Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - Antarctica

I’m currently making my way through Claire Keegan’s works. Up until this point I really enjoyed them, however, one short story in her debut Antarctica uses the n-word (racist and unnecessary ESPECIALLY as a white woman from Ireland?!) and portrays a black man as a predator. Why do hardly any reviews mention this? (I know why—that’s rhetorical)
Edited to two stars for this because really?

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farrawayreads's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

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

3.5

favs: love in the tall grass, quare name for a boy, ride if you dare, sisters

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mhairi1's review against another edition

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booksjessreads's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.25

This is yet another stunning piece by Claire Keegan. I am growing to love short-story collections and this one is up there with one of my favourites. I also really enjoyed going back to her first published work to see her beginnings, and they are strong.

There were several short stories that just completely grabbed me, they are compelling and beautifully written. Keegan absolutely has such an impeccable way with words and has the capability to bring these stories alive in your imagination. I really liked how the collection really focused on relationships with others, be those romantic, familial or friendships, and the complexities of them. The stories are very dark, capturing the absolute worst side of the human condition, but they were intriguing and suspenseful and kept you wanting more.

Furthermore, stories were not just set in Ireland, but in the UK and America as well. I felt the American stories were somewhat less compelling, especially the use of racial slurs in the final two stories. Whilst their intention may have been used to help set the scene of the times in that story, their use was unnecessary. I appreciate that this was written in the 90s and that she is an author who has continually written about social injustice, but it is something to be aware of when reading.

I still did really enjoy this read. It isn't my favourite of hers, but certainly an interesting collection that I would recommend.

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rachjy's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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psahds's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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hollyrebecca's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Lyrically written stories that speak to the darkness in humans, their faults and dreams. Each was so well written, but some of these stories will never leave me: Antarctica, The Ginger Rogers Sermon, and Sisters

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nialiversuch's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

3.0

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