Milkman of human kindness

The biggest book news this week was that an Irish woman won the Man Booker prize and I can honestly say the story left me cold – not because I don’t care that a woman has won the accolade for the first time in quite a few years or that I don’t care that an Irish person has won the trophy either.

The reason I don’t care is that I haven’t won it – and I doubt that I ever will. Yes, it is very churlish of me to say this, but I thought I might as well be honest with you. I am sick and tired of people pretending to be happy at other people’s success. The emotional falsity of the applause and smiles is a bookish version of fake news.

So well done to Anna Burn’s Milkman. Hooray.