Review: So Late in the Day

Book: So Late in the Day

Author: Claire Keegan

First published: 2023

Current publisher: Faber and Faber

Format: Print

Page count: 47

The physicals: Beautiful small hardback

Procurement: Christmas present, and only just got round to reading it!

Price: £8.99

I am a big fan of Claire Keegan's work, and I'm always happy to pick up anything written by her. This wonderful story didn't disappoint. It has all the CK trademarks: the quiet drama, the quiet shocks, the unsettling feeling of being let loose and allowed to explore this story by ourselves as readers. She only gives us so many clues... the rest is up to us. Reading CK is always a little disconcerting, always deeply rewarding, and of course, always fun in a rather serious way.

Some readers and reviewers have mentioned the shortness of the story. There is some dispute as to whether the publisher should have brought it out in a book as a solo story, and not in a collection. It is a short story, really, at 47 (small) pages. So perhaps it was a bit of a marketing gimmick... but I bet it worked. And perhaps £8.99 is on the steep side. (That is a fair point.) But really it's no different to any of those gift type of books that will be flooding bookshops any day now, ready for Christmas. Except it is much better, because it's great writing by one of the world's great writers. As an object it's beautiful, to look at and hold, as well as to read.

I won't hear a word against it. So there we are, a short review for a short story.

Shelf: This belongs on my "These are my CK books and I'm gonna keep them" shelf.

Would recommend to: Readers who enjoy very short literary stories, and who are looking for some of the very best writing around at the moment.