Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

83 reviews

seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Torture, and Confinement

Minor: Cursing

angievansprang's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

3.25

It was an apt time in history to be reading this text. With the various genocides going on in the world and much of the West turning a blind eye, it really begs the question of who should intervene when something immoral is occurring and when they should do so. A true grappling with what is comfortable or convenient over what is right, this book was well done and easy to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Torture and Confinement

Minor: Vomit and Death of parent

bessadams's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

theunfinishedbookshelf's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment and Child abuse

Minor: Death of parent

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

faenth's review

inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry

hamstringy's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-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? Yes

5.0

a lot of grappling with the insidious and abusive structures that underlie our everyday life, and yet it still feels hopeful and deeply empathetic. a really good book to read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Forced institutionalization

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

tamara_joy's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Cancer