Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

83 reviews

americattt's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.5

“Before long, he caught a hold of himself and concluded that nothing ever did happen again; to each was given days and chances which wouldn’t come back around. And wasn’t it sweet to be where you were and let it remind you of the past for once, despite the upset, instead of always looking on into the mechanics of the days and the trouble ahead, which might never come.”

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Confinement

Minor: Death of parent

sheriffrockyraccoon's review

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This story was inspiring and reminded me of the good that people can be capable of, even in face of adversity. It reads like classic Irish literature and I won’t be surprised if it joins the Irish canon!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Abandonment, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Pregnancy

adelal's review

emotional 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

Extremely atmospheric, melancholic but hopeful at the same time. It was a perfect read for Christmas.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Confinement

Minor: Vomit

mawest's review against another edition

inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

A short story, but a perfect reminder that it’s the little actions in our everyday lives that can have the most impact on someone else’s life (and our hearts).

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Pregnancy, Torture, and Death of parent

letheii's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

picked this as a christmas read and now im invested in the topic of magdalene laundries

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Child death and Vomit

katelynprice's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

Bill is my favorite type of male MC. He has an abundance of tenderness, grace, humility, and empathy. This was a lovely novella and was so beautifully written. I highlighted so many lines within the short 100 pages. I definitely want to read more of Keegan's writing.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Death of parent

samanthaleereads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Vomit, Confinement, Classism, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy, Grief, Slavery, Child abuse, Death of parent, Bullying, and Sexism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

kkopacetic's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.5

Claire Keegan packs SO MUCH into such a small text. And this is such an important topic. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, and Physical abuse

alyssapusateri's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Vomit

vixenreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.75

While “Foster” made me cry, this one made me seethe with rage, and it is an empathetic novella about mustering the courage to fight against injustices that are buried under the surface, even when you only have your bare hands to dig them up. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Classism, and Confinement

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Torture, Bullying, and Abandonment

Minor: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Xenophobia, Excrement, and Terminal illness

Be aware that this novel addresses the Magdalen laundry, where religious institutions would abuse and isolate young “troubled” women. It is rough to read, and there is more details between the lines. Poverty and abuse of power had a huge hand in this discussion.