In tribute to this wonderful book, I will start this review based on a conversation middle sister had with her mother's dating the real milkman, "Yes, but..."
Yes, I really liked this book, the winner of the 2019 Man Booker Prize. But ...
Yes, I really liked this book, the winner of the 2019 Man Booker Prize. But ...
Yes, I loved the story about a young woman who attempts to navigate through the sectarian and political minefields of her home by pretending to ignore them. She walks. She walks-and-reads. She jogs. She hangs out with maybe-boyfriend (whose relationship defines the word "complicated.") But ...
Life keeps interrupting middle sister's plans. Her brothers are killed or escape to avoid being shot or kneecapped. Her sister is exiled because she married into the wrong religion. Her father dies -- but because his death is from a disease, not terrorism, it doesn't count as a political loss.
Life keeps interrupting middle sister's plans. Her brothers are killed or escape to avoid being shot or kneecapped. Her sister is exiled because she married into the wrong religion. Her father dies -- but because his death is from a disease, not terrorism, it doesn't count as a political loss.
All of this is told in a deadpan, humorous matter, as befitting the tale's location in a thinly-disguised Northern Ireland. All the signs are there: The casual acceptance of the daily absurdities: The sly descriptions of the participants in the unpleasantness. The knowing mocking of the religious hypocrisies. The battles over minor details of life, from the flag on your junked car to the color of the curb in front of your house.
Oh, and the fact that the the author's native city is Belfast cliches the deal.
Now, middle sister's life gets more complicated when a community leader known as Milkman (not a real milkman) comes into her life. Middle sister (yes, she is identified that way throughout the book) rejects the thought of any relationship, but the entire neighborhood thinks otherwise, and that is the thread that keeps the story going.
Yes it's well told, both funny and knowledgeable about the subject. But ...
The author does have a tendency to go off on tangents. Sheesh, even her asides have asides. Yes, they often are pointed, sad, or telling. But she does wander.
Yes, you find yourself chuckling, nodding, or lamenting during her digressions. But, you also think, "get back to the damn story. Please."
Oh, and the fact that the the author's native city is Belfast cliches the deal.
Now, middle sister's life gets more complicated when a community leader known as Milkman (not a real milkman) comes into her life. Middle sister (yes, she is identified that way throughout the book) rejects the thought of any relationship, but the entire neighborhood thinks otherwise, and that is the thread that keeps the story going.
Yes it's well told, both funny and knowledgeable about the subject. But ...
The author does have a tendency to go off on tangents. Sheesh, even her asides have asides. Yes, they often are pointed, sad, or telling. But she does wander.
Yes, you find yourself chuckling, nodding, or lamenting during her digressions. But, you also think, "get back to the damn story. Please."
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