Good, but very difficult read (assumed it had taken 2 weeks but seems to be only one).
A dramatic monologue by the nameless narrator, a young working class Catholic girl in the troubles in Belfast in the late 1970’s. None of the characters are named, so appear as ‘1st sister’ ‘maybe boyfriend’ ‘tablets girl’ although mother is ‘Ma’.
There are 2 milkmen in the book, one an IRA heavy who appears to stalk the narrator, until shot by the British troops (whose name does appear to be Milkman), the other an actual milkman (I think) who is ‘Ma’s lover, or so she wishes.
There is no real plot, just a series of episodes in the life of the narrator. But is is beautifully written, although the prose style and lack of narrative makes it very hard work. ‘If Beckett had written a prose poem about the Troubles it would read a lot like this’, said the Daily Mail and although I don’t agree with much that paper says, this is a reasonable summary.
One to buy and re-read, probably on a beach holiday.
Comments