Foster

Foster, written by Irish author Claire Keegan and narrated by Aoife McMahon, is a poignant coming-of-age story set in rural Ireland in the 1980s. The audiobook follows the story of a young girl who is sent to live with a foster family for the summer. It is a beautifully written novel that explores themes of family, love, loss, and belonging.

The story is narrated by the young girl, who is not given a name, and is known only as the "child." The child lives with her parents and siblings in Dublin, but her mother is pregnant, and her father is worried about money. So, the child is sent to live with her foster parents, a couple who live in a rural farmhouse in County Kildare.

The child is initially apprehensive about living with strangers, but she is quickly taken in by her foster parents. The couple is warm and loving, and they welcome her into their home with open arms. They introduce her to their way of life, which is vastly different from the one she knows in Dublin. They teach her how to milk a cow, how to collect eggs from the henhouse, and how to fish in the nearby river.

The child is fascinated by the simplicity of their way of life and finds solace in the peace and quiet of the countryside. She is drawn to the natural beauty of her surroundings and feels a deep connection to the land. She spends her days exploring the fields and meadows, observing the wildlife, and soaking up the sun. She finds a sense of belonging in this new environment, and she begins to question her own identity.

As the summer progresses, the child becomes increasingly attached to her foster family. She forms a strong bond with the couple, and she grows to love them as if they were her own parents. She is happy and content in her new life, but she knows that it is only temporary. She knows that she will have to return to her old life in Dublin, where things are not as simple or as happy.

As the summer draws to a close, the child must face the reality of leaving her foster family. She is heartbroken at the thought of leaving the people she has grown to love, and she struggles to come to terms with the fact that her time with them is coming to an end. She is also conflicted about her own identity and her place in the world. She wonders if she will ever feel as connected to anything or anyone as she does to the land and her foster family.

Foster is a beautiful, lyrical novel that captures the essence of rural Ireland in the 1980s. The audiobook is expertly narrated by Aoife McMahon, who brings the story to life with her soft Irish accent and emotive reading style. The prose is elegant and understated, and the story is infused with a sense of longing and nostalgia. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of love, family, and belonging in a world that can often be harsh and unforgiving.