This remarkable novel presents us with a speaker who is reluctant to tell her story. Our young narrator's crisis begins when a republican paramilitary known as the Milkman begins to pay her unwanted attention. Milkman's courtship resembles guerrilla warfare, and his unexplained attraction to Middle Sister befits the directionlessness of the IRA campaign in the late 1970s. Chris and guest Professor James Chandler (University of Chicago) navigate a book made complex by the narrator's reluctance to share: Middle Sister has been traumatised, and she reveals information in oblique ways. We piece together the story from the words of an evasive and digressive speaker who is mindful not only of direct recrimination from paramilitaries for any wrong decisions, but the danger of local gossip. If the scenario is terrifying, nonetheless Burns achieves a quirky humour in the unconventional storytelling mode and, in a subtle way, she poses probing questions about ideology. For various reasons, Milkman is a difficult book, on which many readers give up: Chris and Jim urge them to stick with it.

 

This remarkable novel presents us with a speaker who is reluctant to tell her story. Our young narrator's crisis begins when a republican paramilitary known as the Milkman begins to pay her unwanted attention. Milkman's courtship resembles guerrilla warfare, and his unexplained attraction to Middle Sister befits the directionlessness of the IRA campaign in the late 1970s. Chris and guest <a href="https://english.uchicago.edu/people/james-chandler">Professor James Chandler</a> (University of Chicago) navigate a book made complex by the narrator's reluctance to share: Middle Sister has been traumatised, and she reveals information in oblique ways. We piece together the story from the words of an evasive and digressive speaker who is mindful not only of direct recrimination from paramilitaries for any wrong decisions, but the danger of local gossip. If the scenario is terrifying, nonetheless Burns achieves a quirky humour in the unconventional storytelling mode and, in a subtle way, she poses probing questions about ideology. For various reasons,&nbsp;Milkman is a difficult book, on which many readers give up: Chris and Jim urge them to stick with it.
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Each episode focuses on a single book to offer in-depth exploration of contemporary Irish writing, one of the the dominant presences in book shops, book groups, and writers’ festivals around the world. Guest experts on Irish culture join author and critic Chris Murray to explore the techniques, cultural resonances, and deeper meanings of the nation’s recent literature. Irish Books tackles prize winners and some of the biggest names in Irish writing today while also calling attention to emerging voices that deserve notice. Listeners will learn more about the books they loved and find out what they should read next.

Host @drchrismurray.bsky.social (Bluesky)

Read the blog at https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com

The Irish Books Podcast is produced by East Coast Studio with support from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Monash University

Each episode focuses on a single book to offer in-depth exploration of contemporary Irish writing, one of the the dominant presences in book shops, book groups, and writers&rsquo; festivals around the world. Guest experts on Irish culture join author and critic Chris Murray to explore the techniques, cultural resonances, and deeper meanings of the nation&rsquo;s recent literature. Irish Books tackles prize winners and some of the biggest names in Irish writing today while also calling attention to emerging voices that deserve notice. Listeners will learn more about the books they loved and find out what they should read next.
Host <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/drchrismurray.bsky.social">@drchrismurray.bsky.social </a>(Bluesky)
Read the blog at <a href="https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com">https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com</a>
The Irish Books Podcast is produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://eastcoaststudio.com.au/">East Coast Studio</a> with support from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Monash University