Small Things Like These

by Claire Keegan
Small Things Like These cover
Good Books rating 4.07
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 722
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • ISBN: 9780571368716
  • Publisher: Faber & Faber
  • Published: 2021-10-19
  • Formats: 77
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99 Hardback • £6.50–£12.99

Small Things Like These is a poignant and beautifully written novella set in a small Irish town in 1985. Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant, navigates the bustling pre-Christmas season while grappling with the weight of the past and the moral complexities of his community. As he encounters the hidden truths and silences that permeate his town, he is forced to confront the complicit role of the Church and the people it controls. Claire Keegan's masterful storytelling weaves a tale that is both simple and profound, exploring the best and worst of human nature. The novella has garnered widespread acclaim, winning the Orwell Prize and the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award, and has been praised for its exquisite prose and thought-provoking themes.

Reviews
Emma's Bibliotreasures · 2024-12-11
powerful 4.50

The story is short but mighty, with every word carefully chosen to explore profound themes. The writing is deft and consuming, making it a powerful read.

The reviewer highlights how Claire Keegan’s novella is a masterclass in concise storytelling. They appreciate the author's ability to delve deeply into complex themes without wasting a single word. This makes the reading experience both intense and thought-provoking. The reviewer also praises the emotional impact of the story, noting how it lingers long after the last page is turned.

Quick quotes

    This is a story that is short but mighty.

    Deftly told, succinct and consuming, Claire Keegan doesn't waste a word.

    A powerful read that explores profound themes.

Book Lovers Sanctuary · 2022-11-16
reflective 3.50

The novella is a quiet exploration of a traumatic historical event, but it feels a bit too distant and subdued for some readers.

The reviewer at Book Lovers Sanctuary acknowledges the novella's quiet and reflective nature, which they find both beautiful and perfect. However, they also feel that the story's subtlety might make it less engaging for some readers. The exploration of the Magdalen laundries is praised for its depth, but the reviewer notes that the quiet tone might not resonate with everyone. Overall, they appreciate the novella's emotional and historical significance.

Quick quotes

    A slim quiet novel that explores the traumatic history of the Magdalen laundries in Ireland.

    Beautiful and perfect novella takes an ordinary man, runs us through his life, thoughts and emotions.

    Ultimately a little too quiet and distant.

The Guardian · 2021-10-22
tender 4.20

The novel is tender and confronts a dark chapter in Ireland's history with sensitivity. The protagonist's journey is both moving and reflective.

The reviewer from The Guardian commends Keegan's tender approach to a heavy subject matter. They find the protagonist's introspection and the exploration of moral dilemmas particularly compelling. The novella is seen as a poignant reflection on kindness and redemption, making it a memorable and impactful read. The reviewer also notes how the story's brevity enhances its emotional resonance.

Quick quotes

    In this tender novel by the renowned short-story writer, a father confronts the truth of one of Ireland's infamous Magdalene laundries.

    A poignant reflection on kindness and redemption.

    The story's brevity enhances its emotional resonance.

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