A quick and lovely read with a big message - Small Things Like These tells the story of the Magdalen laundries in Ireland, which were run by the Catholic Church throughout the 20th century. These so-called "homes" were brutal work camps, designed to punish women deemed to have "questionable morals" or "personality issues," often as a result of having children out of wedlock. These women had their babies taken from them and were forced to work in grueling conditions, with little or no knowledge of what happened to their children. Many of the babies were sold for adoption, while others tragically died in the care of these institutions - all under the guise of Catholic charity.

The novel follows Bill Furlong, a kind-hearted, wistful log and coal delivery man who was born out of wedlock to a 16-year-old mother. Raised by his mother's employer, Mrs. Wilson, Furlong now has a wife and five daughters of his own. When he has a chance encounter at one of the laundries, Furlong feels a deep moral calling and begins grappling with the realization that he must take action. As he reflects on how lucky he is compared to the women he meets, he feels compelled to offer help, even in small ways.

Small Things Like These is a story about the power of kindness and the impact of small gestures. It reminds us that reaching out with even a small act of compassion can sometimes be enough to make a difference in someone's life. The novel beautifully illustrates how such acts can save both others and ourselves.

As I mentioned in my review of Foster (also by Keegan), the short story format isn't always my favorite. I'm often left wanting more. But perhaps that’s the magic of Keegan’s writing — she sparks an emotional fire within the reader and then leaves them to sit with the rawness of it, forcing us to carry something meaningful away even as her stories end.