Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

7 reviews

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. 

---

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

emmagreenwood's review

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Misogyny, and Slavery

bethnash's review against another edition

challenging inspiring fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement and Gaslighting

Minor: Emotional abuse, Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Animal death, Child abuse, and Torture

georgiarybanks's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Confinement and Gaslighting

amselot's review

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Confinement

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcoholism

lou_o_donnell's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Excrement, Cancer, and Grief

sjanke2's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, and Torture