centres on a female character who is being stalked by a prominent member of her community, and takes place during the Irish Troubles.