A review by pzdrnk
The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li

4.0

Yiyun Li’s The Book of Goose is a stark and contemplative exploration of identity, friendship, and the constraints imposed on women in the postwar era. Drawing comparisons to My Brilliant Friend, Li similarly delves into the fragility of selfhood within intense relationships and the yearning to escape one’s origins. However, where Elena Ferrante’s work is warm and vivid, Li’s prose is colder—bleaker, icier, and more cutting.

The opening chapters brim with promise, introducing intriguing dynamics and thought-provoking situations. Yet, the pacing felt uneven at times, and the final chapters didn’t fully deliver on the potential of the story’s setup. By the end, I was acutely aware of its crafted nature rather than being swept away by the illusion of reality—a hallmark of truly exceptional fiction, in my view.

Still, The Book of Goose is an odd yet compelling read, offering a unique and detached narrative voice that’s both unsettling and profound. Though it left me wanting more in some areas, it’s a thought-provoking novel that lingers, and I’m eager to explore more of Yiyun Li’s work