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Small Things Like These

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NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING CILLIAN MURPHY

A SUNDAY TIMES 'TOP 5 NOVELS OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY'

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


WINNER OF THE ORWELL PRIZE AND THE KERRY GROUP IRISH NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE, THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE AND THE IRISH NOVEL OF THE YEAR AT THE DALKEY LITERARY AWARDS

'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 book Small Things Like These was a Sunday Times Bestseller w/c 05-11-2022

©2022 Claire Keegan (P)2022 Faber & Faber Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction
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Set on the background of horrific reference to Magdalen laundries - asylums run by Roman Catholic institutions for most of the 20th century in order to reform "fallen young women". It is a story of courage, tenderness and quiet heroism of Bill Furlong, a coal merchant with a wife and five daughters.

Quiet Superman with invisible cape

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A reminder of goodness and kindness in a harsh world, and the generational impact good deeds can have. Beautiful, simple, yet profound. Narration is excellent.

Simple yet powerful

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Very complex emotions conveyed in simple words...as he watched her barefeet with a box of shoes in his hands....

Simplicity of the narration

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Claire Keegan is becoming my favourite author this year. I loved Foster and now I really liked Small Things Like This. The beauty of these books are the simplicity of these characters which makes them relatable even in current times.
This book definitely reflects the Ireland people used to live in decades ago and the simplicity of people. I just loved that this books makes to believe in the timeline makes you feel as if these are your neighbours or someone you know. I enjoyed this audiobook alot.

Such an impactful short story

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The magic of this book lies in the way it makes you feel comforted but also provokes an uneasy restless feeling inside of you, like there's someone other than God watching you and listening to all your thoughts debate over taking decisions that seem practically right vs decisions that FEEL right. Perhaps this watch is kept over by none other than your own conscience. What a treasure this book is, because not only it teaches you that kindness is never wasted but also that all decisions taken to serve to love and kindness, no matter how hard and painful they might be, satisfy your soul in the most glorious way possible.

Love you, Bill Furlong.

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I really liked how they explored Magdalene laundries through this story. Although this story did have a dark concept, the overall vibe of the the first half was very cozy.

Interesting Irish accent

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A beautiful, touching tale of kindness and compassion. Wonderfully and emotionally narrated. I loved it.

The compassion in the story.

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