“Discover why Foster by Claire Keegan is the book everyone discusses!”

Are you a book lover like me?

Or maybe you are in a reading hump and are just looking for a short novella to kickstart your reading journey…

Give this lyrically vivid, exquisite prose a read, and you might have found your answer.

“The sun, at a slant now, throws a rippled version of how we look back at us. For a moment, I am afraid. I wait until I see myself not as I was when I arrived, looking like a gypsy child, but as I am now, clean, in different clothes, with the woman behind me. I dip the ladle and bring it to my lips. This water is cool and clean as anything I have ever tasted: it tastes of my father leaving, of him never having been there, of having nothing after he was gone.”

― Claire Keegan, Foster

Keegan has triumphed in creating this modern classic, transporting you to the essence of a five-year-old describing norms of slices of life. Starting from page one, Keegan creates an immersive atmosphere, showcasing her mastery of vivid imagery and exquisite prose. Such a delicate writing style evokes sentimental resonance throughout the narrative.

In this novella set in rural Ireland, you’ll follow the story of a little girl sent to be fostered by the Kinsellas for the summer holidays brought on by her life circumstances. What should have been the scariest moment in a young girl’s life becomes a story of becoming, learning, and understanding love. She learns to navigate family dynamics, understanding loneliness and the desire for human connection as she forms familial bonds catering to the warmth and affection she has been craving in her family. And as summer ends, so is her time with her temporary sanctuary. A story that is both reflective and heartwarming, perfectly capturing the fleeting nature of relationships and the ill-tasting experiences of holding specks of joy amidst life volatility.

Though this novella is 88 pages short, Keegan didn’t shy away from exploring delicate and intricate themes such as family dynamics, a sense of belongingness, and the complexities of human relationships, which seemed impossible to encapsulate, but she accomplished it. Touching such elaborate themes through a little girl’s eye is a sensory feast filled with empathy and understanding. Keegan entrusted the readers to further elaborate on these themes and fully immerse in this reflected sensory mirror that stumps the reader before turning the page, not only to find what comes next but also to discover bits of pieces of themselves.

Still, needs more convincing? Why don’t you give this one a read?

“You don’t ever have to say anything,” he says. “Always remember that as a thing you need never do. Many’s the man lost much just because he missed a perfect opportunity to say nothing.”

― Claire Keegan, Foster

It is a simple reminder that silence is virtually beautiful, and we tend to neglect it, creating a hollow void in our lives or relationships. Sharing this wisdom with a five-year-old girl who, by instinct, taught to cry to satisfy her needs, to neglect the very nature to be heard, is so contradictive but inconsistently precise and vital. Let this prose echo within your five-year-old self, immerse in the evoking vagueness and confusion, and reflect on knowing the unknown and uncertainty. The amount of emotion can be drawn if this is read from both perspectives of then and now.

I remember as a little child cradled in an Asian home where the utmost respect for your parents and elders is expected. When we got into an argument, it was instilled into my being to shove the earth forming in my mouth and let that bitter taste linger within my buds as a form of respect. As a young kid, I always hated that I could not stand up for myself. I felt a drain of power and autonomy. As I grew older, this lesson helped me navigate my emotions before they smudged into my words. I learned to pause and reflect before throwing rocks that would soon seep back into the earth’s stomach. This is where Kegan’s work shines. It is a passage that offers a sense of reflection, of understanding within lightness and darkness.

Keegan truly has an exceptional gift for writing, the kind of gift that allows her to extract a sense of innocence from a mature topic and tackle it delicately and with much empathy. Her prose is nothing short of magical; the longer you ponder on it, the more transformative it becomes. It is a spellbinding writing power that resonates with a diverse audience, captivating them with lyricism and sensory emotions. Trust me, once you finish reading it, you’ll find yourself looped back to page 1!

I’m personally enthralled with this prose; it is simple yet effective and emotional.

“Mrs. Kinsella gives me a bar of yellow soap and my facecloth, the hairbrush. As we gather all these things together, I remember the days we spent, where we got them, what was sometimes said, and how the sun, for most of the time, was shining.”

― Claire Keegan, Foster

A primal way to fashion poignant prose is by painting it with yellow. Yellow is the color of the sun, the color of a comb, the color of a facecloth, and The color of joy. It is very emotional for a child to find tangibility in objects with no life forms. This made me reevaluate my steps and appreciate the unrecognized acts of love as they have become a habit. I remember my mom in the kitchen, cooking my favorite stew every Saturday, and the entire house was engulfed in the savory pork aroma and the earthy sweetness of potatoes and carrots. How my dad always checks my tires every morning and sees me drive to work, or how my sister always brings me food whenever she leaves the house, even if I’m not hungry. I’ve never thanked them for those acts I’ve failed to recognize, having to know that now, knowing that they think of me, taking a bit of space from their everyday. It made me feel sick in the stomach and happy in the heart.

I’m genuinely thankful to be reminded of where joy is born out of. Grateful to safeguard the source of my happiness. In this world, generations are transformed into strong individuals capable of withstanding life alone. Kegan stands with a great understanding of social relationships and the value of continually fostering them. Her masterpiece beautifully captures that joy comes from the hearts of those who only want to protect us. Tho we may not always be able to reciprocate it, spreading this joy is crucial.

I would like to conclude with this eloquent prose, which will always have a special place in my heart. Kinsella held her hand, and the butterflies she houses in her heart overflowed. This prose speaks volumes about how simple gestures of love can evoke powerful emotions.

Kinsella takes my hand in his. As soon as he takes it, I realize my father has never held my hand, and some part of me wants Kinsella to let me go so I won’t have to feel this.”

― Claire Keegan, Foster

I hope this masterpiece resonates with you as it did with me. Please give it a shot.

This is an Amazon affiliate link if you’re interested: https://amzn.to/3TqJvz7

You can also read this in medium : https://medium.com/illuminations-mirror/discover-why-foster-by-claire-keegan-is-the-book-everyone-discusses-c5ec51ece49bhttps://medium.com/@sirhclopez88

• SirhC