Milkman
by Anna Burns
Awards: Booker Winner 2018, Dublin Winner 2020, National Book Critics Circle Winner 2018
Nomination: Rathbones Folio Finalist 2019, Women's Prize Finalist 2019
Date Read: April 25, 2019
After the first paragraph, I could tell that Milkman would be refreshingly different from other novels I've been reading lately. Yet, this same difference would soon grate on me about half-way through.
Milkman is set in some sort of dystopian present, where danger lurks everywhere and life is lived in extremes. A world where certain names are banned, citizens are surveilled, teenagers are expected to marry and communities are segregated based on religion and political leanings. These same members of the community harass one another into conformity. Differing communities loathe each other for, what can only be presumed as, the slightest of differences, which I couldn't help thinking of The Butter Battle Book.
For this very reason, Middle Sister immediately stands out as different in her community for walking while reading, dating someone outside her community, taking French lessons and the presumption of a relationship with Milkman, a veritable stalker.
The turning point here, is Middle Sister being introduced to a sunset in her French class, which the reader is led to believe she has never taken the time to really appreciate before. Prophetically, the teacher states "Change one thing, class, just one thing, and I assure you, everything else will change also." And from this point on, everything does.
In this context, I find that the Milkman is little more than a catalyst for change. Because of his attentions, Middle Sister is prompted to change her daily behavior, which results in everything around her changing as well. The world she has carefully crafted out of this violent and unpredictable environment quickly begins to crumble and is never quite the same again.
This framework raises some interesting food for thought, such as how much influence does society have in shaping behavior and by exactly what standards should individuals be judged?
At times tedious and largely oblique, Milkman offers some very harsh truths about life, society and relationships. The unique voice Burns has honed throughout is singularly unique and has been applauded, yet I found this novel to be repetitive and I found myself lacking any empathy for these characters. I can't help but wonder if that's part of the point, as I care, but not too deeply. And I'm curious, but not too much. I feel now like a part of their world.
Date Read: April 25, 2019
After the first paragraph, I could tell that Milkman would be refreshingly different from other novels I've been reading lately. Yet, this same difference would soon grate on me about half-way through.
Milkman is set in some sort of dystopian present, where danger lurks everywhere and life is lived in extremes. A world where certain names are banned, citizens are surveilled, teenagers are expected to marry and communities are segregated based on religion and political leanings. These same members of the community harass one another into conformity. Differing communities loathe each other for, what can only be presumed as, the slightest of differences, which I couldn't help thinking of The Butter Battle Book.
For this very reason, Middle Sister immediately stands out as different in her community for walking while reading, dating someone outside her community, taking French lessons and the presumption of a relationship with Milkman, a veritable stalker.
The turning point here, is Middle Sister being introduced to a sunset in her French class, which the reader is led to believe she has never taken the time to really appreciate before. Prophetically, the teacher states "Change one thing, class, just one thing, and I assure you, everything else will change also." And from this point on, everything does.
In this context, I find that the Milkman is little more than a catalyst for change. Because of his attentions, Middle Sister is prompted to change her daily behavior, which results in everything around her changing as well. The world she has carefully crafted out of this violent and unpredictable environment quickly begins to crumble and is never quite the same again.
This framework raises some interesting food for thought, such as how much influence does society have in shaping behavior and by exactly what standards should individuals be judged?
At times tedious and largely oblique, Milkman offers some very harsh truths about life, society and relationships. The unique voice Burns has honed throughout is singularly unique and has been applauded, yet I found this novel to be repetitive and I found myself lacking any empathy for these characters. I can't help but wonder if that's part of the point, as I care, but not too deeply. And I'm curious, but not too much. I feel now like a part of their world.
Looking Forward: No Bones
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