Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

22 reviews

ruby_mae_read's review

challenging dark 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts

notthatcosta's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I had a lot of anticipation before reading this, and overall I found it very well written and well paced, albeit a lot more subtle than I was expecting. This is my first time reading Claire Keegan's work but I've since seen some reviews remarking that her other stuff is a lot darker than this, which intrigues me. 

The dialogue was particularly strong from the supporting townspeople, the opaqueness of which complemented the earnestness and pathos of the protagonist. I really got a good sense of his temperament, motivations and backstory, which is an achievement in a novella. 

I appreciated the economy of the writing and how it created an air of tension and mystery whilst providing enough exposition to keep you in the story. It made me hungry for more, which is the mark of a good writer, especially of shorter books. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Vomit, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Misogyny, and Slavery

natgeographic's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Slavery, Sexism, and Child abuse

andrewhatesham's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Vomit, Slavery, Child abuse, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry

wasabby's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Body horror, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Physical abuse, and Trafficking

wendell's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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

Bill Furlong is a good man who feels like something is missing in his life, and then he suddenly finds something deeply wrong about the church and wonders if he should do anything about it.

This was alright, the prose were lovely. I think my biggest problem is that the issue it wants to shed light on is framed almost only to feed the protagonist's conscience. It just all feels like a really morally easy saviour narrative, when the more difficult and more interesting story would take place inside the church.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery

chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Slavery

Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Vomit, Excrement, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

alisonannk's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Slavery, Sexism, Kidnapping, Vomit, Torture, Excrement, Cancer, Physical abuse, Classism, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Religious bigotry