Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

“As they carried on along amid more people Furlong did and did not know, he found himself asking, "was there any point in being alive without helping one another?"

Small Things Like These

By Claire Keegan

Here is another entry in reading Booker Prize long list nominees. I considered reading this last Christmas when it was released, but I saw enough negative reviews and was steered away. Fast forward to seeing it make the Booker, and I decided not to pass again- there is no accounting for taste in reading as we know. And while it might not be the typical Christmas reading fare, it's really one of the most beautiful messages you could find during the holidays.

Small Things Like These is little but mighty. It is set in Ireland and for me, listening to the narration in an Irish brogue added to the atmosphere that is already so rich. This book proves that less can be more. Weighing in at just over 100 pages, this quiet and thoughtful novella speaks volumes.

You know I'm the quote girl and I marked SO many that I had a hard time deciding which one to use. Keegan's prose isn't flowery but every word she uses carries weight and gives you pause.

This is a story about taking the time to notice human suffering and not walk past. The main character, Furlong, is one of the most endearing, kind and gentle characters I've ever come across in literature.

I've seen some complaints that while this is really a story about women and what the Catholic Church did to unwed mothers, the lead character is a man. I guess I would not have thought of that but it bears consideration. This tiny book does pack a punch in its indictment of the Catholic Church and the "homes" they put unwed mothers and babies in. Not a pretty picture.

I'm so glad I didn't miss this. I think the message is worth everyone's time especially with the world as it is today. No book bloat here- easy to knock out in an hour or two, but it will stay with you.