Our book group choice for January 2021 is Hot Milk by Deborah Levy. Sofia, a young anthropologist, has spent much of her life trying to solve the mystery of her mother’s unexplainable illness.
The novel is set in Spain, in a small village on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The setting is important because it is a place of extremes: the heat is often unbearable, and the landscape is harsh and unforgiving. This setting reflects the emotional state of the characters, who are all struggling with their own personal demons.
The main character is Sofia Papastergiadis, a 25-year-old woman who is accompanying her mother, Rose, to Spain for medical treatment. Rose is suffering from a mysterious illness that has left her paralyzed from the waist down. Sofia is both frustrated and resentful of her mother’s illness, which has taken over her life. She feels like she is trapped in a cycle of caretaking, and she longs for her own life back.
Another important character is Ingrid, a young woman who works at the clinic where Rose is being treated. Ingrid is kind and compassionate, and she quickly becomes Sofia’s friend. She helps Sofia to see that she is not alone in her struggles, and she encourages her to start living her own life.
The novel follows Sofia as she travels to Spain with her mother and tries to come to terms with her own life. She is forced to confront her feelings of resentment towards her mother, and she begins to explore her own sexuality. She also learns more about her family’s history, and she starts to understand why her mother is the way she is.
The novel explores a number of themes, including motherhood, female identity, and the power of memory. It also deals with the issue of illness, and how it can both define and destroy a person.
The writing in Hot Milk is lyrical and evocative. Levy uses language to create a powerful sense of place, and she also captures the inner lives of her characters with great sensitivity. The novel is a powerful and moving exploration of the mother-daughter relationship, and it is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt trapped by their own family history.
Overall, Hot Milk is a powerful and moving novel that explores the themes of motherhood, female identity, and the power of memory. It is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt trapped by their own family history.
Discussion Questions for Hot Milk
- Were you sympathetic to the main characters of Rose and Sofia? What did you make of their relationship?
- Do you think Dr. Gomez is a ‘quack’, or is he just unconventional?
- What effect does Dr. Gomez have on Rose and Sofia?
- The setting is Spain, but a jellyfish-ridden, oily, industrial Spain. How does this affect the mood of the book? Would it be a different book if set in a prettier location?
- What did you make of the Medusa references and could you find a coherent relationship with the Medusa story in Greek mythology?
- Spurred on by Dr. Gomez, Sofia steals a fish. Subsequently she frees a dog, breaks a vase and takes other risks. Is she deliberately or unconsciously emboldening herself?
- What did you make of the Ingrid and Matthew characters. Were they necessary characters in the story?
- Why did Sofia decide to go to Greece? Was the visit successful?
- Compare the characters of Rose and Alexandra – Sofia’s father’s two wives.
- How did you interpret the short passages between the chapters? Did they add to the story?
- Did you find humour in the book?
- Why do you think the novel is titled ‘Hot Milk’?
Individual Ratings
Willow's Rating 
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Jo's Rating
Baljit's Rating
DKB's Rating