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killeenm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Good Christmas read, but very sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Forced institutionalization, and Child abuse
readerette's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
4.5
A touching look inside of a person struggling with questions probably most adults have had about what is really stopping us from helping people not doing as well as we are in life, even if we aren't rich. Mrs. Kehoe's character seemed a little like a puzzle piece not quite sized to fit, but the story flowed smoothly and brings to light a women's issue I had not heard of before.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Confinement, and Pregnancy
annick's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
The last third was so moving. I began highlighting passages. And I want to revisit them again. So many thoughts stirred by this novella. I hope to read more from this writer in future
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
rainbowarpaint's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
martapsalvado's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Starting to understand that Claire Keegan is the type of author that falls in this concept of "the girls that get it, get it, the girls that don't, don't." Unfortunately, I don't think I get it.
However, this made me do some research about The Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, a topic I've heard of before, but didn't knew much about. That alone would have made it worth it to read the book.
However, this made me do some research about The Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, a topic I've heard of before, but didn't knew much about. That alone would have made it worth it to read the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Confinement
Minor: Pregnancy
bdobiesz915's review against another edition
informative
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
ericj32's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A tender, yet unflinching, account of cruelty that is easier to passively ignore than to confront. The protagonist is himself vulnerable and busy, and has plenty of reasons to focus on other things but his mind won’t let him forget what he stumbled into and perhaps wishes he had not seen. The prose is the main attraction here - it feels as though the author is only documenting what the characters choose to acknowledge which somehow creates a palpable sense of the things that they’re not saying out loud. This brief little book can be easily read in one sitting, yet it somehow feels like it packs in all of the depth and nuance of a much longer novel. The author’s humble prose conveys only what must be said. It almost feels more like a parable, as it’s grounded in ancient, essential truths yet told in an accessible, modern form. I was nervous about where it was going and how it would end (it seemed fairly predictable) and was thoroughly won over by the thrilling last couple of pages. Looking forward to reading other works by this author as she seems to have a firm grasp on what is worth writing (and reading) about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, and Confinement
Minor: Vomit, Excrement, and Suicidal thoughts
skylarkblue1's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This was pretty disappointing. The subject matter is tough but needs to be talked about, but the book barely does that.
I didn't really feel anything from this book. The writing was nice and did paint a decent picture of the scene but in the end I was left feeling like it was kinda just... All about nothing. Reading other reviews shows it didn't really teach anything about magdalene laundries other than they existed and where bad. It doesn't go that much into what abuses where suffered by women in those places - barely enough for most of the content warnings to be applicable. It tries to keep things light and hopeful especially with the ending, but feels like it ends up undermining how serious this piece of history is.
If you've watched broadchurch, it felt a bit like watching a bad version of that classic opening, the one-shot where Mark is walking through town but you know something bad is happening in the background. At least with Broadchurch it actually does something with the "bad" stuff lmao. Here instead it attempts a hapy ending but just feels a bit bleak and empty.
I didn't really feel anything from this book. The writing was nice and did paint a decent picture of the scene but in the end I was left feeling like it was kinda just... All about nothing. Reading other reviews shows it didn't really teach anything about magdalene laundries other than they existed and where bad. It doesn't go that much into what abuses where suffered by women in those places - barely enough for most of the content warnings to be applicable. It tries to keep things light and hopeful especially with the ending, but feels like it ends up undermining how serious this piece of history is.
If you've watched broadchurch, it felt a bit like watching a bad version of that classic opening, the one-shot where Mark is walking through town but you know something bad is happening in the background. At least with Broadchurch it actually does something with the "bad" stuff lmao. Here instead it attempts a hapy ending but just feels a bit bleak and empty.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Vomit
vixenreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
While “Foster” made me cry, this one made me seethe with rage, and it is an empathetic novella about mustering the courage to fight against injustices that are buried under the surface, even when you only have your bare hands to dig them up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Classism, and Confinement
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Torture, Bullying, and Abandonment
Minor: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Xenophobia, Excrement, and Terminal illness
Be aware that this novel addresses the Magdalen laundry, where religious institutions would abuse and isolate young “troubled” women. It is rough to read, and there is more details between the lines. Poverty and abuse of power had a huge hand in this discussion.neverlandangel's review against another edition
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Child abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts