Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men

Claire Keegan will never cease to amaze me. Everything she writes is so spot on; so simply written yet so deliciously addictive.
In this book of short stories Keegan left me wanting more and more.
The first story of a unsatisfied man who drives away the one woman who loved him and has to wrestle with his own sins on his what should have been wedding day.
A writer who is unsure of a story to write gains an easy tale when an older man decides to critique her.
And a woman seeking an extramarital affair - just to try once- gets herself into a situation that is much too good to be true and turns incredibly sinister.
This story particularly took me. Reminding me a bit of Hemingways short stories- the concept of hell that the lovers talk of is exactly where we leave the main character. It’s so stunning I find myself left amazed that a tale that intense and details was only a few simple pages. Cannot recommend enough.

Content Warnings

gillthequill's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings

merisavale's review against another edition

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dark reflective 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? Yes

4.25

Amazing writing as always, but this collection of stories took a darker turn than the other stuff of hers that I have read. I still enjoyed it but didn’t feel as satisfied at the end. Except the middle one, I loved that one.

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lindseyph's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

lindalu's review against another edition

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dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Beautiful writing but on the dark side, especially third story Antarctica (see content warnings)
The characters have stayed with me.
Common thread that I found was how unhealthy or even dangerous it can be for women to reflexively feel obligated to be polite or accommodating when encountering men who are inconsiderate, domineering or even threatening.
So important to trust and value your instincts and not give automatic benefit of the doubt because you are a woman.

Content Warnings

awebofstories's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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