Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan

70 reviews

zotty's review

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Forced institutionalization

catherinet'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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

snorteland's review

challenging informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death and Suicidal thoughts

_nicole_g's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

noragoudie's review

challenging hopeful informative slow-paced

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

5.0

What a beautiful and devastating short story. Forever grateful to Claire Keegan for this small but mighty account of the Magdalen Laundries and the impact that they had on women and small Irish communities. Important, timely, and filled me with hope.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization

alixcallender'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Classism, and Abandonment

Minor: Abandonment and Child abuse

libraryeile's review

emotional informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Forced institutionalization

fboschetti's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Child death

shoffschwelle's review

dark hopeful informative 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? No

4.0

A heartbreaking but beautiful historical fiction book bringing to light the women and children who suffered time in Ireland's Magdalen laundries that were supposedly focused on reforming "fallen young women" but actually horribly abused them and were sanctioned by the Catholic Church for most of the 20th century. The book reveals the situation through the eyes of Bill Furlong, a man who has done well for himself and his family, but his mother could easily have had to go to the Magdalen Laundries if not for her employer who kept her on and helped to foster Bill. It's not a rousing cry to dismantle the system, but reflect on how little changes can make a difference like it did for him.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, and Classism

awaterswadesthrough's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, and Confinement

Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, and Child death