July 2019: Milkman by Anna Burns

Not an easy read, but well worthwhile. What a brilliant narrative voice - and superb depiction of place and time (Northern Ireland in the 1970s) to explore the complexity of allegiance. Not to mention the way Burns captures the idea of oppressive, unwanted male attention. 

A great choice to round off the academic year for book club!

June 2019: Circe by Madeline Miller

Miller's reimagining of part of The Odyssey - from a female perspective - tackles childbirth, rape, sexism, vulnerability and the search for identity in a world of powerful men. And includes what is, surely, one of the most fabulous inventions of all time: a house where dust cannot cross the threshold. 

Miller's exploration of spurned first love and its pleasing jealousy that makes one do stupid things rang uncomfortably true.

Circe herself seems to embody 'earthly' womanhood, in spite of her goddess status; while the world of the Titans and Zeus himself provides a suitable background of disempowerment that easily translates from the ancient mythical world to a contemporary one. The masterful stroke is that Circe's true adversaries are all female, and the narrative explores the ways that she is able to make them allies.