Milkman (Anna Burns)

Anna Burns
Milkman

A compelling and engaging book albeit very strange. Set in what I assume is Belfast in the 70's Troubles it tackles issues ranging from the political situation through to personal mental health through to feminism. The narrator is an 18 year old woman whose name we don't know indeed nearly all the characters aren't named in fact I can only remember one called Peggy. The young woman lives in a Catholic area which is at war with the British army and run by Catholic paramilitaries who deal out a rough form of justice. She becomes the focus of sexual attention by Milkman who is high up in the paramilitaries and she descends into a state of mental instability. In addition to this there are many other issues going on in her life and within her family and she is ostracised by her community being considered outside the pale. There are some very dark moments and at times the book is brilliantly ominous making me unsure as to whether I want to read on. But I can't resist the tale and pick up the book soon enough (i.e. within hours not days). Having said this there are many heart warming passages and some extremely funny laugh out loud moments both funny funny and also related to the darker parts of the plot. The characters are brilliantly written and I felt at least a couple could have their own stories. I'd love to know what happens to the wee sisters when they are grown up. Well worth the read.

The Custard Heart (Dorothy Parker)

Dorothy Parker
The Custard Heart

A thin small pocket book of three very short tales including Big Blonde and You Were Perfectly Fine in addition to the book's title story. All are about 3 womens' trials and tribulations so uncomfortable reading.

At Swim-Two-Birds Novel (Flann O'Brien)

Flann O'Brien
At Swim-Two-Birds

A strange tale or indeed multiple tales going from the mundane to the completely surreal. It's brilliantly written and the story within a story allows full rein to the weirdness of the narrative. I won't try to summarise the story(s) except to say that the device used for the plot(s) enables those to take on a life of their own. I read this years ago and remember it as a very confusing but maybe that's just my memory as the stories are easy to follow even if they chop and change have that surreal twist injected every so often. I suspect that Michael Moorcock read this. As would many of course. Lent by Simon tho I wonder if this is my original copy...