Milkman by Anna Burns

The New York Times describes this book as ‘slogging’ through the Troubles. Despite is Man Booker status, I too slogged my way through half the book before, exhausted, abandoning it. It’s written in stream of consciousness style, almost, and is the story of a young woman who is being stalked by not one but two IRA soldiers who want to possess her. So much for the plot. The rest of it is page after page of garrulous introspection about the society in which she lives. And I don’t doubt the difficulty of that : the expectations, the gossip, the subtext surrounding everything people say and think and do. Everybody has their own version of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, even if only from living in such a fraught environment.. But I just didn’t have the stamina for all this introspection. I would gird my loins, pick it up, read three pages, forget what had happened the page before, and then give up and make a cup of tea. I’m probably a philistine but half way through I just had to quit.

The Odd Woman and the City by Vivan Gornick

I heard this writer at a writers festival quite some years ago, bought the book on Kindle and never got around to reading it. But it is perfect for travelling! And it is intelligent and witty and entertaining – a wonderful thing!! The book is a memoir, a collection of observations about her life in New York City. Helen Garner has done some similar types of books. So there are little pieces about people she’s observed, or interactions with her best friend or commentary about life on the streets. It’s the sort of book you can pick up and put down and because there is no narrative per se, it’s ideal for broken nights of sleep or interrupted train travel. Having said that though, it’s also something you could easily read in several sittings, absorbing it in great greedy gulps. Her writing is superb, incisive and accurate. And honest, oh so honest about her recognition of her own flawed humanity. Fabulous.

A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

If I’m going to read light historical fiction while I’m travelling, I always go to Tracy Chevalier. This one didn’t disappoint. It’s about a young woman in the years post WWI in England who is trying to become independent against the backdrop of Victorian and Edwardian era sentiments. She takes up embroidering and makes new friends etc etc etc. She becomes especially friendly with some bellringers. And that’s all really. But I quite like the research Chevalier does and her investigation of these two quite obscure activities is interesting, especially since one of the characters actually existed. But as I said, a light read and, as always with Chevalier books, imbued with quite a bit of sentimental nonsense.

Akin by Emma O’Donoghue

This is the same writer who produced Room, which was a riveting book. On the strength of that I bought this one, only to be marginally disappointed. Room was such a powerful exploration of a dreadful situation, but this was less powerful, more sentimental and of course totally predictable. Chick lit really, OK for travelling when you really don’t want to concentrate and the guy might be coming round with drinks at any moment. So this light and entertaining read is about a crusty old bloke who suddenly finds himself lumbered with a disturbed child. They take off for France and spend their time there investigating the old bloke’s family history, uncovering secrets and changing their attitudes to one another as things warm up. That’s really all to be said about it. Pleasant but not important.