Review of FOSTER by Claire Keegan (New Release)

4 Stars

This novella of less than 100 pages can be read in one sitting, but its impact will last much longer than it takes to read it. 

An unnamed Irish girl is taken by her father to live on a farm with Edna and John Kinsella, relatives of her mother.  Though she knows nothing about them or how long she will stay with them, she thrives in their care because they treat her with kindness and show her true affection. 

The author writes in simple, spare prose that is elegant and evocative.  Every word seems to have been carefully chosen.  Characters are developed with statements that say so much.  For example, the girl’s father is revealed through statements  like “A stalk of rhubarb falls to the floor . . . [Dad] waits for [Edna] to pick it up, to hand it to him” and “He is given to lying about things that would be nice, if they were true” and “he never stays in any place long after he’s eaten” and “Why did he leave without so much as a good-bye, without ever mentioning that he would come back for me?” 

The ending is ambiguous, so the reader can interpret it as s/he wants.  Personally, I opt for a hopeful ending, especially because throughout the book, I kept expecting something sad and traumatic to happen.  Apparently, there’s a film adaptation of the story entitled The Quiet Girl so I’m anxious to see how it interprets the ending. 

I first encountered Claire Keegan earlier this year when I read Small Things Like These (which was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize).  I loved that novel (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2022/01/review-of-small-things-like-these-by.html) and I loved Foster.  Anyone looking for a nuanced narrative that is both beautiful and moving need look no further. 

Note:  I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.