A review by jessicamusch
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

Straight to the pool room

“Is there any point in being alive without helping one another?”

What a powerful little book. During a cold Irish Christmas, Bill Furlong works hard delivering coal to look after his family. He discovers the horror of the local Magdalen laundry, and the silence of the Catholic community causes him to reflect on his own origins. 

The book is deeply about morality. I found interesting (and welcome) the choice to have a male protagonist in a story about the mistreatment of young women and children, predominantly by other women within the structure of the church (with state complicit). I think this broadens the audience. 

“‘What have I against girls?’ he went on. My own mother was a girl, once. And I dare say the same must be true of you and all belonging to us?'”

Furlong is nostalgic about Christmases as a child, and remembers wishing for a jigsaw puzzle from Santa, but receiving a nail file instead. Later, when his own daughter is writing a letter to Santa and asks him what he received from Santa as a child, he lies and says he got the jigsaw puzzle. His daughter replies “Is that all?”. Juxtaposed with the girls of the Magdalen laundry, this is a reminder to be grateful for all that we have - for Furlong, this is the roof over his head, and the people looking out for him.