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Small Things Like These

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Small Things Like These

By: Claire Keegan
Narrated by: Aidan Kelly
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About this listen

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

'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)

'Marvellous-exact and icy and loving all at once.' - Sarah Moss

'A haunting, hopeful masterpiece.' - Sinéad Gleeson

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.

'[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

©2022 Claire Keegan (P)2022 Faber & Faber
Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Tear-jerking Celebration

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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  • Overall
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    3 out of 5 stars

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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    5 out of 5 stars
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Lyrical and lovely

Beautiful writing from Claire Keegan read with empathy and insight.
Extraordinary glimpse into the true horror of the Magdalene laundries and how religious and moral self-righteousness enables human beings to consider themselves more important than others.

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  • Overall
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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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Great narration

Authentic at every level, this engaging story describes the many layers of a person’s deep origins and responses to life events through the eyes, mind and heart.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Breathtakingly beautiful

The most perfect book and an excellent narrator
A must for anyone’s library
Claire Keegan is a superstar

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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gritty tale of the human spirit

short but sweet. hard times bring out the best. as usual great production. recommended

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  • Overall
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Heartfelt Story

Beautifully written story about a difficult subject, Keegan handles the subject with a delicate sense of time and place. The story stays with you.

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  • Overall
    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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human story

Sad, heartbreaking, heartwarming, the struggles of one man and so many. A very good read.

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Provocative

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

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