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A review by alannathellama
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
4.0
This story is so short but took me so long because I only read it when snow was on the ground. I wish it was longer because I always do, but I think it achieved everything it tried to (I did cry, after all), and it was meant to be open ended, as an extension probably would have majorly ruined the optimistic feeling at the end.
It’s interesting because this story has many purposes (all of which are intertwined, of course, but these are the main distinct things I got from it):
1. An informative story about the Magdalene Laundries.
2. An avenue for a general message about the importance of simple courage from ordinary individuals (especially when helping those more vulnerable) and how this interdependence is what makes life worth living.
3. A critique of the church, particularly in Ireland.
4. A commentary on the roles men and women are forced into, and how women, because of the way that the church and society as a whole punishes them, may be forced into a mindset where they have to focus on themselves and their families. Some of the women come off as a bit heartless in this story, but I think that’s to make a comment on how women cannot always afford to go against the grain and still live normal lives in the same way that men may be able to. (I, for one, am really questioning what would happen after the conclusion, like I know the point is that his kindness towards another person will be worth it even if it troubles him but damn that is gonna fuck his life up, the gossip is gonna be crazy lol).
5. Some comment about class differences, kindness, and how women especially navigate them. With an emphasis on the freedom for kindness, etc that wealthier women can more easily express.
The writing is relatively simple, which I think adds to its beauty as it expresses normal thoughts that people often try to bury, without coming off as pretentious.
Overall, I really liked it. There’s nothing majorly wrong with it. I don’t particularly know what to rate it so I’m going off a random feeling.
It’s interesting because this story has many purposes (all of which are intertwined, of course, but these are the main distinct things I got from it):
1. An informative story about the Magdalene Laundries.
2. An avenue for a general message about the importance of simple courage from ordinary individuals (especially when helping those more vulnerable) and how this interdependence is what makes life worth living.
3. A critique of the church, particularly in Ireland.
4. A commentary on the roles men and women are forced into, and how women, because of the way that the church and society as a whole punishes them, may be forced into a mindset where they have to focus on themselves and their families. Some of the women come off as a bit heartless in this story, but I think that’s to make a comment on how women cannot always afford to go against the grain and still live normal lives in the same way that men may be able to. (I, for one, am really questioning what would happen after the conclusion, like I know the point is that his kindness towards another person will be worth it even if it troubles him but damn that is gonna fuck his life up, the gossip is gonna be crazy lol).
5. Some comment about class differences, kindness, and how women especially navigate them. With an emphasis on the freedom for kindness, etc that wealthier women can more easily express.
The writing is relatively simple, which I think adds to its beauty as it expresses normal thoughts that people often try to bury, without coming off as pretentious.
Overall, I really liked it. There’s nothing majorly wrong with it. I don’t particularly know what to rate it so I’m going off a random feeling.