Middle sister stands out in an unidentified city for the wrong reasons. For one, she reads while she is moving. She has also been attending French night sessions in the city. So when the milkman, a local paramilitary, starts looking for her, she suddenly starts to act "interesting," which is the exact opposite of what she had always intended to do. Even if the middle sister makes an effort to avoid him and prevent her mother from learning about her potential partner, rumors persist and the prospect of violence looms. In a time when the wrong flag, the wrong religion, or even a sunset may be subversive, the story of Milkman shows how inaction can have significant consequences. Milkman makes Anna Burns one of the most important voices of our time thanks to her furious intensity and subtle, cruel humor.