Milkman

Milkman is the long winded tale of a young girl who walks while reading – or at least that is how it all begins. Unintentionally, and to girl-who-reads-while-walking’s great disappointment, this socially abhorrent behavior catches the predatory attention of the Milkman, not the real milkman, but a man pretending to be a milkman while actually being a well feared renouncer in this young ladies district. This attention – fueled by not touching and anti-orgasms – comes to impede upon every aspect of life for girl-who-reads-while-walking – slowly evolving into an inescapable surveillance that pervades the entire community.

If this summary seems confusing that is because this book is straight up disorienting in the most complimentary of ways. Very rarely does a book come around with such an intentional and consistent voice. My only question upon finishing it was “How have I never heard of Anna Burns before this?” Even now, it’s been a few years since it won the Booker and already it seems lost to obscurity – a literary crime.

This book should be talked about and taught and recommended because it is an undeniable accomplishment. However, I would understand if you read it, loved it, and didn’t recommend it, because this book -no matter how clever, and funny, and technically proficient- was ultimately exhausting. There were numerous moments throughout the book when amongst the ceaseless inner monolog of a girl being stalked within the backdrop of the politely turbulent Troubles, that I felt I needed a breath – not a real breath – but a mental one. Anna Burns writes densely, more densely than I’ve had the pleasure to experience in some time, and with density comes time. This is not a book to rush through. There are so many fabulously funny and terse moments that it takes time to read through Milkman and fully appreciate all the hard work which Burns has dedicated to it.

Milkman was a poignant tale of surveillance, from both man and state. The balance between the domestic and political was marvellously straddled, but most importantly this book was a biting satire that never lost sight of it’s humanity. If you want a satisfying challenge, sharp wit, and something wholly original then Milkman won’t disappoint.