Small Things Like These is really about the small things, the random thoughts we often think about in the dark of the night, mundane thoughts we come across in passing. As you see, the book is small itself and so is the world of Furlong in the book, hence the title perfectly captures what is within.

You must have seen the mention of Magdalene Laundries in the reviews talking about this book. And yes it is about that too, but I would’ve never guessed it myself or have known about it if it weren’t mentioned in the introduction by the author! And that was a huge thing for me as I kept waiting for the introduction of Magdalene Laundry, for I had no idea what it was before coming across this book. But when that point did come into the story, it was as chilling as I expected.

The story is simply about Furlong, a coal and timber merchant, and his family, which incidentally consists of all women. He was born out of wedlock and that is a key point in the story that would be tied up later on. The story continues with his mundane thoughts as he is trying to understand the repetitiveness of his daily life. One day around Christmas though he comes across the Church and an incident inside it which might change his peaceful life forever, but that’s where the story ends.

Keegan has captured the beauty of daily life and the human mind beautifully and that’s what makes this a beautiful read. The mundaneness, the randomness!

I might have expected it to be more action-packed but I am satisfied with what I got in the end. This is the only book in the Booker Prize list this year that I have managed to read so far, but I am glad that I did. I came across a horrific part of history and I am grateful to have come across it.