Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foster | 2010 | Claire Keegan | Buy |
| 2 | Small Things Like These | 2020 | Claire Keegan | Buy |
Foster (2010) and Small Things Like These (2020) are two of the most celebrated novellas in recent Irish literature. Foster tells the story of a young girl sent to live with distant relatives for a summer, and the experience of kindness she finds there compared to her chaotic home life. The story unfolds with a gentleness that makes its emotional impact all the more striking.
Small Things Like These is set in 1985 Ireland and follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant who discovers that the local convent is hiding abused women. The book asks what an ordinary person owes to others when looking away would be so much easier. The novella was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize and filmed with Cillian Murphy in the lead role.