Book Review: “The Book of Goose” by Yiyun Li

The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li

I haven’t read Li before, so I didn’t know what to expect. 

If I tell you that this is the story of two 13-year old girls who are friends, but then they move away from home and never see each other again, that doesn’t sound like much.  What is there to tell?  What could be interesting here?

I’m glad to say that there is a lot here.

Agnès and Fabienne are ordinary girls from poor families in rural France.  But they do some amazing (and implausible) things; writing and publishing a novel (two, in fact) at age 13, which propels Agnès into stardom and admission to a British boarding school.

How could this happen?  And what happens to Agnès and Fabienne as the adult world crashes in with their stories of fame, profiteering, and “guidance” to “improve” Agnès.

Of course, there are places where the reader cringes at Agnès’ naivete.  I’m sure I’m not alone wanting to protect the girls, and just let them be.  But the world never lets children just be.

And, as it turns out, both Fabienne and Agnès are pretty darned plucky, considering.  They can’t stay 13 forever, and they certainly can’t have their grandest dreams come true.  But they seem to get through the inevitable crash, and on with decent lives.

You can tell I really like these kids.  So, it’s really sad when they separate.  Separation is inevitable, unavoidable, and possibly for the best.  But, it’s deeply sad.  As Agnès realizes, that summer with Fabienne was the best time of her life, even with all the crazy and unpleasant repercussions. 

Oh, I should also say that Li is a great writer to make this small and inconclusive story so gripping. I’ll be looking for more from her.

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1. Yiyun Li, The Book of Goose, New York, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2022.

Sunday Book Review