Reviews

Antarctica, by Claire Keegan

lostrock's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

jolenemarie's review against another edition

dark sad

3.5

crafalsk264's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

 During the last few months, I have read “Small Things Like These” and “Foster”and thoroughly enjoyed them both. So when I saw this short story collection. I decided to give it a try. The collection is described as her debut work. As a short story collection, the development of the characters is limited to what can be achieved by a narrator who can slip easily between points of view and in images. Keegan is a master of prose narrative and of images. This collection of 16 stories runs the gamut from tales of children as narrators, unfaithful spouses, escaped murderers, and various old, country people dealing with a changed world. 

I enjoyed each of the stories but none of the stories reached the level of the two named above. The stories all have the abrupt ending that sums up everything in a sentence or two. It seems that the recurring themes of loss, leaving and releasing thoughts, emotions people. I would recommend to readers who enjoy short stories and have enjoyed Keegan’s other work. I would also recommend discretion for violence, interactions with nature, infidelity, family dynamics, sexuality and any other human emotions. These are not happy ever after stories but I suspect you will remember them for some time.

mylifeincurls17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

itsalina's review against another edition

4.0

Favorites: Antarctica & Sisters

simplydaisy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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

3.5

andream0885's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

bernie_lombardi's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

ormondebooks's review against another edition

4.0

This is Claire Keegans first collection of short stories, published in 1999. With each story, Keegan captures the reader from the start, getting straight to the point. How’s this for an opening..”

pathologically_literate's review

dark reflective sad fast-paced

5.0