A review by ericj32
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A tender, yet unflinching, account of cruelty that is easier to passively ignore than to confront.  The protagonist is himself vulnerable and busy, and has plenty of reasons to focus on other things but his mind won’t let him forget what he stumbled into and perhaps wishes he had not seen.  The prose is the main attraction here - it feels as though the author is only documenting what the characters choose to acknowledge which somehow creates a palpable sense of the things that they’re not saying out loud.  This brief little book can be easily read in one sitting, yet it somehow feels like it packs in all of the depth and nuance of a much longer novel.  The author’s humble prose conveys only what must be said.  It almost feels more like a parable, as it’s grounded in ancient, essential truths yet told in an accessible, modern form.  I was nervous about where it was going and how it would end (it seemed fairly predictable) and was thoroughly won over by the thrilling last couple of pages.  Looking forward to reading other works by this author as she seems to have a firm grasp on what is worth writing (and reading) about.  
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