A review by gillthequill
So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan

dark sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

 "So Late in the Day" is a mixed offering. Of the three stories, the first two, the titular "So Late in the Day" and "The Long and Painful Death" were wonderful, thought-provoking reads. "So Late in the Day" the short story built a slow sense of dread as the reader tried to figure out what was truly going on that crescendos into an examination on toxic masculinity and a lack of growth. "The Long and Painful Death" was a quiet piece on expectations, societal roles, and the small victories women take to gain power. However, the last story, "Antarctica" just brought down the whole story collection. I thought, at first, it was a story akin to Kate Chopin's "A Pair of Silk Stockings" and was enjoying this small affair. However, with foreshadowing that seems obvious in hindsight, it ends, instead, with a cruel twist that just left a sour taste that soured the entire work. It felt like a cliché ending: woman sins and ends up in a fate worse than death. Frankly, if you do read this short story collection, just read the first two and skip the last one because of how much it brings down the work as a whole. 
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