Book Review: Antarctica by Claire Keegan

My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ever since reading Small Things Like These in 2021 , I've become a fan of Claire Keegan’s writing. Recently, I picked up Foster which is also a beautifully written novella and since then I have been looking for more of her work. Antarctica is her debut collection of sixteen short stories, few of which had been previously published. This compilation of short stories was published in 1999.

As with all short story collections, some of the stories were particularly impactful while some were relatively weaker. My favorites among the stories include “Sisters” as the name suggests tells the story of two sisters whose lives take off in different directions, one of duty and sacrifice and the other of privilege and self-indulgence -but when pushed to the limits one of them snaps restoring a sense of balance to her life. “Men and Women,” is about a long-suffering Irish housewife and mother who finally gets an opportunity to prove her worth to her dominating and condescending husband.

The titular story “Antarctica” is about a happily married housewife who plans a weekend to fulfill her curiosity about “how it would feel to sleep with another man” but gets more than she bargained for. Some of the other stories that I enjoyed include “The Burning Palms,” “Passport Soup,” "Quare Name for a Boy” and “Storms”. In “The Singing Cashier”, the author incorporates the character of the serial killer Fred West into the story.

It is rare to find a short story collection that is impressive as this one. The prose is simple, crisp and elegant. The themes of these stories are varied as are the settings ( Ireland, England and the US)– infidelity, patriarchy and dominance, complicated family dynamics, sexuality, grief and guilt – there is a whole spectrum of human behavior and emotions that Claire Keegan writes about. With its vivid imagery, fluid prose and flawed characters, some of whom evoke sympathy and some not so much, Antarctica is an engaging and thought-provoking read.