Winter coziness might not be quite right in a tropical climate, but grab your hot chocolate anyway, because I’ve read a book I meant to save for Christmas a bit earlier than planned.
Title: Small Things Like These
Author: Claire Keegan
Published: November 30, 2021 by Grove Press
Genre: Christmas, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Ireland, Literary Fiction, Novella
Summary
Small Things Like These is a historical fiction set in a small town in Ireland in 1985, during the Christmas season. We meet Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man. One morning, while delivering coal to a local convent, Bill discovers something that forces him to confront his past.
Review
Small Things Like These has a comforting writing. Keegan’s prose has a softness that I can’t quite describe, creating a cozy atmosphere. This might be why I didn’t initially realize how dark the story actually is.
From the first page, the book says:
“In October, there were yellow trees. Then the clocks went back an hour, and the long November winds came in and blew, stripping the trees bare. In the town of New Ross, chimneys emitted smoke that drifted away in long, wispy strands before dispersing along the quays. Soon, the River Barrow, dark as stout, swelled up with rain.”
The prose, with its intricate details and elegant style, feels decadent overall. The setting in a small town adds its own charm to the book.
What I find remarkable about this book is how well Keegan balances Bill’s internal turmoil with the present dilemma he faces.
Bill has a peaceful life. He works hard, earns well, and is raising a family. Despite this, he feels restless. When he discovers a secret that tears at his conscience, he grapples with whether to act on his good heart, which could ruin him and his family, or to remain compliant and forget what he has discovered. During this time, Bill is also confronted with his past and trauma, which slowly resurface due to his discovery.
With that, I became acquainted with Bill. You can really sense how good of a man he is because it tears him apart not to act in good conscience. This illustrates how nuanced Keegan’s character writing is.
The novella ended in a way I didn’t anticipate, but Keegan left clues throughout the story about what Bill would eventually face. This made for a satisfying ending for me.
Final Thoughts
This book creates a wonderfully cozy atmosphere, enhanced by a subtle amount of foreshadowing that adds just the right amount of tension while preserving a distinctly Christmas feel, despite the darker story it tells.
It will be deeply appreciated by readers of literary fiction, those seeking a compelling short story to lift their spirits, or anyone looking to embrace the Christmas spirit a bit early, as I did.
If you’ve read this book, please leave a comment below and share what you loved about it!
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