A review by booktalkwithkarla
The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li

reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

“Happiness, I would tell her, is to spend every day without craning one’s neck to look forward to tomorrow, next month, next year, and without holding out one’s hands to stop every day from becoming yesterday.”

This book, about a friendship between Agnes and Fabienne, is like no other novel I’ve ever read. At the sentence level it’s beautiful. I found myself confused and questioning, yet unable to give up. Secrets, stories, cruelty, and love are themes to contend with. Yiyun Li writes gorgeous prose. I wish I could be in conversation with the author or anyone about this book. I do think I learned two new things about myself as a reader from reading The Book of Goose - I prefer adult protagonists and likable characters. I’m glad I read this but I’ll be scratching my head for a bit about this one. 

“A year is a year anywhere, a day is a day for everyone, and yet with a few tricks, these archivists make others believe that they have packed something into their days, something precious, enviable, everlasting, that is not available to everyone.”