Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Den slags små ting by Claire Keegan

30 reviews

medini_l's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment

caitlin_e's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Trafficking

imoran's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Sexism and Abandonment

Minor: Cancer, Slavery, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

shaleen64's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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

This book beautifully explores what it means to have humanity, and the heartbreaking results that come from prejudice and ‘turning a blind eye’.

There are many themes explored and emotions evoked in so few pages. A book worthy of a anyone’s time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, and Slavery

Moderate: Cancer, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy

Minor: Death and Death of parent

ariannabis26's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Religious bigotry

eons_19's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

Really beautiful piece of Irish fiction. Centred around the choices that a family man must make between helping those who are voiceless while risking business and his daughter’s futures.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Excrement

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

_brooke___'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Compelling read set in Ireland in the 80s. Completely fictional but based on true stories of the time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Pregnancy

bootsmom3's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective relaxing sad medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Death of parent

tabear's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry

alexutzu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-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? No

4.25

I liked this more than expected, as I expected it to mostly focus on literary aspects while being rather weak on the plot, but it was not the case. The ending was really powerful and changed my view on the book quite significantly. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

😍 The good:
The style was literary, but not that difficult to read and process. I liked the cultural discussion that the novella aimed for and the fact that it felt somewhat circular, starting and ending on similar ideas related to women, parenthood and religion. The volume was short, but packed with ideas, and the note in the end really helped in making sense of them. I also felt that the title fit with the mindset of the main character.

😅 The not-so-good: 
Despite the small number of pages, the novella managed to be slow at times, probably due to its style. It also took me a while to understand where this is going, which felt a bit confusing for a part of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Misogyny, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Vomit and Death of parent