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leahgustafson's review
dark
emotional
informative
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
4.0
Here is another small but powerful novella from Claire Keegan. This story is set in the winter of 1985 in Ireland. Middle-aged Bill Furlong struggles to discern the meaning of life in his small, working-class town. He grapples with purpose, faith, religion, and doing the right thing (even when it’s difficult). As the reader, we get to witness Bill’s internal struggle making a difficult decision, but we never get to see the consequences of that decision. Keegan is such a skilled writer who trusts her readers to infer what comes next. This is a similar format/structure to her previous work, Foster.
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The commentary on religion is extremely powerful. I also loved the focus on kindness, generosity, and the importance of recognizing our shared humanity. Magdalene Laundries were something I knew nothing about, and I appreciate how Claire Keegan captures the secrecy and the pain these institutions caused while also demonstrating just how woven they were into the fabric of society.
•
Again, this is fantastic if you’re looking for something short, literary, and historical!
•
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
booksjessreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
This is my first read of Claire Keegan and it is completely fair to say this won't be my last. What an impactful read! This novella is set in 1980's Ireland with Bill Furlong as our MC, who is a coal merchant delivering coal into the community around Christmastime. He becomes intrigued by things happening at a local Church which is operating as part of the Magdalene Laundries. I listened to the audio which was a really great experience.
I really loved so many things about this book, and for how short it is, it certainly packs a punch. It dealt with themes surrounding identity, morality, concepts of womanhood and familial life, as well as having a really eloquent writing style. I felt all of these themes and events intertwined really nicely. I particularly found Bill's inner torment with his own sense of identity as the child of an unmarried mother, his Catholic identity, his Irish identity and his sense of morality a really interesting mix of emotions and it was portrayed so well throughout.
I also really enjoyed this books exploration of the evil in society, but from the perspective of compliance, rather than being an explicit perpetrator. At first, I hadn't realised that this was even an element to the book, but it wasn't until I reflected on it for this review and read some of the Booker Prize information on this novella, that I understood. Compliance was specifically manifested in our female characters and coming to this realisation, it made me understand why they felt so proud of adhering to traditional styles of womanhood and having a selfish and unbothered attitude to Bill's concerns.
I think this could have been 5 stars for me, but I did feel a little let down by the end. After reading up on the events in the Church after reading, it made sense to me, but on a first read, it didn't feel definitive enough and I felt a little lost afterwards. However, this is an excellent read and I would highly recommend this to anyone!
I really loved so many things about this book, and for how short it is, it certainly packs a punch. It dealt with themes surrounding identity, morality, concepts of womanhood and familial life, as well as having a really eloquent writing style. I felt all of these themes and events intertwined really nicely. I particularly found Bill's inner torment with his own sense of identity as the child of an unmarried mother, his Catholic identity, his Irish identity and his sense of morality a really interesting mix of emotions and it was portrayed so well throughout.
I also really enjoyed this books exploration of the evil in society, but from the perspective of compliance, rather than being an explicit perpetrator. At first, I hadn't realised that this was even an element to the book, but it wasn't until I reflected on it for this review and read some of the Booker Prize information on this novella, that I understood. Compliance was specifically manifested in our female characters and coming to this realisation, it made me understand why they felt so proud of adhering to traditional styles of womanhood and having a selfish and unbothered attitude to Bill's concerns.
I think this could have been 5 stars for me, but I did feel a little let down by the end. After reading up on the events in the Church after reading, it made sense to me, but on a first read, it didn't feel definitive enough and I felt a little lost afterwards. However, this is an excellent read and I would highly recommend this to anyone!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Child abuse
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Vomit and Death of parent
mattyyreadsbooks's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
campirebat's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
cest_moi's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Powerful little book that can be read in a day. The final page has a quote that rings in my ears to this day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Trafficking, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Grief, and Physical abuse
emmagreenwood's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Misogyny, and Slavery
lagaialettrice's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Excrement, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
maevehandy's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Torture, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Medical trauma, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
mother and baby homescthornhill's review against another edition
fast-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? No
5.0
What a remarkable novella. I listened to it as an audiobook and it could have been ten times the length. The writing was so real, the characters so complete, the story so captivating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse