Foster by Claire Keegan (2010): A Review
Author: Claire Keegan
Publication Year: 2010
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pages: 89
Source: eBook
Genre: literary fiction, short story
Awards: Winner of the Davy Byrne's Irish Writing Award
Movie Adaptation: The Quiet Girl (2022)
It is a rare art to convey profound emotion and meaning with such economy of language. Few authors attempt this, and even fewer succeed. Claire Keegan is among those exceptional writers who distill the complexities of innocence, guilt, and life into heartbreakingly subtle narratives. Her ability to evoke deep feeling with such restraint is truly astonishing. Having now read my second Claire Keegan book, I am convinced that she continues to surpass even her own remarkable achievements.
"Foster" tells the story of an unnamed girl, approximately six or seven years old, who is sent to live with foster parents while her mother gives birth to yet another child, the family burdened by poverty. It is notable that most characters, especially the girl herself, remain unnamed within the narrative, even as others address each other by name. The novella follows the girl's attempt to adjust to her new, temporary home over the summer, ultimately discovering affection and a new sense of belonging with her foster parents. The child's perspective is rendered with such clarity and restraint that it both breaks and warms the reader's heart. Through her eyes, the world and the meaning of family are seen in ways that evoke both sorrow and quiet joy.
Keegan's writing also distinguishes itself by prompting the reader to anticipate the worst possible outcomes before pivotal moments occur. It is a testament to her skill that she stirs such apprehension—perhaps reflecting something of our own mistrust and darkness. The final scene lingers in the mind, ambiguous and haunting, leaving the reader questioning what truly unfolded.
Notably, the story has been adapted into a film titled "The Quiet Girl," which I look forward to watching.
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