Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

8 reviews

caitlin_e's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I’ve been studying the Magdalene Laundries as part of my dissertation and wanted to explore the fictionalised literature that has been produced over the years. This was, by far, one of the most highly recommended and with good reason. Keegan has been able to portray 1980s Ireland and there attitude towards the Magdalene Laundries with great respect and accuracy. She has detailed how many turned a blind eye to what they knew was happening, choosing to allow a contained terror in order to protect the betterment of the rest of society. Hearing how the town’s folk talk (or rather don’t) about the girls in the convent and how, upon seeing them in person, they treat them as some kind of “other”, who is unworthy of respect and dignity.

Keegan’s brief touching upon the girl’s missing infant echoes the reality that so many women faced; never learning of where their babies had been taken, or if they were even alive. It’s a devastating and horrific part of history, and as a feminist it brings me fury like no other, but narratives like these show the world what really happened during the 7-8 decades through which the laundries functioned.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Trafficking

flower_lover's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit

alyssapusateri's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, and Pregnancy

vixenreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

While “Foster” made me cry, this one made me seethe with rage, and it is an empathetic novella about mustering the courage to fight against injustices that are buried under the surface, even when you only have your bare hands to dig them up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Torture, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

Be aware that this novel addresses the Magdalen laundry, where religious institutions would abuse and isolate young “troubled” women. It is rough to read, and there is more details between the lines. Poverty and abuse of power had a huge hand in this discussion.

gracescanlon's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

I loved this, so much. Keegan writes in a similar fashion to other modern Irish writers I’ve read, especially Niall Williams.

I only wish the book was longer! Its ending wasn’t disappointing, per se, but I would’ve been happy to read another 200 pages about Bill and the girls. That said, I also see the merit of the chosen ending, and did enjoy it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, Abandonment, and Classism

jackbifrost's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Terminal illness

alisonannk's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Classism

shelfofunread's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy

Minor: Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Religious bigotry