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  • Small Things Like These

  • By: Claire Keegan
  • Narrated by: Aidan Kelly
  • Length: 1 hr and 57 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,194 ratings)

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Small Things Like These

By: Claire Keegan
Narrated by: Aidan Kelly
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Summary

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
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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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beautiful

such a beautiful story, though short it is full of heart, will make you think and feel.

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Fabulous

Wasn’t sure about such a short book - but it was a truly great read. Touches on so many issues without melodrama - just facts and yet it is full of emotion! . The writing style was also great - quality that demands respect - so many subplots it makes you wonder how it was achieved in such a short book. This was my first Claire Keegan novel - I’m off to find more!

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More please!

The story had me gripped, I just wished it was longer! Beautiful writing and imagery.

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All round excellence

From start to finish this was a gripping moving story well read with feeling. Thoroughly enjoyable.

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Good story

I enjoyed this more than I expected - good story with interesting characters! Well worth a read/listen!

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a beautiful portrait of people & place

I was very moved by this book. a beautiful portrait of people and place.

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Brilliant brilliant story

So so good, a perfect short book. Narrated brilliantly, enjoyed this so much. Highly recommend

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Perfection

This is a beautifully written story. Very much looking forward to reading more of Keegan’s works.

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The wonderful descriptions of normal life in Ireland at a certain time.

Nothing to dislike. A lovely story of normal Irish life and its worries joys and concerns of living.

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Absolutely wonderful

Beautifully written and narrated story, very moving and full of insight. Evocative descriptive prose, beautifully crafted.

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