Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Published 2022 · 112 pages · 19,923 words · about 1 hour at an average pace · Literary Fiction
How hard is Small Things Like These to read?
Small Things Like These scores 51 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it quite demanding. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.
- Vocabulary: 38 out of 100
- Keegan employs a straightforward vocabulary, avoiding specialized or archaic language. The language is accessible and contemporary, similar to "Beach Read" in its clarity, though slightly more elevated due to the subject matter.
- Sentence structure: 42 out of 100
- The sentences are generally concise and direct, with a moderate use of subordination. While not as simple as "Diary of a Young Girl," the syntax is far from the complex hypotaxis of "The Golden Bowl."
- Abstraction: 52 out of 100
- The narrative focuses on the concrete experiences of Bill Furlong and the societal realities of the Magdalene Laundries. However, the story subtly explores themes of morality, complicity, and personal responsibility, placing it slightly above pure narrative.
- Information density: 45 out of 100
- The book presents a focused narrative with a limited number of characters and plotlines. While the story is emotionally resonant, it does not overwhelm the reader with a high density of concepts or historical details.
- Narrative indirection: 60 out of 100
- Keegan relies on implication and suggestion rather than explicit exposition. The reader must infer the full extent of the abuses at the convent and the motivations of certain characters, requiring a more active reading experience.
- Symbolic density: 68 out of 100
- The story employs several recurring motifs, such as the cold weather and the image of the suffering women, which carry symbolic weight. While not as overtly symbolic as "Moby-Dick," these elements contribute to a deeper understanding of the narrative's themes.
- Ironic distance: 48 out of 100
- There is a subtle ironic distance in the portrayal of the town's complicity and Bill Furlong's initial reluctance to intervene. The narrative invites the reader to question the characters' actions and motivations, though the emotional core remains sincere.
- Resolution withholding: 62 out of 100
- The ending offers a sense of hope but leaves the long-term consequences uncertain. While Bill rescues one girl, the larger problem of the Magdalene Laundries remains unresolved, creating a degree of ambiguity.
- Structural complexity: 35 out of 100
- The narrative follows a linear chronological structure with a single point of view. There are no significant timeline jumps or experimental formal techniques, making it a straightforward read in terms of structure.
How Small Things Like These is regarded
Small Things Like These holds a literary regard score of 52 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.