Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

Den slags små ting by Claire Keegan

13 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

wad3mil3sgarru2's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Classism

Minor: Toxic relationship, Vomit, Trafficking, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

abuck_2426's review against another edition

challenging hopeful 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Trafficking

Minor: Vomit

sorkka's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Abandonment

dapperoreo's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Vomit, Trafficking, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

frances_frances's review against another edition

challenging 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? It's complicated

4.5

Another understated yet deeply impactful read from Claire Keegan. Foster is still my favorite but Small Things Like These packs a similar punch. I've always preferred when books and TV shows leave me wanting more rather than over-complicating or otherwise drawing out a narrative. Keegan achieves this expertly with her ambiguous endings that leave me feeling both unsettled and satisfied.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

jackbifrost's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Terminal illness

rcsreads's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

2.25

I felt like this ended just as it was getting interesting. I also felt like the perspective of a middle class, white man was the least needed pov for a story about the mis-treatment of women and girls. 
 The writing is fairly basic, and the characters felt flat. The phrase "he released a breath he didn't realise he'd been  holding" was used, which is possibly the most cliche sentence in the history of literature!
 It was fine, I read it in an afternoon and it brings awareness about Magdalen laundries in a way your granny could read without being shocked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

lizziea229's review against another edition

dark 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

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Suicidal thoughts