vixenreader 's review for:

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

4.75

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

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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: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Torture, Death of parent, Abandonment

Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail

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.