Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

94 reviews

sh_m22's review

challenging emotional tense fast-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

4.25

Short but gripping story. A book focused on the interiority of the main character, Bill, and his silent struggles with complicity

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Mentions of mothers being split up from their infants

alexutzu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-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? No

4.25

I liked this more than expected, as I expected it to mostly focus on literary aspects while being rather weak on the plot, but it was not the case. The ending was really powerful and changed my view on the book quite significantly. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

😍 The good:
The style was literary, but not that difficult to read and process. I liked the cultural discussion that the novella aimed for and the fact that it felt somewhat circular, starting and ending on similar ideas related to women, parenthood and religion. The volume was short, but packed with ideas, and the note in the end really helped in making sense of them. I also felt that the title fit with the mindset of the main character.

😅 The not-so-good: 
Despite the small number of pages, the novella managed to be slow at times, probably due to its style. It also took me a while to understand where this is going, which felt a bit confusing for a part of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Confinement, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Misogyny

Minor: Death of parent and Vomit

iszys's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, and Misogyny

Minor: Death of parent and Suicidal thoughts

maurareads's review

emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry and Pregnancy

heather_freshparchment's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Cursing, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement

malaikawrites's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

Woah. That was the type of atmospheric read where you’re so deep into it you don’t even realise how intense everything is until you finish the story. Had to sit with it for a moment when all the pieces clicked in the end. Woah!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Child abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts

sorkka's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Confinement

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Trafficking

_ghostie_'s review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse

Minor: Religious bigotry

tlsoe's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit and Suicide attempt

danaaliyalevinson's review

dark 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? It's complicated

4.25

Set over the course of a few days in Ireland, a man is forced to confront his own demons when he unwittingly stumbles upon one of Ireland's infamous Magdalene Laundries a few days before Christmas. 

This was a quick little read, just barely over novella length. 

The prose was lofty and beautiful. The characters were packed a big emotional punch. To my only criticism ory the book is that I wished it were *slightly* longer. By the time I felt like it really got going, it was almost done. In an odd way it reminded me of Emily St John Mandel’s “Sea of Tranquility” despite being very different in terms of genre. Something about how lyrical and yet short and sweet it was.

There's also a movie adaptation with Cillian Murphy that just premiered at Berlinale, which looks great. This book is great for anyone looking for a quick yet still deeply emotional read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Death, Abandonment, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry