Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
Set in a small Irish town during the weeks leading up to Christmas in 1985, Small Things Like These is a spare, luminous novella that speaks volumes in very few words. Claire Keegan, known for her precise and elegant prose, draws inspiration from the true and tragic history of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries, institutions run by the Catholic Church where “fallen” women were exploited and abused.

The story follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man whose simple life begins to shift when he delivers coal to a convent and makes a disturbing discovery. As the snow falls and the town bustles with Christmas preparations, Bill is forced to confront uncomfortable truths. not just about the Church’s power, but about the cost of silence and the courage it takes to act against injustice.

✅ What I Liked:
Keegan’s writing is deceptively simple but full of emotional resonance. Every sentence feels deliberate. The atmosphere, cold, quiet, heavy with snow and suppressed guilt, is beautifully rendered. Bill is a humble and deeply human character, shaped by his own upbringing and haunted by the feeling that looking away makes one complicit.

The novella’s brevity is its strength: in under 120 pages, Keegan crafts a layered, morally rich story that lingers long after you finish it. It’s a masterclass in restraint, nothing is over-explained, and yet the emotional weight is profound. This is the kind of book that makes you pause, reflect, and reread.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
While the spare style is part of its power, some readers might find it too understated. The ending, though quietly defiant, leaves a lot unresolved, more a moment of decision than a traditional resolution. If you’re looking for dramatic action or full closure, this might feel a little too open-ended

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
Perfect for fans of literary fiction, novellas, or morally complex stories. It’s a poignant, thought-provoking read you can finish in an afternoon but will be thinking about for days. Ideal for readers who appreciate sparse, lyrical prose and quiet acts of resistance.

💭 Final Thoughts:
Small Things Like These is a small book with a large heart. With grace and precision, Claire Keegan explores complicity, courage, and the quiet strength it takes to do the right thing when no one is watching. It’s a quietly devastating gem that deserves its place on modern reading lists, and on your shelf.

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE

Final Rating ★★★★ – A quiet novella with a powerful moral weight