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Angela M is taking a break.'s Reviews > So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men
So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men
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Angela M is taking a break.'s review
bookshelves: edelweiss-reviews, netgalley-reviews
Sep 04, 2023
bookshelves: edelweiss-reviews, netgalley-reviews
Read 2 times. Last read September 3, 2023 to September 4, 2023.
From the first time I read a story by Claire Keegan, I knew I wanted to read more by her. She writes quiet, impactful and thought provoking stories that pull me in from the beginning, hold me through the end because I simply have to know what happens to her characters. She writes stories that have stayed with me.
I read the first and title story in this short collection as a stand alone published previously in the New Yorker . A character study of a man named Cathal, who made me angry, yet made me feel sorry for him at the same time. He’s a man I wouldn’t want to be married to. The middle story “The Long and Painful Death” is my favorite of the three. An introspective portrayal of a young woman writer coming into her own. Interesting to see how the process of her writing plays out. “Antarctica” is the final story of a woman wanting to escape a bit from her mundane life as a wife and mother. An ending I wasn’t expecting!
Claire Keegan is a master at writing character studies and it is pretty amazing how we can come to intimately know her characters in such short fiction. Besides this collection, I’ve read a couple of other stories and her novella Foster, which is my favorite. I also loved Small Things Like These. All are beautifully written.
I received a copy of this from Grove Press through NetGalley and Edelweiss.
I read the first and title story in this short collection as a stand alone published previously in the New Yorker . A character study of a man named Cathal, who made me angry, yet made me feel sorry for him at the same time. He’s a man I wouldn’t want to be married to. The middle story “The Long and Painful Death” is my favorite of the three. An introspective portrayal of a young woman writer coming into her own. Interesting to see how the process of her writing plays out. “Antarctica” is the final story of a woman wanting to escape a bit from her mundane life as a wife and mother. An ending I wasn’t expecting!
Claire Keegan is a master at writing character studies and it is pretty amazing how we can come to intimately know her characters in such short fiction. Besides this collection, I’ve read a couple of other stories and her novella Foster, which is my favorite. I also loved Small Things Like These. All are beautifully written.
I received a copy of this from Grove Press through NetGalley and Edelweiss.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
( Edition)
July 18, 2022
– Shelved
( Edition)
July 18, 2022
– Shelved as:
to-read
( Edition)
June 13, 2023
– Shelved
June 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
September 3, 2023
–
Started Reading
September 4, 2023
– Shelved as:
netgalley-reviews
September 4, 2023
– Shelved as:
edelweiss-reviews
September 4, 2023
–
Finished Reading
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Barbara
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Sep 04, 2023 12:22PM
I alone of the few who hasn't read Keegan yet. Your review is very convincing, Angela.
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Like Barbara, I've read Keegan yet, either. She sounds right up my alley with your description of her quiet and impactful writing style. Wonderful review, Angela :-)
I loved Small Things and the movie version of Foster so with your endorsement I will need to check this out.
Beautiful review, Angela. I seem to have a fondness for Irish writers, better said, there are so many good Irish writers.
Terrific thoughts, Angela. As you know I’m not a fan of the shorts but I have enjoyed Keegan.She does do characterizations phenomenally.
Barbara wrote: "I alone of the few who hasn't read Keegan yet. Your review is very convincing, Angela."Barbara, while this collection is good, I would highly recommend Small Things Like These and Foster.
Libby wrote: "Like Barbara, I've read Keegan yet, either. She sounds right up my alley with your description of her quiet and impactful writing style. Wonderful review, Angela :-)"Libby, thanks so much. See my comment to Barbara.
Cathrine ☯️ wrote: "I loved Small Things and the movie version of Foster so with your endorsement I will need to check this out."C, I loved Small Things Like These, too. I neglected to mention that in my review.
Bianca wrote: "Beautiful review, Angela. I seem to have a fondness for Irish writers, better said, there are so many good Irish writers."Bianca, thanks so much. I’ve found myself drawn to Irish writers as well.
Jen CAN wrote: "Terrific thoughts, Angela. As you know I’m not a fan of the shorts but I have enjoyed Keegan.She does do characterizations phenomenally."
Jen, I get your perspective. It took me a while to get into them, they don’t always work for me either, but Keegan’s writing is just phenomenal. Thanks so much.
Cathrine ☯️ wrote: "I loved Small Things and the movie version of Foster so with your endorsement I will need to check this out."C, I wasn’t able to post the link to the first short story here, but it’s contained in my brief review of it and I think you can open it there.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wonderful review, Angela! I wasn't crazy about Foster (thought it was an okay read, though) but liked Antarctica a lot, which I read in a different collection. Based on that great story, I'm hot to read other stories by her.
Thanks, Debbie . Antarctica was a bit of a shocker at the end . 😳
Beautiful review, Angela!
Lovely review, Angela. I too echo your words that I knew when recently I read Small Things Like These that I have to read more of her works. I just read one book by her and certainly try this one. Thanks for sharing it :)
Beautiful review. I know just what you mean, having read those other two by her.
Karen, thanks so much. I know how much you love Keegan’s writing.
Guarav, thanks very much . Enjoy.
Carmel, thanks so much!
Thanks, Debra !
I love this author too, and although short stories are hit or miss with me, I’ll definitely give this book a try. Great review Angela!
Jan, thanks very much! I don’t always love short stories either , but can’t pass up her stellar writing!
I loved Small Things Like these.I read the title story in the New Yorker, and while I found her prose wonderful, the story/character sketch left me feeling unsatisfied.
I am happy to know that the other two stories worked well for you.
I am hoping to get to more of her work soon.
And I do love a quiet story. Beautiful review, Angela. I still need to try this author and stop “saving.”
I have this ahead of me to read. I think I have read a couple of the stories before but I’m sure they will still greet me like new friends. It’s always nice to return to Keegan. Thanks for your nice review, Angela.
Sue, thanks ! I’ll be interested in your thoughts.
Love your review, Angela! Foster also remains my favourite, although I've loved everything that I've read by her. So glad that you loved this collection, as well!
Cheri, thanks so much . I thought of the little girl long after I finished it . A memorable story!
Excellent review Angela! I’d definitely love to try this one based on your thoughts!💕
Thanks, Lesley !
This sounds excellent. Thanks for your review.
Martha, thanks. It was excellent.
Julie, thanks so much.
