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Small Things Like These

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Small Things Like These

By: Claire Keegan
Narrated by: Aidan Kelly
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About this listen

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING CILLIAN MURPHY

A SUNDAY TIMES AND IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER
A TOP 5 IRISH TIMES 100 BEST IRISH BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY
A NEW YORK TIMES 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

'Exquisite.' Damon Galgut
'Masterly.' The Times
'Miraculous.' Herald
'Astonishing.' Colm Tóibín
'Stunning.' Sunday Independent
'Absolutely beautiful.' Douglas Stuart

It is 1985, in an Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant, faces into his busiest season. As he does the rounds, he feels the past rising up to meet him - and encounters the complicit silences of a people controlled by the Church.

Claire Keegan's bookSmall Things Like These was a Sunday Times Bestseller w/c 05-11-2022

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©2022 Claire Keegan (P)2022 Faber & Faber Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Tear-jerking

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All stars
Most relevant  
Had me hooked beginning to end, a great story authentically told leaving one reminded, there's always hope

Brilliant

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Claire Keegan has written a perfectly formed short story, narrated wonderfully by Aidan Kelly. leaves you wanting more.

Beautiful story well read.

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Beautifully written, empathetic short story.
I wonder if the choice for the protagonist to be male was purposeful to further highlight gender inequality? ie women can't even tell their own tale - it is only worth listening to through the eyes of a man (empathetic as he is, he is still a man).

This book covers a well worn topic in a well worn era in Ireland's recent past. I do get a bit tired of reading pretty much the same things over and over, such as all the endless novels that include the 1st or 2nd World Wars.
However, this author holds her own within this bracket.

Keegan really knows how to pack a lot into a small parcel.
She uses really evocative language and creates atmosphere with ease. You really get to feel as though you are there seeing and feeling everything first hand.
Strangely, I found that I really knew who all the characters were, even the minor ones. Perhaps this is helped along by the fact that I've met them all at some point in my life, and heard so many accounts. No easy feat though - to conjure a fully fleshed form out of so few words.

Which brings me to my main beef with this book - Why did it have to go and end?!!

Small Things Like These

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Really enjoyed this short book but disturbed by how close to the truth it might be

Thought provoking

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This is what’s both right and wrong with humanity. Two sides of a coin with a couple of great twists thrown in for measure. I want part 2 already. Such a sad and grim aspect on life and it leaves you with so much respect and faith in the main character at the end. This is not written in the usual “Magdalene” style. Thought provoking, leaves you wondering…

Haunting

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Sad and moving, all the more moving for its heartbreaking reflection of reality of recent horrors

Small story of hugely importance

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Really inspiring story of a protagonist with a big heart. Short story but it delves deep into the psyche of that time. Must read

Captivating

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So much to think about in this engaging short story. The plot development is pleasingly steady with wonderful imagery.

A beautifully narrated gentle, meaningful story

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Uncloaks the dehumanising horror and hypocrisy of the Magdalene Laundries but in an acutely sensitive and thought provoking way.

Provocative & beautifully written

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I really enjoyed this book. It is short but has some very profound messages within. The reader-listener gathers enough information to infer the rest as the author style of writing is one where words are not wasted on smaller details.
It’s a story centred around Furlong a man born out of wedlock who had a fortunate upbringing. His encounters victims of the Magdalene Laundries in the course of his work as a coal merchant. This has a profound impact on him and his life’s trajectory.

Short but Thought Provoking

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