Milkman by Anna Burns
Set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, this novel follows an unnamed 18-year-old protagonist who is pursued by a powerful, older man known only as the Milkman. Despite her attempts to avoid him and maintain a low profile in her community, rumors spread about their supposed affair, leading to increased scrutiny and isolation. The book explores the protagonist's struggle to maintain her individuality amidst political and social turmoil, while also dealing with the pervasive threat of violence and the power of gossip in a close-knit community.
The 2242nd greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 2018
- Nationality
- Irish
- Length
- Moderate
- Pages
- 368
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.8)
- Alternate Titles
- None
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This book is on the following 16 lists:
- 1st on The 100 best Irish books of the 21st century (The Irish Times)
- 6th on Best 25 Irish books of the 21st century: how readers voted (The Irish Times)
- 20th on The 20 Best Novels of the Decade (2010s) (Literary Hub)
- 29th on The 30 best fiction books of the last 30 years (Los Angeles Times)
- 42nd on Truelit's 100 Best Books of the Quarter Century (/r/truelit)
- 250th on The Greatest Books of 2024 - Honorable Mention (The Greatest Books)
- 1466th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 70 Classic Booker Prize-Nominated Novels, Recommended by our Readers (Booker Prize Library Readers)
- Best Fiction Books of the 21st Century (So Far) (Kirkus Reviews)
- Booker Prize (Booker Prize)
- International Dublin Literary Award (International Dublin Literary Award)
- National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction (National Book Critics Circle)
- Siri Hustvedt's Book Choices from "The Writer's Library" (The Writer's Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives (Book))
- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time (Runners-Up) (The Guardian)
- The Orwell Prize for Political Writing (The Orwell Foundation)
- What the New York Times Missed: 71 More of the Best Books of the 21st Century (Lit Hub)