Furlong’s journey is about finding the courage to speak and act.

Finding Your Voice:

Furlong’s decision to act reflects the transformative power of choice.

The Importance of Choice:

Hidden truths, like those of the convent, eventually demand confrontation.

The Weight of Secrets:

Religious institutions that preach charity sometimes fail to practice it.

The Christian Paradox:

It’s the small, everyday choices that define our humanity.

Small Things Matter:

The book highlights the struggles of the working class in 1980s Ireland.

Economic Inequality:

Even small acts of kindness can ripple through a community and create change.

The Power of Kindness:

Standing up for what is right often means going against the status quo.

Moral Courage:

Silence in the face of injustice is a form of complicity.

The Weight of Silence:

Everyday people, like Bill Furlong, can become heroes through their choices.

Ordinary Heroism:

Furlong’s internal conflict shows how guilt shapes our moral compass.

The Struggle with Guilt:

Our upbringing influences our character, but it doesn’t define our future.

Family Shapes Identity:

Seeing others’ struggles can awaken our sense of humanity.

The Value of Empathy:

The story critiques institutions that abused power in Irish society.

Confronting Oppression:

Societal expectations often discourage standing out or speaking up.

Community Pressure:

The cold, bleak setting mirrors the emotional and moral barrenness of the town.

Winter as a Metaphor:

Even in dark situations, hope can be found through small, compassionate actions.

Hope Amid Despair:

The Magdalene laundries symbolize how women were mistreated and silenced.

The Role of Women:

Furlong’s love for his daughters motivates him to create a better example for them.

Parenthood:

Gossip and fear of judgment can stifle moral action.

Small Town Dynamics:

20 Life Lessons from Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

**OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK, DECEMBER 2024****NEW YORK TIMES BOOK CLUB PICK, DECEMBER 2024**NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING CILLIAN MURPHYA New York Times Bestseller • Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize • Winner of the Orwell Prize for Political FictionOne of the New York Times's 100 Best Books of the 21st Century"A hypnotic and electrifying Irish tale that transcends country, transcends time." —Lily King, New York Times bestselling author of Writers & LoversSmall Things Like These is award-winning author Claire Keegan's landmark new novel, a tale of one man's courage and a remarkable portrait of love and familyIt is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church.An international bestseller, Small Things Like These is a deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy from one of our most critically lauded and iconic writers.

Confronting Oppression:

Similar ideas to Confronting Oppression:

The Macro Level of Society

Anarchism

Enlightenment: Coffeehouses and salons