Guided Discussion: The Moral Dilemmas in Claire Keegan's Novellas Foster and Small Things Like These

How moral dilemmas mold portraits in the Irish writer Claire Keegan’s two wondrous novellas, Foster and Small Things Like These

One of The New York Times "Top 50 Novels Published in the 21st Century,” Claire Keegan’s piercing contemporary classic novella Foster is “a heartbreaking story of childhood, loss, and love.” Her other recent acclaimed novella, Small Things Like These, is a “deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy.”  Both narratives gain emotional depth from the intense conflicts her characters struggle to understand.

In this seminar, we will discuss how Keegan masterfully weaves together stories that consider the extent to which Judaic-Christian teachings still inspire her protagonists as they confront crucial conflicts in their lives. We will do so by discussing her unique mastery of character, place, and conflict.

Copies of both books have been set aside on the Hold Shelves for participants to pick up. 

About the Moderator:  Chris Douglass, a retired Scarsdale High School English department head and literature discussion leader. Douglass will be teaching two workshops intended to elicit group discussions about two writers’ contrasting creations of character and faith.

Note: This seminar is Part One of a two-part seminar illustrating the schism in Western faith after World War I. Enrollment limited to 15 participants.