Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Small Things Like These

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.

Content Warnings

soggycedar's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

Maybe I didn’t give it enough focus. I don’t tend to like stories with few characters, and more description than action.

Content Warnings

greenground808s's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective medium-paced

4.0

Content Warnings

simoneg's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

imoran's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

Content Warnings

brigman_books's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? It's complicated

4.25

A very thoughtful and emotional short story. I really enjoyed leaning about the main character and his struggles to do the right thing. The author did an incredible job at exploring the themes in this book.

Content Warnings

rcy's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad

4.0

Beautifully sparse.

Content Warnings

talin's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative reflective relaxing 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

Content Warnings

More...