Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

6 reviews

captainrenjamin's review

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer

Deals with the history of mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries in Ireland

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

small things like these is a slow, atmospheric read whose winter setting of a small irish town takes center stage as much as the main character bill's internal terrain. a sense of discomfort pervades thruout the novella, not only abt what bill doesn't know but also what the rest of the town does and is complicit in. this is perhaps most suitable for those who dont mind a subtle, slower read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Kidnapping and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment, Suicide, and Death of parent

beetandbaguette's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-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: Abandonment and Excrement

Moderate: Suicide

ruthie_the_librarian's review against another edition

hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

 

Beautiful, beautiful little novella with a big heart. The small Irish town comes alive as you read, with characters seeming very real, even within the space of just a few pages. I inhaled this story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Death of parent and Suicide

rieviolet's review against another edition

emotional 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? No

4.0

This is not by any means a bad book (or rather novella) but I think that its shortness left me wanting a bit more, in terms of plot exploration and side characters' in-depth portrayal. 

The main theme is hinted at quite a lot but it is not really properly delved into
and I think that readers might be left a bit confused, especially if you know little (like me) about this aspect of Irish history. 

I still think that it is a pleasant read, with a nice writing style and, above all, I quite liked how the main character was depicted and his narrative trajectory. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Confinement

Moderate: Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Cancer, Bullying, Vomit, Suicide, Trafficking, and Excrement

sorrel_applegate's review

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, and Suicide