Foster: by the Booker-shortlisted author of Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

" I had read Small Things Like These by this author and fell in love with it's language. It had the ability to look at insignificant details and make them hugely important.Foster is another novella set in Ireland and was recommended to me by a friend whose reading choices I admire. The book has 88 pages split into 8 chapters and printed using a large font (it doesn't take long to read!) The size of the novella gives a feel that every word matter and has been carefully chosen for it's purpose - the result is a rich piece of writing which is a joy to read. I thought that this sits somewhere between a book and a poem with a touching story at it's centre written in a lyrical style. The child narrated the story of her experience - she is young and tells us only what she sees. The inner strength comes from what is not said and the reader gradually learns more as the hidden stories are allowed to develop. The people in this book say what is necessary but mean so much more. Gradually we get more understanding about the child and her immediate future. The ending is powerful with a combination of emotions that is very challenging to portray in so few words...."

출산과 어려운 집안 사정으로 친척집에 맡겨진 여자아이와 그녀를 돌보는 위탁가정을 다루고 있는 작품이다. 약 100페이지 정도의 단편이고 심플한 이야기지만 장편이 다루고 있는 내용이 다 있는 거 같다. '사랑' '상실' '가족' 등의 이야기가 조용하지만 인상 깊게 그려지고 있다. 전체적으로 난해한 수준은 아니지만 인터넷의 도움을 받아야 하는 부분도 있다.