Sign in with Facebook
dianne b.'s Reviews > Milkman
Milkman
by
by
At this time when the need for our interdependence seems so clear. Our absolute dependence on Nature, on flailing biodiversity, on each of the forms that remain, to be left to play their part in life on earth (currently dying at a rate of 200 species a day) - AB here shines her torch on why we’ll likely fail:
“As there was little inclination for re-adjusting even the tiniest of misperceptions here, such conscious mental effort to reach awareness on the part of the community…was never going to happen.”
We’re certain we already know better, when we’ve just demonstrated we do not.
Change will not happen because the bargain has been made, and no one is listening. This is the way it has always been. So why try?
“...here again was someone who knew the answers so wasn’t asking questions, wasn’t interested either in how I might respond. Not that anymore I would respond…”
Anyway, we’re just fine the way we are, right? No need to change.
“Worse, what if it was nice, whatever it was, and we liked it, got used to it, were cheered up by it, came to rely upon it, only for it to go away, or be wrenched away, never to come back again? Better to not have had it in the first place was the prevailing feeling, and that was why blue was the colour for our sky to be.”
Even if it’s bright orange, flamingly on fire.
Monsters aren’t real because you can’t see them if you don’t look.
Terrifyingly prescient book; not just about those Troubles, she’s written an epic story about the whole world’s Troubles.
“As there was little inclination for re-adjusting even the tiniest of misperceptions here, such conscious mental effort to reach awareness on the part of the community…was never going to happen.”
We’re certain we already know better, when we’ve just demonstrated we do not.
Change will not happen because the bargain has been made, and no one is listening. This is the way it has always been. So why try?
“...here again was someone who knew the answers so wasn’t asking questions, wasn’t interested either in how I might respond. Not that anymore I would respond…”
Anyway, we’re just fine the way we are, right? No need to change.
“Worse, what if it was nice, whatever it was, and we liked it, got used to it, were cheered up by it, came to rely upon it, only for it to go away, or be wrenched away, never to come back again? Better to not have had it in the first place was the prevailing feeling, and that was why blue was the colour for our sky to be.”
Even if it’s bright orange, flamingly on fire.
Monsters aren’t real because you can’t see them if you don’t look.
Terrifyingly prescient book; not just about those Troubles, she’s written an epic story about the whole world’s Troubles.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Milkman.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
December 1, 2021
– Shelved
September 3, 2023
–
Started Reading
September 6, 2023
–
23.58%
""Worse, what if it was nice, whatever it was, and we liked it, got used to it, were cheered up by it, came to rely upon it, only for it to go away...Better not to have had it in the first place was the prevailing feeling, and that was why blue was the colour for our sky to be.""
page
83
September 24, 2023
–
49.72%
"I see that others find humor in this story, and (yes) - the protagonist's descriptions can be funny - but I'm finding this book absolutely terrifying in its prescience."
page
175
September 27, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-9 of 9 (9 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Daren
(new)
-
rated it 3 stars
Oct 03, 2023 11:42PM
I thought this one was really interesting, but sat on the fence with whether I liked it or not... I suspect I like it a little more in retrospect than when I read and reviewed it.
reply
|
flag
Daren wrote: "I thought this one was really interesting, but sat on the fence with whether I liked it or not... I suspect I like it a little more in retrospect than when I read and reviewed it."I think that's a sign of a really good book - whether it keeps bubbling up in your mind, whether you wonder if you'd like it better, or understand it more or get more out of it on a second read.
I guess, if a book makes us curious, might it have more to tell us than we may have gotten out of it during round one?
I find that to be true with books that frustrate me initially, and this one, with her very unique voice, was a hard open. It made me think of chemistry and what is called "activation energy" - the energy you need to put into the mix to get a chemical reaction started.
I think of Shakespeare: the first few minutes of live theater seem hard - then suddenly - there you are! 16th century England! Bawdy as ever! Worth every bit of activation energy you applied!
Yes, good call with the sign of a good (novel) book being draw back to it after the fact. I seldom re-read except for books I read long ago which i have largely forgotten, and I know i will get more out of for a second read, otherwise I am pretty ruthless with new reads.And agree with the unique voice of this book.
Great to read your thoughts on middle-sister's thoughts, dianne.And I like your comment about the activation energy we readers need to add to a text in order to fully explore it.. That idea applies to many books but is particularly apt for this one. And I find I'm no longer interested in reading that doesn't require some activation energy.
Fionnuala wrote: "I find I'm no longer interested in reading that doesn't require some activation energy."You, dear Fionnuala, are an inspiration in the activation energy of reading Good Literature; in fact you're like an endless nuclear fusion process, except the beneficial kind that happens way out in distant space and looks to us like a sparkle in the night. Where do you find all that energy?
Once in a while my old brain doesn't mind a "beach read" - a simple mystery, or a 'children's' book - although that doesn't stop it from putting my snarky touch to it.
Let's keep on reading and firing all those brain cells, dianne, whatever the text!
Thoughtful passages from the book by Anna Burns, am author I am not aware of.
Interesting review. Using the book to discuss the environmental troubles.
Adina wrote: "Interesting review. Using the book to discuss the environmental troubles."Thanks for reading my review, Adina.
We're living in a time of dire beauty and I find the lens of life's fragility on Earth the only one I read through now.
