Small Things Like These – Claire Keegan (2021) 110 pages
Claire Keegan’s short story collection Antarctica was the only work of hers I had read, but I remembered being really impressed by it. When Small Things Like These got so much love in blogosphere I knew I needed to pick her up again. Thankfully the planets aligned and I found a copy of it in a charity shop the very month I was focussing on novellas 😊
Bill Furlong is a coal merchant who lives a quiet life with his wife and young daughters in a 1980s Irish town. However, there is something in his past that means Bill has a sense of being an outsider. Perhaps it is this that means his compassion for people who are finding life harder and are homeless or struggling to make ends meet, or may be self-medicating with alcohol, is in contrast to those around him.
“Some nights, Furlong lay there with Eileen going over small things like these. Other times, after a day of heavy lifting or being delayed by a puncture and getting soaked out on the road, he’d come home and eat his fill and fall into bed early, then wake in the night sensing Eileen, heavy in sleep, at his side – and there he’d lie with his mind going round in circles, agitating, before finally he’d have to go down and put the kettle on, for tea.”
There is a Magdalene laundry in the town, and events conspire so that Bill becomes aware of the horrors that are taking place, sanctioned by state and church. His wife voices the general attitude when she says:
“‘If you want to get on in life, there’s things you have to ignore, so you can keep on.’”
However for Bill it is not so easy. The revelation comes at a time when he is questioning the purpose of his life, the daily toils and the wider meaning. So it is understandable that he is the one to break out from the conspiracy of wilful ignorance and silence that allows the abuse to continue.
“What would life be like, he wondered, if they were given time to think and reflect over things? Might their lives be different or much the same – or would they just lose the run of themselves?”
There is no way that the physical and psychological torture of the laundries can be captured in a 110 page novella, if ever, although there a couple of very distressing scenes. But I don’t think this is Keegan’s point. Instead she uses our pre-existing knowledge of the laundries to focus on putting us in the position of an ordinary person at that time. She demonstrates why he might take action, and what he could lose by doing so. The ambiguous ending, not without hope but not suggesting that Bill will avoid devastation, doesn’t allow for easy resolution.
Keegan is asking the reader to consider: what would you do? How much will you stand for, and how much are you prepared to lose? Knowing that throughout history atrocities have taken place while societies looked away, it is a powerful and enduring challenge.
“It would be the easiest thing in the world to lose everything, Furlong knew.”
madame bibi lophile recommends 
One of the most powerful books I’ve read in some time, and so beautifully expressed. I’m glad your excellent charity shop was able to oblige.
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It’s incredible what can be achieved in such a small space. She’s a great writer.
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I’ve heard so much about how good this book is – a very powerful story, Madame B.
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Absolutely – it’s an ambitious undertaking but very well done I thought.
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Having read my own Keegan this month, I know how powerful she can be in not many words!
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She really is excellent at making every word count!
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So glad you enjoyed this, I prefered Foster but still thought this was a beautiful piece of work. Here’s hoping the Cililan Murphy adaptation does it justice!
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I’ve not read Foster but definitely want to, it sounds wonderful.
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It’s so beautiful.
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Love your review of this! Yes, I think you’re spot on with your comments on what Keegan is trying to do here. As you say, she prompting us to consider what we would do in Bill’s position. How much would we be prepared to risk to do the right thing…
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Thanks Jacqui! It’s a very challenging read in so many ways.
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At last, one I’ve read! Her writing is amazing, I don’t understand how she says so much in so few words. I agree that it’s us she’s focusing on through Bill, and our reaction; not trying to explain the horror. Amazing.
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It really is incredible isn’t it, what she achieves in such a short space. Great to hear you rate this too Jane.
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I’ve not encountered the term “Magdalene Laundry” before so looked it up, and of course I had read about it. What an interesting name.
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Finally I read this one. I’m not a fan of the minimalist style, but I see your point, that evil is usually not an in-your-face kind of thing.
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You must read Foster. I did for Irish Reading month in March and was even more blown away by it (although it was close!) She is simply a wonderful writer. I would like to read her short stories too now.
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I will definitely read Foster, it sounds incredible. I really enjoyed her short stories, I hope you do too.
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I found this incredibly powerful, it’s surprising how much is packed into such a short novel. I found I kept thinking about this one long after I had finished it.
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Yes it really stays with you. I think the ambiguous ending was absolutely right but I do wonder about what would have happened next…
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