A quick, slice-of-life glimpse of life in 1985 in a town in Ireland.
A Christmastime story, which only touches on some sad, scary historical themes.
Bill Furlong, a good man, tries to be a voice for the downtrodden he comes across, especially for some young women housed in a Catholic convent home.
Leaves you wanting more, in a good way. ( )

I rounded up the stars. This is my first Claire Keegan book, and it drew me in, but it didn't wow me. I don't think it was supposed to, but after reading the reviews, I expected more.
Bill Furlong is a man reaching middle age. He's happy and satisfied with his life. Although he was born to an unwed mother, who died at a young age, he was cared for and nurtured by his mother's employer, Mrs. Wilson. He is happily married with 5 daughters, all of whom he loves very much. As Christmas draws near and cold settles in, he is very busy delivering coal and other heating materials. One of his calls brings him to the convent, where he meets one of the Laundry girls, girls of ill repute, and she pleads for him to let her out of the convent, even if it's just so she can run to the river and into the cold. That unsettles him a lot and for the next few days he begins to wonder about all he's held as true. He wonders, what should he do, and if not him, who. The book moves slowly, like his mind as he ponders, what is right and why. ( )

Bill Furlong is to [b:Small Things Like These|58662236|Small Things Like These|Claire Keegan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627655660l/58662236._SX50_.jpg|86476810] as Maurice Harrington is to [b:When All Is Said|39863464|When All Is Said|Anne Griffin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542078980l/39863464._SY75_.jpg|61659678].

I first read this book back in November and promised myself I would reread this novel on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day as it was such a beautiful story.

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.

This is my second novel by Claire Keegan having read and loved [b:Foster|8143909|Foster|Claire Keegan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328146652l/8143909._SY75_.jpg|12942254] back a few years ago. I was captivated by her characters and imagery in this story. It’s just beautifully written and exposes a harsh but realistic Ireland of the mid 1980s. There is such a rich sense of time and place in this story and you want to savor each and every word. It’s a small novella with just 128 pages but not a word is wasted. I feel the least said about this one the better. This is the perfect novel to read by a cozy fire and can be done in one sitting. I listened to this one on audio but I immediately purchased a hard copy for my real life book shelf.

A beautiful book that I will remember many years from now. This would make a great bookclub read. ( )

The Short of It:

Brief, but powerful.

The Rest of It:

“It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church.” ~ the publisher

This is a fictional account of an actual event in history when fallen young girls were set to convents in Ireland. Disguised as a home for girls, it was actually a cruel, abusive place called a Magdalen laundry. These women often lost their babies. The numbers of children lost, in the thousands.

In this story, Bill delivers coal to the convent and discovers a young girl, locked away. She begs for help. He’s not sure how to respond and can’t under watchful eyes. So he returns home, to his wife and five daughters as they prepare for the Christmas holiday.

There’s cake making. Gift wrapping, the merry sounds of a happy family but Bill cannot forget that young girl at the convent. He mentions it to his wife Eileen and she reminds him that the convent is very good to them. They pay on time and often include a Christmas bonus, which they did. She tells him to forget the incident. That everyone knows what goes on there but that it’s none of their business.

This doesn’t sit well with Bill. His mind keeps going back to that young girl, her name is Sarah and as he gazes upon his own girls, he is unwilling to let it go.

This is a marvelous read. Short. Very short. I had no idea how short it was when I was looking for a book to read on Hoopla. A mere 128 pages but each page is so rich with detail. There are no extra words here. Every word bears weight. The heavy story line against the joys of Christmas is a stark juxtaposition but it works so well here. As brief as it is, it would be a good discussion book for a club.

Recommend. It was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize.

For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter. ( )

A subtle and lovely short novel. Set in an Irish town with a Magdalen laundry, the protagonist comes to understand his own childhood and is motivated to bring grace to another soul. The writing is spare, yet deeply resonant. A perfect read at Christmas. ( )