A small book with a big heart
'Small things like these' is a novella by Irish author Claire Keegan, released in November 2021. It charts the run up to Christmas 1985 for coal merchant Bill Furlong, a father of five in County Wexford, Republic of Ireland and his souring relationship with the local convent. We get a glimpse into the cruel institutions that were the Magdalen laundries and life in an Ireland that since then has changed considerably.
Claire Keegan received universal acclaim for her work, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2022 and won that year's Orwell Prize.
It's easily readable in an afternoon and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. One of those books not easily forgotten.
References:
Wikipedia 'Small things like these' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Things_like_These accessed 18.12.2024
Claire Keegan: 'Small things like these' Faber and Faber 2021