Mother’s Milk

by Edward St Aubyn
Mother’s Milk cover
Good Books rating 3.88
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  • ID: 648
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
theguardian.com · Unknown · 2025-09-26
profound 4.00

Mother’s Milk is a poignant and introspective novel that explores themes of family, identity, and the complexities of parenthood. The narrative is both deeply personal and universally relatable, offering a profound reflection on the bonds that tie us together.

Mother’s Milk delves into the intricate dynamics of family life, particularly the relationship between a father and his children. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to capture the raw emotions and struggles of parenthood, making it a deeply moving read. The characters are beautifully crafted, each with their own unique voices and perspectives, which adds layers of depth to the story. While the plot may not be as fast-paced as some readers might prefer, the emotional resonance and thematic richness make it a rewarding experience. The book’s exploration of identity and the search for meaning in life is particularly compelling, offering insights that linger long after the last page is turned.

Quick quotes

    The novel is a profound reflection on the bonds that tie us together

    The characters are beautifully crafted, each with their own unique voices and perspectives

    The book’s exploration of identity and the search for meaning in life is particularly compelling

readerwitch.com · Unknown · 2019-04-09
intriguing 4.00

Mother's Milk explores the complex and often poisonous influence of a mother's legacy through the lens of Patrick Melrose, a flawed yet entertaining protagonist. The novel's humor and eloquence trap characters in their own personalities, with Patrick's struggles against his past and his mother's dwindling condition serving as central themes.

Mother's Milk by Edward St Aubyn delves into the intricate and sometimes toxic nature of maternal influence, primarily through the character of Patrick Melrose. The novel is characterized by its sardonic humor and eloquent trapping of characters within their own personalities. Patrick, while flawed, is an enjoyable and entertaining protagonist, and readers often find themselves on his side. The story explores his irritation with various characters, such as the appalling nanny Margaret and the new age charlatan Seamus, whom his mother befriends. The novel's ambiguity and comedy are funneled through Patrick's desperate and intelligent perspective. The author's decision to narrate the first section from the point of view of five-year-old Robert, using advanced vocabulary, adds a layer of complexity and has sparked debate among readers. St Aubyn's meticulous editing process and his insistence on treating Mother's Milk as a self-contained novel, while acknowledging its connections to the broader Melrose family saga, highlight his dedication to his craft. The novel also touches on themes of freedom and the destructive struggles of its characters, particularly Patrick's efforts to act voluntarily amidst his troubled family history.

Quick quotes

    Patrick may be 'flawed', as one reader said, but he is also 'enjoyable and entertaining, and we are very much on his side'.

    The author believed that there was in his fiction 'a democracy of entrapment. Everyone is trapped in their personality'.

    In _At Last_, 'luckily, all these questions are answered'.

theguardian.com · Unknown · 2011-06-17
mixed 3.00

The reviewer found the writing in 'Mother’s Milk' thought-provoking and beautifully darkly humorous, capturing human nature perfectly. However, the lack of action and plot progression made the book feel tedious and unsatisfying.

The reviewer appreciated the thought-provoking and beautifully written prose in 'Mother’s Milk', which includes classic dark humor and a deep understanding of human nature. The characters, especially the children, are portrayed with depth and importance, making their thoughts and feelings as significant as those of the adults. The book's resolutions were satisfying, but the overall lack of action and plot progression made it feel tedious and unsatisfying. The characters, while realistic and well-crafted, seemed frozen in amber, leaving the reviewer with a sense of stillness that detracted from the experience. Despite its literary merits, the reviewer would not recommend it due to its slow pace and lack of engaging plot developments.

Quick quotes

    We think the purpose of a child is to grow up because it does grow up. But its purpose is to play, to enjoy itself, to be a child. It we merely look at the end of the process, the purpose of life is death.

    In the end, it was even harder to behave badly than to behave well. That was the trouble of not being a psychopath.

    That was the trouble with grown-ups: they always wanted to be the centre of attention, with their battering rams of food, and their sleep routines and their obsession with making you learn what they knew and forget what they had forgotten.

theasylum.wordpress.com · Unknown · 2011-05-05
brilliant 4.50

The novel delivers sharp social commentary through dark humor and witty prose, exploring themes of wealth, family, and personal struggle. Its intricate character dynamics and biting satire make it a compelling read.

Edward St Aubyn's 'Mother's Milk' is a brilliant addition to the Patrick Melrose series, blending dark humor with profound social critique. The story delves into the complexities of family relationships and the burdens of inherited wealth, all while maintaining a sharp, witty tone. The characters are richly drawn, and the narrative is filled with moments of both humor and pathos. Themes of addiction, redemption, and the search for meaning are woven throughout, making it a thought-provoking and engaging read. The ending leaves a sense of closure while hinting at the ongoing struggles of the characters, making it a satisfying yet open-ended conclusion.

Quick quotes

    It’s the hardest addiction of all. Forget heroin. Just try giving up irony, that deep down need to mean two things at once.

    It felt so ancestral to have delirium tremens, to bow down, after his disobedient youth as a junkie, to the shattering banality of alcohol.

    I saw [your aunt] last week in New York and I’m pleased to say I was the first to tell her the tragic news about your mother

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