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nasalle2842's review against another edition
2.0
The Book of Goose is about the lifespan of a (toxic) female friendship. Actually, "lifespan" may be the wrong word because it only focuses on a short period of time/one inciting incident. I did enjoy the first third of the book, but over time it seemed to drag and fixate on incredibly mundane things. Also, I didn't care about the characters; I didn't DISLIKE the protagonist Agnes, but I didn't feel any emotional attachment to her either, and Fabienne is just mean and manipulative. For a story about female friendship I expected to feel a few tugs on my heartstrings, but instead I'm left feeling bored and a little let down by the overall story. I've seen a lot of people say that they loved the message the book carries, but it was lost on me. Ultimately, I enjoyed looking at the cover far more than reading it.
janey's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written but, for me, unsatisfactory in re the story.
taytots24's review against another edition
The number of times the phrase “dead baby” was used in the first hour of listening was too big of a turn-off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, and Miscarriage
sophie_gray's review against another edition
3.0
I did really enjoy this but didn’t feel an overall investment in the plot. explored the power dynamic of their friendship (and was it slightly lesbian…?) really well and felt like i had a good understanding of characters but was left sort of like… what actually even happened in that. but glad i read as an unusual setting compared to my usual books
cmward's review against another edition
3.5
I enjoyed this in parts, although I agree that it is a less good version of My Brilliant Friend. Pacing suffers during the boarding school section and the ending felt rushed. I liked the quiet thoughtfulness and portrayal of a difficult friendship.
ilona_rae's review against another edition
3.75
There was a lot to like about the story of a friendship of two teen girls in post war France. It was such a stark world - so many of the relationships were devoid of love. People using other people. Even the central love/friendship story was so toxic and they could never fully connect and save each other.
shafinshaikspeare's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
bethmara's review against another edition
4.0
Agnes and Fabianne grow up in rural post-war France bored by their lives and largely ignored by their families. Fabianne entertains both of them with elaborate and gruesome stories which they one day decide to put into a book.
What follows is Fabianne acting as the architect of both their fades sending Agnes into the limelight as the sole author of the book. Agnes initially embraces the part but finds herself pulled away from her family and set on a new path that will permanently change the arc of her life.
What the book does well, it does extremely well. And that is it captures the intensity of these two largely feral girls and their deep love and commitment to one another. The near obsessive quality of middle school aged girls friendship is both dark and complicated.
There are lots of fascinating and unanswered questions that feel very purposeful in being left open to interpretation rather than forgotten by the author.
If you're looking for the perfect book on adolescents, this is not it. Intense and really thought provoking.
What follows is Fabianne acting as the architect of both their fades sending Agnes into the limelight as the sole author of the book. Agnes initially embraces the part but finds herself pulled away from her family and set on a new path that will permanently change the arc of her life.
What the book does well, it does extremely well. And that is it captures the intensity of these two largely feral girls and their deep love and commitment to one another. The near obsessive quality of middle school aged girls friendship is both dark and complicated.
There are lots of fascinating and unanswered questions that feel very purposeful in being left open to interpretation rather than forgotten by the author.
If you're looking for the perfect book on adolescents, this is not it. Intense and really thought provoking.
wazaubrey's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kierstanryan's review against another edition
3.0
An unexpected love story between two girls whose imagination and desires happened in a time period before it was allowed.