Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Den slags små ting by Claire Keegan

95 reviews

witte_jasmijn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

befrazzledenby's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

broke my heart and put it back together again. a scathing indictment of the catholic church and its role in irish history, especially the magdalen laundries. will be reading at every christmastime, i am sure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Religious bigotry

Minor: Vomit and Death of parent

naindu's review against another edition

emotional 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

5.0

This is my first Claire Keegan novel, and what a way to start!
Keegan's prose is sharp and evocative, drawing us into the world of Bill Furlong, a seemingly ordinary man caught in an extraordinary moral dilemma.
Set in 1980s Ireland, "Small Things Like These" is a deceptively short novel that packs a powerful punch. It explores the profound consequences of silence and inaction in the face of injustice.
Keegan's masterful storytelling leaves a lasting impression. I'm looking forward to read more from her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Vomit, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Excrement

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

kittkat's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

Das Buch basiert auf wahre, tragische Ereignisse in Irland. 
Wunderschön geschrieben, jedes einzelne Wort mit Bedacht gewählt. Es sind nur 110 Seiten und doch konnte ich am Ende meine Tränen nicht mehr zurückhalten. So unfassbar traurig und bedeutungsvoll. 

Die Geschichte wird aus der Perspektive eines gutherzigen Familienvaters Bill Furlong erzählt, der ein gutes Leben führt und einfach glücklich ist, mit dem, was er hat. Es geht aber das Gerücht rum, dass die Frauen im Kloster des Dorfes von den Nonnen ausgebeutet und zur Arbeit gezwungen werden. Bill kann das nicht glauben, bis er die jungen Frauen, die eigentlich nur Zuflucht suchten, mit eigenen Augen sieht.

Eine weitere Tragödie in der irischen Geschichte, von der ich noch nie zuvor gehört habe. Ich kann das Buch nur empfehlen!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Torture, Excrement, Vomit, and Pregnancy

sxndaze's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

[H]e found himself asking was there any point in being alive without helping one another?

melancholy and sweet. the ending hits in such a lovely way, and furlong is a delightful character to read about.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Death of parent

meggy1967's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective tense slow-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? Yes

4.25

Claire Keegan's "Small Things Like These" is an interesting reflection on the Irish people's thought process and reactions to mother and baby homes in the 20th century. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse

Moderate: Confinement and Forced institutionalization

malaikawrites's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

Woah. That was the type of atmospheric read where you’re so deep into it you don’t even realise how intense everything is until you finish the story. Had to sit with it for a moment when all the pieces clicked in the end. Woah!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Death of parent

zara89's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit

_ghostie_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Religious bigotry

danaaliyalevinson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

Set over the course of a few days in Ireland, a man is forced to confront his own demons when he unwittingly stumbles upon one of Ireland's infamous Magdalene Laundries a few days before Christmas. 

This was a quick little read, just barely over novella length. 

The prose was lofty and beautiful. The characters were packed a big emotional punch. To my only criticism ory the book is that I wished it were *slightly* longer. By the time I felt like it really got going, it was almost done. In an odd way it reminded me of Emily St John Mandel’s “Sea of Tranquility” despite being very different in terms of genre. Something about how lyrical and yet short and sweet it was.

There's also a movie adaptation with Cillian Murphy that just premiered at Berlinale, which looks great. This book is great for anyone looking for a quick yet still deeply emotional read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism