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  • Small Things Like These

  • By: Claire Keegan
  • Narrated by: Aidan Kelly
  • Length: 1 hr and 57 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (122 ratings)

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Small Things Like These

By: Claire Keegan
Narrated by: Aidan Kelly
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Publisher's Summary

 THE NEW NOVEL FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FOSTER, ANTARCTICA AND WALK THE BLUE FIELDS  

 It is 1985, in an Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant, faces into his busiest season. As he does the rounds, he feels the past rising up to meet him - and encounters the complicit silences of a people controlled by the Church.  

The long-awaited new work from the author of Foster, Small Things Like These is an unforgettable story of hope, quiet heroism and tenderness.

©2022 Claire Keegan (P)2022 Faber & Faber

Critic Reviews

'Marvellous-exact and icy and loving all at once.' -Sarah Moss 'A haunting, hopeful masterpiece.' -Sinéad Gleeson

'This is a tale of courage and compassion, of good sons and vulnerable young mothers. Absolutely beautiful.' -Douglas Stuart (Winner of the Booker Prize 2020)

'[Claire Keegan] creates luminous effects with spare material, so every line seems to be a lesson in the perfect deployment of both style and emotion.' -Hilary Mantel

What listeners say about Small Things Like These

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    5 out of 5 stars

A brilliant text

A skillfully wrought text of man’s inhumanity to man mitigated by kindness and a conscience. It is the simplicity of her prose that allows us to enter the world of Ireland in 1985.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • A.
  • 13-05-2023

Great story, but so short!

Loved this but I was starting to invest in the characters when it came to an abrupt stop.

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1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

To Short

Way to short
Used a credit which is normally a novel worth
This title length was not value for money

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

I came here because of “Foster” and enjoyed them both as much as each other. Claire Keegan is a very talented writer and the narrator did a wonderful job. I would recommend this book/recording easily.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Not what I thought

The subject content appealed but it was wasn't a good read for me - wasn't interesting in the way I'd hoped.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Poignant

A lovely story full of meaning and lessons. Narration was perfect. I highly recommend it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Provocative

I loved everything about this engaging and thought provoking short story. A great Christmas read!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Heartbreakingly Real

Is it possible this was still happening so recently. Such a beautifully told reminiscence of life truth faith human cruelty and human kindness.

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Beautiful story and narration

I am addicted to Claire Keegan. Her stories are wonderful and her writing superb. Highly recommend!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful book

A heart -rending story of cruelty and kindness. What a thoughtful and brave man is Furlong. The writing is beautiful and so evocative. Superbly narrated also which added to the experience. I thoroughly recommend it

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