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<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe beginning of the book, which is really more of a short story, is very easy to get into, and the reader quickly becomes familiar with Furlong and his background. What stands out immediately is Keegan\u2019s writing style. It\u2019s simple, the sentences are short, and the scenes gain their power from this reduction. Instead of long descriptions, she focuses sharply and paints her scenes with a few well-chosen strokes. In doing so, she deliberately evokes emotions and impressions in the reader. For example, when she describes the rippling water in the church\u2019s holy-water font into which visitors dip their fingers to make the sign of the cross. Or the specific details of what is baked at Christmas. That, I found quite impressive. It made me think of Stefan Zweig, who once wrote about his creative process that the art of writing lies in shortening the text and cutting unnecessary sentences. Keegan has done that to the maximum. That\u2019s definitely remarkable. I\u2019m torn, though. I like it when images have sharp contours and stand vividly before the mind\u2019s eye. At the same time, I love beautiful, long, melodic sentences\u2014and you won\u2019t find any of those here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As I was reading, I kept wondering where the author was heading. Around the middle of the book, it becomes clear, and for the statement the book ultimately wants to make, this style fits perfectly. Unlike many novellas, the conclusion here is very gentle. Instead of a loud bang, it\u2019s more of a soft resonance that lingers quietly after reading. I found that very pleasant and fitting for what Keegan is trying to express. I\u2019d say that both in language and message, this book is wonderfully restrained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n At the center of the book are the machinations of the Church, which, as we know today, is a profoundly criminal institution that has exploited people for centuries. I like how Keegan embeds this into the society she portrays\u2014how this convent is interwoven with everyday life, how people benefit from the nuns\u2019 business ventures, and how they willingly accept that this system is built on suffering. And that\u2019s a theme as relevant as ever. In our own society, people close their eyes in exactly the same way whenever it serves their own advantage. That\u2019s just how people are. And so everyone can find a piece of themselves in the gentle protagonist Furlong. Keegan succeeds beautifully in creating that connection through her portrayal of his thoughts and feelings, in which readers can easily recognize themselves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Claire Keegan became known in 1999 with Antarctica<\/em>, a collection of short stories, and has since published several books that have received multiple awards. She was born in 1968 in County Wicklow, Ireland, and studied political science as well as creative writing. You can clearly sense that in her polished prose. Small Things Like These<\/em> was even adapted into a film and released in cinemas a year ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This small hardcover book, with its thread binding, cloth cover, and ribbon marker, delighted me. I was pleasantly surprised by its high quality. I loved holding it in my hands\u2014it feels valuable despite its few pages. You rarely find books produced this well anymore. The crow printed on the cloth cover fits perfectly and echoes one of the many images Keegan uses in the book to give the place\u2014and what lies behind it\u2014a face. Wonderfully done.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n On Arte.tv there is, once again, a short but wonderful documentary about Claire Keegan\u2019s work: https:\/\/www.arte.tv\/en\/videos\/118699-001-A\/claire-keegan-a-voice-against-injustice\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Conclusion:<\/strong> Small Things Like These<\/em> is a pleasantly understated book that captivates with its pared-down composition, its vivid imagery, and its sensitively told story. It\u2019s not a masterpiece, nor an exciting, page-turning story. Its charm and atmosphere lie in the quiet nuances, in the carefully chosen moments and scenes. An enjoyable read that is certainly worth recommending, though it probably won\u2019t stay with me for long\u2014it\u2019s simply too brief and too subtle for that. The physical book itself is beautiful and of high quality. For those drawn to its blurb and presentation, I can recommend it without hesitation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Book information: <\/strong>Small Things Like These \u2022 Claire Keegan \u2022 Steidl Verlag \u2022 112 pages \u2022 ISBN 9783969990650<\/p>\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the past few weeks, I\u2019ve been less active here, but I still managed to read quite a bit, and today I\u2019d like to introduce one of those books. It\u2019s a book I wouldn\u2019t have picked up on my own, but I got it following a recommendation. Contemporary literature is often rather mediocre, but from … <\/p>\n<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n