**United Kingdom: Northern Ireland

A list of writers from Northern Ireland appears here on wikipedia.

I finished the astounding, if occasionally densely packed novel Milkman by Anna Burns. This is evidently one of those "loved it" or "hated it" books. I can see why that would be. Personally, I consider it awe inspiring and revelatory, if not always pleasant to read. Imagine an 18-year old girl is being harassed by a man of power more than twice her age, and that she has nobody who will believe her. Mix that into the realities of living in an insular, violent, repressive community in Northern Ireland during the troubles. There are, for me, very powerful insights woven into this book, despite (or maybe because of) a claustrophobic quality produced by stripping every character of a name and providing generic references only (first sister, maybe-boyfriend, second brother-in-law), etc. You can find my more in-depth (or at least longer!) comments on the book's work page and on my 50-Book Challenge thread.