‘Small Things Like These’ by Claire Keegan

My rating: 4 stars

The title of Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan couldn’t have been more apt. In this affecting novella, which I read for Reading Ireland Month, and also in real life, too many people treated as unimportant or as undeserving of collective action occurrences that should have shocked everyone, even though small actions could have made a positive impact on the life of others. Sadly, it has taken too long for people to challenge one of the most corrupt and hypocritical institutions that has ever existed – the Catholic Church.

The main character, Bill Furlong, is a coal and timber merchant. His mother became pregnant with him when she was 16 years old. At the time she was working as a domestic for Mrs Wilson, who helped Bill throughout his life. His mother died when he was only 12 and he has never known his father’s identity. He is now married and has five daughters.

The action of the novella takes place during the weeks leading up to Christmas in Ireland. While Furlong’s wife focuses on all the preparations, he can’t help but to muse on his life. He doesn’t feel like he is achieving much, every day feels the same, he believes that he doesn’t spend enough time with his family. It also bothers him not knowing who his father is. When he goes to a convent to deliver coal, what he witnesses troubles him, as it was to be expected from an empathetic character. That portrayal is successfully achieved.

Sometimes the text doesn’t directly reveal much. There aren’t many details about the time before and after some of the dialogues or the main character’s thoughts, but they still make an impression on the reader. Using few words, Claire Keegan manages to convey an image of the place that the story is set in and about the prevalent economic conditions. It is possible to imagine the simplicity of the lives of the characters with just a few (not even direct) words.

“Some nights, Furlong lay there with Eileen, going over small things like these.”

The ending of the book leaves readers with a sense of hope in humanity, but I personally would have liked to learn more about what the future holds for the characters.