Edward St Aubyn: The Patrick Melrose novels; 4. Mother's Milk

And so the saga unfolds. Toxic (and not so toxic) mother/son relationships are again the focus and Patrick continues his redemptive path although his own nature and upbringing fights against it all the way. It's been fascinating to see how he grows/develops and changes throught these four books in the sequence - and also how my/the reader's view changes as we observe him. I think as well the glittering style, although still there, is rightly more subdued as he matures. A great example of style and content working in excellent accord. In addition as the sequence has progressed, the focus is more on direct relationships rather than (as in the second volume to a very marked degree) a focus solely on one person's experience

Eager anticipation for the final episode; will there be a true redemption for Patrick, (who has gradually become an infinitely more sympathetic character as the story unfolds) or willl it be a bad death like Eleanor's?

there's a marvellous honesty about the writing and observation that has made this a very powerful reading experience. Wonder what his other books are like and how they compare?