Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan

25 reviews

sedonaschiek's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

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

kettrickensmiled's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Religious bigotry

Looking at the Magdalene Laundries from a male perspective, the reader is supposed to feel sorry for this man who just has a passing knowledge of the laundries, everyone turns a blind eye, he questions it slightly and meanwhile the women and girls who suffered are giving a passing mention. As a Novella it can’t go too deep into a topic but it left a bad taste in my mouth all the same. Others loved it so each to their own

chloleighton's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Cancer and Excrement

Minor: Vomit

edgaranjapoe's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Excrement, Vomit, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, and Cursing

its_muireann's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse

zaracampbell's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

3.5

A powerful novella encapsulating themes of religion, secrecy, solidarity and one which crafts a very real dialogue about the morality of our own choices and consequences. A compelling and authentic exploration into a tragic injustice that went largely ignored, but that ultimately enabled the Catholic Church's authority.  

Was it possible to carry on along through all the years, the decades, through an entire life, without once being brave enough to go against what was there and yet call yourself a Christian, and face yourself in the mirror?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abortion

bella_cavicchi's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

A novella that is haunting and sparse and yet also maintains its sense of hope. I really enjoyed it.

I texted my dad ahead of reading this for book club, and he responded: "Precision writing, beautiful use of understatement, moving story." I can't write a more accurate review than that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Death of parent

harveyisitt's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

simply_fran's review

dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Confinement

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy