Pegeen_B

Striving vs coasting on privilege of money, aristocratic history, caste. What is the purpose of education? How does a young man achieve his potential …handed to him or dug out of the ground? What is the code to follow?

The strength of this book is that each character could be the protagonist of their own individual story. I wanted more of each’s life. Faulkner and Chekhov come to mind. Additionally the writing is honed and beautiful. The scene on the Himalayan glacier in classic and unforgettable — could be a one act stage play. Small request would be a more in depth ending.

A close if anecdotal look at the impact of schizophrenia on a bright young man and on his spouse , friends and work colleagues. Two aspects of this book entwine : the actual personal experience of a mind ravaged but also the flurry of treatments. Raised on the specter of Nurse Ratchet and rigid penalizing institutions , the 70’s- 90’s pushed back against psychotropic drugs and hospitalization , but perhaps with even less relief and success of treatment. Although most schizophrenics are not violent , this book does stand as a warning against simply treating this illness with Good Intentions. As so often true a moderate path between heavy drug and institutionalization and unproven untested less invasive treatments is probably the most effective .

The Milkman is an immersion into a society which demands taking sides, loyalty to one’s “ tribe” and especially for “ middle sisters” staying below the radar. Dreaming of a future free of these ties, reading while walking are all as noticeably so odd as to cause comment and negativity. Even a Middle Sister can be caught up in false rumors and facing the unwanted attentions of a local, powerful thug. The author, using dialogue, interior monologue and simple actions, creates the pervasive and claustrophobic sense of everything being political and potentially violent. There can be no bystanders , no escaping, even if you walk with your eyes literally down, stuck in a book. There is also humor — engine repair parts as a political stance . The reader experiences the reality of living in the midst of domestic terrorism. And isn’t that an astonishing achievement?!

I think, based upon other negative reviews about the confusions some found reading, that perhaps this text works better as an audiobook. I did not find it confusing or difficult with the audio narration. Don’t expect the traditional, but don’t dismiss this book so quickly.

The long scope of time and the wide sweep of place in this novel seemed to result in a skim over the surface of many of the themes/ ideas it attempts to take on. ( and I had hoped to be more delved into in the story. ) I wonder if a narrative nonfiction book about the Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, his resistance to the British, and his commission of the automaton would have served as a better vehicle for investigating the impact of colonization and empire.