“Was there any point in being alive without helping one another?”
Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These is a novella that reads like a quiet echo — brief, yet resonant. Published in 2021, this powerful story is set in a small Irish town during the weeks leading up to Christmas in 1985.
At its heart is a man named Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and father of five daughters, whose life is deeply rooted in routine, responsibility, and moral decency.
The book has been widely acclaimed for its spare yet lyrical prose, moral depth, and emotional clarity. At under 120 pages, it may seem short, but its impact lingers long after the final sentence.
Through Furlong’s eyes, Keegan brings to light the deeply buried and often ignored injustices of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries.
Plot Summary
“Was it possible, he wondered, that he was doing something wrong in doing what was right?”
Bill Furlong, a hardworking and gentle man, lives a quiet life in New Ross, Ireland. His days are spent delivering coal, raising his daughters, and providing a stable life for his family. As Christmas approaches, Bill reflects on his upbringing — being raised by a single mother, supported by the kindness of her employer.
During one of his routine deliveries to the local convent, he stumbles upon a shocking scene: a young girl locked in a coal shed, frightened and begging for help. The convent, run by nuns, is a Magdalene Laundry — an institution known for housing “fallen women” and subjecting them to forced labor and abuse.
Bill is faced with a decision. The town, heavily influenced by the Catholic Church, turns a blind eye to the convent’s actions. Everyone knows, yet no one speaks. To intervene would mean stepping outside of the safety and comfort of his life. But to ignore it would go against everything he believes in.
Characters
Bill Furlong
Bill is a man defined by kindness, practicality, and a strong moral compass. He doesn’t see himself as a hero, but rather as someone doing what he believes is decent. His character arc is subtle but profound — from passive observation to active choice. By the end of the book, he emerges as a quiet revolutionary, someone who stands up in a society that rewards silence.
Supporting Characters
- Eileen Furlong: Bill’s wife, pragmatic and cautious. She embodies the societal pressure to maintain the status quo.
- The Nuns: Represent institutional power and moral blindness. They appear respectable but are complicit in abuse.
- The Young Girl: A silent symbol of all the voiceless victims. Her brief appearance is haunting and catalytic.
Themes and Plotline
Small Things Like These explores several heavy and poignant themes:
- Moral Courage: The courage to act, even when it means personal risk.
- Religious Hypocrisy: The Church, a symbol of moral authority, is exposed as a site of cruelty.
- Silence and Complicity: The community’s collective silence underscores how systemic abuse can flourish.
- Compassion and Kindness: The title refers to everyday acts of kindness that ripple outward.
The story builds slowly but surely, offering a nuanced portrait of a man choosing to live with his conscience, even when it costs him.
What Genre Does It Focus On?
Small Things Like These fits into the literary fiction and historical fiction genres. It is also considered a novella — a shorter narrative that focuses on depth over length. Keegan’s book is a brilliant example of how literary fiction can use a simple plot to explore complex emotions, ethics, and social issues.
Set during the 1980s, it also serves as a historical narrative that sheds light on the dark chapters of Ireland’s treatment of women through institutions like the Magdalene Laundries.
What to Expect
This is not a fast-paced or plot-heavy book. It’s slow, introspective, and deeply reflective. Readers can expect:
- Poetic and minimalist prose
- Rich emotional undercurrents
- A focus on atmosphere and morality
- Quiet yet intense moments of conflict
It’s the kind of story that invites rereading and contemplation. It’s about looking inward, asking uncomfortable questions, and finding strength in gentleness.
Goodreads Ratings and Amazon Reviews
“He could not let the thought of what might happen rob him of what was here and now.”
Goodreads Ratings
Small Things Like These holds an impressive rating of 4.22 stars, based on over 70,000 ratings. This score reflects the broad critical acclaim and emotional impact the novella has had on readers worldwide.
Amazon Reviews
- “One of the most beautiful and heartbreaking novellas I’ve ever read. Every sentence is perfectly placed.”
- “Claire Keegan does more with 100 pages than most authors do with 500. It’s haunting, but hopeful.”
- “The kind of book that makes you sit in silence after reading, just to absorb it.”
- “A small book with a big heart. I cried. I smiled. I closed the book and immediately wanted to read it again.”
- “This is what storytelling is about — compassion, truth, and moral reckoning.”
- “An absolute masterpiece. Quietly powerful and emotionally rich.”
How the Book Sets Itself Apart
Unlike many books that tackle heavy themes with dramatic events or multi-layered subplots, Small Things Like These chooses restraint. Its power lies in what is not said. The silences. The glances. The choices made in the quiet hours.
Claire Keegan doesn’t just tell a story — she offers a mirror. And in that reflection, readers are invited to ask themselves what they would do in Bill’s place. That emotional resonance sets the book apart.
Who Should Read This Book?
Age and Content Warning
Small Things Like These is suitable for adults and mature teens. While it doesn’t include graphic content, it deals with emotional and moral distress related to institutional abuse and human suffering. Readers should be aware of its historical context and emotional weight.
People Who Liked These Books
If you found meaning in the following titles, you will likely resonate with Small Things Like These:
- A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (for its moral depth)
- The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (for institutional critique)
- Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (for quiet emotional power)
- Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín (for Irish setting and introspective tone)
- This Is Happiness by Niall Williams (for lyrical prose and moral questioning)
Book Recommendations if You Liked Small Things Like These
1. Foster by Claire Keegan
Another novella by Keegan, Foster is equally sparse and profound. It explores childhood, trust, and the power of care through a young girl’s experience in rural Ireland.
2. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
This Pulitzer-winning novel sheds light on the horrors of a reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. Like Keegan’s work, it uses real history to reflect on silence and morality.
3. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
A short literary novel about memory, morality, and consequences. Subtle and profound, much like Small Things Like These.
4. The Gathering by Anne Enright
Explores Irish family life, grief, and silence. Rich in emotional texture and moral complexity.
5. My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
A novel of emotional restraint and familial distance. Like Keegan, Strout does wonders with subtlety and economy of language.
Conclusion
Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These proves that size doesn’t determine impact. In just a few pages, Keegan captures a moral crossroads that speaks to universal questions: What does it mean to live a good life? When should we speak up? And what is the cost of looking away?
This is not a story of spectacle. It’s a story of conscience. Of a man choosing to act with integrity in a world that quietly asks him not to. And in that quiet defiance lies its beauty.
For anyone seeking a thoughtful, emotionally rich, and morally compelling read, this book is a must. It’s a candle in a dark room. Small, flickering, and powerful.
More from This Author
Claire Keegan is an acclaimed Irish author known for her powerful, compact storytelling and lyrical prose. Born in County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1968, she has become widely celebrated for her short stories and novellas that explore themes of rural life, family, silence, and emotional restraint.
Keegan is known for writing with precision and emotional depth, often using few words to create a powerful impact. Her stories typically reflect the complexities of Irish society and human relationships, told in a subtle, evocative way.
Other Books by Claire Keegan
- Foster: A novella that won the Davy Byrnes Short Story Award and explores love and belonging.
- Antarctica: A collection of short stories known for their emotional punch.
- Walk the Blue Fields: Another short story collection exploring rural Irish life and emotional complexities.
Keegan’s work is often described as minimalist but powerful. Each word matters, and every story lingers.
