joypirate's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Short and beautiful, like a dream.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, and Child abuse
nuii's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
4.75 because it's so short and i wanted more. A lovely, atmospheric little story. Would read again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Child death
pollyhall's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
It reminds me of the What I Did This Summer essay that children are forced to write in school.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Child death
lportilla's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Abandonment, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism
ellecama's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, and Child death
Moderate: Abandonment
imrereads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
This novella is introspective ans utterly captivating. Our narrator is a young girl who is temporarily forstered as her mother is about to have yet another child. It's quite sad and slow-paced, dealing with heavy topics like grief ans neglect, but also safetly and comfort. Absolutely stunning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, and Grief
loveallthis's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Grief, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
bi_n_sad's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, and Grief
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
samarakroeger's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
exquisite and understated. tender and quiet. very Irish. it read almost like free verse, with such carefully constructed flowing sentences and lilting dialogue. definitely not the flowery kind of poetic though (good for me).
this reads like something Pádraig Ó Tuama would choose to analyse on Poetry Unbound. so much left unsaid, Keegan excels at showing, not telling. this tiny novella packs a huge punch.
I read this in one sitting in a coffee shop (immediately after reading a poetry collection straight through), and haven’t recovered yet. the reading slump seems to be a thing of the past, though. thank god.
tempted to immediately listen to Small Things Like These, which I have on audio but haven’t picked up yet for some reason. I’d be a fool to not read more Claire Keegan soon.
this reads like something Pádraig Ó Tuama would choose to analyse on Poetry Unbound. so much left unsaid, Keegan excels at showing, not telling. this tiny novella packs a huge punch.
I read this in one sitting in a coffee shop (immediately after reading a poetry collection straight through), and haven’t recovered yet. the reading slump seems to be a thing of the past, though. thank god.
tempted to immediately listen to Small Things Like These, which I have on audio but haven’t picked up yet for some reason. I’d be a fool to not read more Claire Keegan soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Foster is another fabulous novella by Claire Keegan. It’s about a young girl from a large and not well-off family who is sent to spend the summer with relatives while her mother has a new baby. It was exquisite, written in an understated way. Keegan is a master at showing not telling and the story includes lots of closely observed small moments. And she doesn’t even show all the story. So much occurs off page and between words, yet the reader is always fully aware and never left wondering. Such brilliant storytelling. This story is tender, poignant and beautiful, with an ending that nearly broke me. Loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Grief