georgemayhew's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
victoriayates's review against another edition
3.0
I admired this book, this story of summer heat and mother daughter relations, perfectly encompassed in 'hot milk'. And yet due to its abstract nature I feel a lack of true connection to the narrative, the characters , even the actual events. My thoughts about how to describe this novel have appeared to me in an equally abstract manner, in adjectives and alliteration. Surreal, salacious, sultry, the sun, sea, sand seem to be characters also; the arid landscape of Almeria sets the backdrop for what is often sensual and seductive prose. Likewise, maternal leads to thoughts of other m's that capture the essence of this modern mythical tale, the recurring motif of Medusa, mysterious men and meandering turns of events. But still I'm left wondering what Hot Milk is actually about. The dreamlike hallucinatory imagery whilst superbly executed makes me ponder if this is a book about mothering, or daughters, the frustrations of illness and dependence, sapphic passions, shackles and the freeing power of summer, Spain, and sex. I think perhaps it may be about them all.
hansel's review against another edition
4.0
What a lovely depressing feeling this book gave me. Solidarity in only feeling like yourself when you’re alone and apathy toward interpersonal disappointments (particularly parental) all delivered so gracefully and poetically. Made me want to be in the sun. “I must never look at her defeat with all I know, because I will turn to stone with my disdain and sorrow.” Huge slay
kelbi's review against another edition
3.0
A weird book. I’m not sure that I understood it at all. It’s been described as dreamlike and I can see that it is. The narrative is odd, sort of skewed. I may well remember it though
solaevita's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
chirson's review against another edition
3.0
An utterly strange, dream-like novel which clearly was written with someone just like me as the intended audience. Feminist criticism-inspired imagery? Check. Strange, perhaps self-induced or made up medical symptoms? Check. (Seriously, that's almost uncanny - I know people who research this professionally.) Culture studies repertoire of tricks? Check. Possibly allusions to Rebecca? Check. A PhD student protag? Check. Bisexuality? Check. Strange and compelling narrative voice? Definitely check. Putting together Greek financial crisis, big pharma, Greek mythology and psychoanalytic kinship problems? Well now I'm going into spoiler territory. It's a novel that was clearly intended for a reader like me, and yet I didn't quite connect with it: it feels overly clinical (pardon the pun), too purposeful in its use of imagery and language. And it's masterful in that, and yet, I feel like the story - the plot - the structure could have been just a little stronger. It collapses under the weight of all the (excellent but so heavy) literariness.
Also, I suspected very early that the mother would turn out to be seriously ill, but in general I feel like the way Sofia's understanding / denial / revelation about Rose's symptoms was written didn't quite work / make sense, even if it was meant to indicate her own refusal to accept what she knew in her heart to be a mystification.
Spoiler
So I know the obvious answer to the stalker question is: it was Ingrid, and yet I feel like, considering what the book says about perspective the stalker is really Sofia imagining herself watched by Ingrid. There's one scene where the stalker describes having a dream we know Sofia had - I hatched my theory earlier on a whim, but that felt to me like confirmation.Also, I suspected very early that the mother would turn out to be seriously ill, but in general I feel like the way Sofia's understanding / denial / revelation about Rose's symptoms was written didn't quite work / make sense, even if it was meant to indicate her own refusal to accept what she knew in her heart to be a mystification.
bels_reads's review against another edition
4.0
buzzy. I love a twisted mother/daughter relationship narrative… consumed in one sitting and it felt like a dream <3
cheyenneisreading's review against another edition
4.0
“I am not okay. Not at all and haven't been for some time.”
This book hurt me. I could relate in many ways and it made my heart hurt. I couldn’t put this book down however I needed to know that Sofia could be free.
This book hurt me. I could relate in many ways and it made my heart hurt. I couldn’t put this book down however I needed to know that Sofia could be free.