I was completely seduced by Claire Keegan’s novellas last year, so obviously I didn’t need much convincing to read her debut collection of short stories, Antarctica.

The titular story, Antarctica, is startling, and sets the tone for the rest of the collection. And I’d describe that tone as violent. The stories explore violence in what are predominantly domestic settings, and the focus is on women, and themes of fidelity and retribution. But before Antarctica takes its frightening turn, it begins with a brilliant first line –

Every time the happily married woman went away she wondered how it would feel to sleep with another man. Continue reading →