Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

87 reviews

sjh541's review

inspiring reflective 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

4.25

Beautiful little novel that I read in basically a single sitting last night while I couldn’t sleep. Perfectly captures that feeling of looking around and thinking…is this really life?

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse and Abandonment

faenth's review

inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry

notthatcosta's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I had a lot of anticipation before reading this, and overall I found it very well written and well paced, albeit a lot more subtle than I was expecting. This is my first time reading Claire Keegan's work but I've since seen some reviews remarking that her other stuff is a lot darker than this, which intrigues me. 

The dialogue was particularly strong from the supporting townspeople, the opaqueness of which complemented the earnestness and pathos of the protagonist. I really got a good sense of his temperament, motivations and backstory, which is an achievement in a novella. 

I appreciated the economy of the writing and how it created an air of tension and mystery whilst providing enough exposition to keep you in the story. It made me hungry for more, which is the mark of a good writer, especially of shorter books. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Sexism, Slavery, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gaslighting, and Vomit

tamara_joy's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Child abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Cancer

saythename's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

richter's review

emotional hopeful informative slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Religious bigotry, and Child abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Misogyny

skirteen's review

dark emotional mysterious relaxing tense

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Child abuse

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Child abuse

leahgustafson's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? No

4.0

Here is another small but powerful novella from Claire Keegan. This story is set in the winter of 1985 in Ireland. Middle-aged Bill Furlong struggles to discern the meaning of life in his small, working-class town. He grapples with purpose, faith, religion, and doing the right thing (even when it’s difficult). As the reader, we get to witness Bill’s internal struggle making a difficult decision, but we never get to see the consequences of that decision. Keegan is such a skilled writer who trusts her readers to infer what comes next. This is a similar format/structure to her previous work, Foster. 

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The commentary on religion is extremely powerful. I also loved the focus on kindness, generosity, and the importance of recognizing our shared humanity. Magdalene Laundries were something I knew nothing about, and I appreciate how Claire Keegan captures the secrecy and the pain these institutions caused while also demonstrating just how woven they were into the fabric of society. 

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Again, this is fantastic if you’re looking for something short, literary, and historical! 

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Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

poisoned_icecream's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Sexism

susheela's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Child abuse

Minor: Death of parent