Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

7 reviews

sh_m22's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Short but gripping story. A book focused on the interiority of the main character, Bill, and his silent struggles with complicity

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Mentions of mothers being split up from their infants

dapperoreo's review against another edition

challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Religious bigotry, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Vomit, Trafficking, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Self harm, Cursing, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail

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. 

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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.

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

gracescanlon's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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? N/A

4.5

I loved this, so much. Keegan writes in a similar fashion to other modern Irish writers I’ve read, especially Niall Williams.

I only wish the book was longer! Its ending wasn’t disappointing, per se, but I would’ve been happy to read another 200 pages about Bill and the girls. That said, I also see the merit of the chosen ending, and did enjoy it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Classism, Abandonment, Terminal illness, and Vomit

katerinakr's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Vomit, Physical abuse, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Torture, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Death

mlaursen's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Based on historical accuracy. A bit of a slow start, but once you understand what is happening you want to read thru the end immediately.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail