Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

35 reviews

rcsreads's review against another edition

reflective 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? It's complicated

2.25

I felt like this ended just as it was getting interesting. I also felt like the perspective of a middle class, white man was the least needed pov for a story about the mis-treatment of women and girls. 
 The writing is fairly basic, and the characters felt flat. The phrase "he released a breath he didn't realise he'd been  holding" was used, which is possibly the most cliche sentence in the history of literature!
 It was fine, I read it in an afternoon and it brings awareness about Magdalen laundries in a way your granny could read without being shocked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Trafficking, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Grief, and Physical abuse

emmagreenwood's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Misogyny, and Slavery

sydapel's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

4.0

Devastating and impactful and full of heart in just 116 pages. This is a particularly good read in our current climate, solely as a reminder that this voice in our head telling us to speak up and act, even when it's more comfortable not to. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Abortion

zotty's review against another edition

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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Forced institutionalization

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

snorteland's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death and Suicidal thoughts

fboschetti's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Child death

saltycoffee's review against another edition

hopeful 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, and Child death

mtnest's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Alcohol, and Confinement

Minor: Child abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Child death

zoeelizaking's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Within barely 100 pages Keegan creates a quietly reflective story with such a rich and immersive atmosphere and deeply layered protagonist in Bill. It’s a story of humanity and all of the ways in which it’s challenged — and how when faced with these challenges we can choose hypocrisy or kindness — against the backdrop of 1980s Ireland. Keegan peppers the text with minute moments of social and political commentary which cumulatively have a searing effect. I read a review which said she doesn’t waste a single word, and I couldn’t agree more — the economy of language, coupled with what she achieves in so few words is staggering. I devoured in a single sitting — a masterclass in my opinion.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Emotional abuse