Beautiful and lyrical - 5 - star

Beautiful and lyrical set in a small community in Ireland in the mid 80's and having as its central theme the Magdalene Laundries which were an institution primarily for the care of "fallen women" and run mostly by the catholic church. In reality easy labour, persecution, and abuse in the name of the church. Bill Furlong, a family man, with caring wife and 5 daughters was borne out of wedlock his mother being cared for by the generous Mrs Wilson, and this act of generosity saved her from a life of servitude. As Xmas approaches a delivery to the sisters of mercy, confronts Bill with a dilemma and a decision needs to be made......a kind act of mercy giving rise to the title...Small things like these. The writing is beautiful, soft and unhurried......."chimneys threw out smoke which fell away and drifted off in hairy, drawn-out strings before dispersing along the quays"....."Had it not been for her, his mother might well have wound up in that place. In an earlier time it could well have been his own mother he was saving- if saving was what this could be called. And only god knew what would have happend to him, where he might have ended up" A worthy booker prize short list 2022 and a beautiful read. Highly recommended.