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carojust's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It's interesting that so many of us see Elena Ferrante's "My Brilliant Friend" in this book. Admittedly this bothered me, not because of its similarity, but because of how Fabienne pales to Lina; as Yiyun Li's own character reflects, Fabienne is opaque -- frustratingly flat, when something more perfect and nuanced is already out there in the literary world.
But "The Book of Goose" moves forward in its own poetic way, as young Agnès is forced into fame after writing down the morbid, imaginative stories of Fabienne's mind, which carries her alone to distant England where she is placed in an unfriendly, genteel world.
There's really beautiful reflections on survival and hope in an improverished, wartime setting, where innocence and futility come in the form of two girls' love for each other. The author's writing kept me captivated and immersed in something that should have felt depressing, but was actually a sweet kind of sorrow.
You'll like this book if you're into historical fiction, unspoken bonds, and coming-of-age meditations.
But "The Book of Goose" moves forward in its own poetic way, as young Agnès is forced into fame after writing down the morbid, imaginative stories of Fabienne's mind, which carries her alone to distant England where she is placed in an unfriendly, genteel world.
There's really beautiful reflections on survival and hope in an improverished, wartime setting, where innocence and futility come in the form of two girls' love for each other. The author's writing kept me captivated and immersed in something that should have felt depressing, but was actually a sweet kind of sorrow.
You'll like this book if you're into historical fiction, unspoken bonds, and coming-of-age meditations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Pedophilia, Sexism, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and War
scmiller's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Infertility, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Alcohol
silverseaslug's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Although it was short, this is one of the best-written books I've read recently
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts