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vixenreader's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A master of quietly brutal storytelling, Keegan had a lot to say about the imbalance within male/female relationships and how misogyny can ruin human connection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Misogyny
Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Alcohol, and Confinement
Minor: Cancer and Religious bigotry
Be aware that it deals with broken relationships, broken engagements, ageism directed at women, and held captive against your own will.carmina_r's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Spare, every word meaningful. Quietly alarming stories, especially the first and last.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Kidnapping
black_flamed_candle_b00ks's review against another edition
reflective
fast-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
1.75
I don’t understand the hype of this book.
Whilst yes, I did enjoy the enunciation and descriptions of the smaller things in life; which is how I see the world as an autistic person, I could relate to the long-winded explanations of such simple tasks in life as I do this myself. My inner monologue is exactly like this so it was refreshing to see such accurate depictions in a book. However, I do also agree with others that it was very monotonous and a little boring/agitating. Nothing really happens. There’s no real excitement. It’s just a short novella about a misogynistic man who takes advantage of his fiancés generosity and loses his wife and marriage due to his weaponised incompetence. A very short and simple book, that I unfortunately wasted an audible credit on to read for book club.
Whilst yes, I did enjoy the enunciation and descriptions of the smaller things in life; which is how I see the world as an autistic person, I could relate to the long-winded explanations of such simple tasks in life as I do this myself. My inner monologue is exactly like this so it was refreshing to see such accurate depictions in a book. However, I do also agree with others that it was very monotonous and a little boring/agitating. Nothing really happens. There’s no real excitement. It’s just a short novella about a misogynistic man who takes advantage of his fiancés generosity and loses his wife and marriage due to his weaponised incompetence. A very short and simple book, that I unfortunately wasted an audible credit on to read for book club.
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
velvet_young's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
katesant's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
gillthequill's review
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
"So Late in the Day" is a mixed offering. Of the three stories, the first two, the titular "So Late in the Day" and "The Long and Painful Death" were wonderful, thought-provoking reads. "So Late in the Day" the short story built a slow sense of dread as the reader tried to figure out what was truly going on that crescendos into an examination on toxic masculinity and a lack of growth. "The Long and Painful Death" was a quiet piece on expectations, societal roles, and the small victories women take to gain power. However, the last story, "Antarctica" just brought down the whole story collection. I thought, at first, it was a story akin to Kate Chopin's "A Pair of Silk Stockings" and was enjoying this small affair. However, with foreshadowing that seems obvious in hindsight, it ends, instead, with a cruel twist that just left a sour taste that soured the entire work. It felt like a cliché ending: woman sins and ends up in a fate worse than death. Frankly, if you do read this short story collection, just read the first two and skip the last one because of how much it brings down the work as a whole.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual content, Misogyny, Stalking, and Sexism
bella_cavicchi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'd call this a story of what it means to be a (good) man. Can also be described as a sucker punch in the form of Keegan's stunning understated writing.
My only complaint is that the publisher has somehow gotten away with publishing a 40-page short story as a hardcover book (!!!!!!!!!!!).
My only complaint is that the publisher has somehow gotten away with publishing a 40-page short story as a hardcover book (!!!!!!!!!!!).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
kathshiroma's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Fatphobia
frances_frances's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
These stories were less compelling to me than Foster and Small Things Like These. But I love Claire Keegan's writing so much and will gladly read anything she writes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Sexual violence and Misogyny