loppear reviewed Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
a small thing, and nice
3 stars
Compact and quiet novella on the gift of empathy in hard life.
128 pages
English language
Published Dec. 3, 2021 by Grove/Atlantic, Incorporated.
Small Things Like These
4 stars
(9 reviews)
Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize
"A hypnotic and electrifying Irish tale that transcends country, transcends time." —Lily King, New York Times bestselling author of Writers & Lovers
Small Things Like These is award-winning author Claire Keegan's landmark new novel, a tale of one man's courage and a remarkable portrait of love and family
It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church.
Already an international bestseller, Small Things Like These is a deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy from one of our most critically lauded and iconic writers.
sifuCJC reviewed Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Dropped into daily life
4 stars
A couple days of an Irish coal delivery man. This is like an extended short-story, a couple hours read time, but lively and earnest. Although it doesn't go into them, look up the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland before you read; I'm sure the tension I felt was designed.
emma reviewed Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Gentle and reflective
5 stars
There's a very old Jewish teaching which says "whoever saves a life, saves an entire world." This gentle and reflective novella, in which nothing much happens and yet lives change, is a version of this, told through the details of the quiet life of a man in an Irish village.
Bookmaven reviewed Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Small Things Like These
4 stars
Tightly told tale of small quotidian acts that build a strong conscious in a person. Beautiful story.
Brian Plunkett reviewed Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Review of 'Small Things Like These' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Powerful little book. A compelling view of things through the eyes (and heart and mind) of Bill Furlong, a surprisingly sensitive man fighting against complicity. I enjoyed the descriptions of the crows at several points in the story. I both read and listened to the book (about 50-50) and thought the audiobook narration by Aidan Kelly was good.
