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In this unnamed city, to be interesting is dangerous. Middle sister, our protagonist, is busy attempting to keep her mother from discovering her maybe-boyfriend and to keep everyone in the dark about her encounter with Milkman. But when first brother-in-law sniffs out her struggle and rumours start to swell, middle sister becomes interesting - the last thing she ever wanted to be. To be interesting is to be noticed, and to be noticed is dangerous. Milkman is a tale of gossip and hearsay, silence and deliberate deafness. It is a story of inaction with enormous consequences.

Milkman is a 2018 novel by Northern Irish writer Anna Burns. It tells the story of a young woman living in Belfast during The Troubles in the 1970s. The novel is narrated by the unnamed protagonist, who is known only as "middle sister". She is a clever and observant young woman who is trying to make sense of the world around her. She is also dealing with the pressures of her family and her community. The novel is a powerful and moving account of life in Belfast during The Troubles. It is a story of violence, fear, and loss, but it is also a story of resilience and hope.

Milkman has been praised by critics for its vivid writing, its complex characters, and its insightful exploration of the Troubles. It has won numerous awards, including the 2018 Goldsmiths Prize and the 2019 Man Booker Prize. It has also been shortlisted for the 2019 International Booker Prize.

The novel begins with the protagonist being propositioned by a man known only as "Milkman". Milkman is a mysterious and dangerous figure who represents the threat of violence that is ever-present in Belfast. The protagonist is initially attracted to Milkman, but she eventually comes to see him as a symbol of the destructive forces that are at work in her city.

The protagonist's family is also a source of pressure for her. Her parents are worried about her safety, and they try to keep her close to home. Her brothers are involved in the IRA, and they expect her to support their cause. The protagonist is caught in the middle of these conflicting loyalties, and she struggles to find her own voice.

Milkman is a powerful and moving novel that tells the story of a young woman trying to make sense of the world around her. It is a story of violence, fear, and loss, but it is also a story of resilience and hope.