In this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, author Claire Keegan discusses her short novel "Small Things Like These" and its connection to the Magdalen Laundries scandal. Keegan explores the novella's themes of misogyny, power dynamics, and the moral dilemma of confronting injustice through the story's protagonist Bill Furlong.
NPR's critic praises the emotional depth and subtlety with which Keegan depicts this recent societal injustice. The author also shares insights into her writing process, discussing her preference for the concise form of short stories and her organic approach of refining the previous day's work to uncover a compelling narrative.
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"Small Things Like These" by Claire Keegan explores themes of misogyny, power dynamics, and confronting injustice through Bill Furlong's moral dilemma. Becker notes the story resonates due to its emotional depth and subtlety in portraying recent societal injustice.
Keegan connects her novella to the Magdalen Laundries scandal, where the Catholic Church forced women into unpaid labor until the 1990s. This historical context brings gravity and authenticity to the narrative, according to Becker.
Keegan explains her preference for the intense, concise form of short stories over lengthy novels. She details her daily routine of refining the previous day's work without pre-planning, organically uncovering an intriguing, tension-filled narrative. Keegan typically produces around 30 drafts per work.
While details are limited, it's implied Keegan may write her next novel set on the familiar backdrop of her childhood farm, mining personal history for a captivating story.
1-Page Summary
Deborah Becker and Claire Keegan dive into the interwoven threads of misogyny, power dynamics, and the fight for justice within "Small Things Like These."
Claire Keegan presents the protagonist, a coal merchant named Bill Furlong, as a figure embodying hope and courage. Furlong's discovery of a woman's exploitation at a local convent is a telling episode that exposes the entrenched misogyny and power dynamics in his community.
The narrative, set just before Christmas, uses the stark contrast of the festive season to highlight the personal conflict and moral choices of a man with the rare agency to alter the course of events. As the protagonist grapples with what he uncovers, the themes of the story expand to view how individuals confront social injustice.
"Small Things Like These" draws on the historical and deeply troubling background of the Magdalen Laundries scandal in Ireland, where the Catholic Church forced women into unpaid labor. This real-life context brings authenticity and gravity to the novella's narrative. The Magdalen Laundries, operational for centuries with the last one closing in the 1990s, underscores a dark chapter in Irish history, which resulted in a formal apology from the Irish government in 2013.
"Themes, Inspiration, Significance of 'Small Things Like These'"
Claire Keegan discusses her writing process and storytelling approach, detailing her preference for short stories and the methods she employs to create her acclaimed works.
Keegan expresses her affinity for the shorter, more intense forms of writing such as short stories, over the longer form of novels. She believes that the level of intensity she seeks in her narrative is most effectively conveyed in a short story, where every paragraph can hold significant emotional weight.
Keegan aims to create stories that move people emotionally without being long-winded. Her storytelling is known for its elegance and conciseness, where each paragraph is meticulously crafted to contribute to the overall impact of the story.
Keegan shares insights into how she begins and develops her stories each day.
Her daily writing routine starts by reviewing and refining what she wrote the previous day. Keegan prefers to print out her work, pore over it, and try to add or improve something. She emphasizes the organic nature o ...
Keegan's Writing Process and Storytelling Approach
The details about Keegan's plans for her next work are not explicit; however, it is implied that Keegan is set to embark on a new literary project.
It is suggested that Keegan is considering a return to her roots for inspiration in her forthcoming novel. She may be drawn to the familiar and resonant setting of her childhood farm, which often provides a rich tapestry of memories and experiences for a novelist to mine.
While not explicitly stated, one can infer ...
Keegan's Plans for Her Next Work
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