Reviews

The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li

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chena_reads_romance's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book is really something. I read the entire thing in one day which I haven't done in a really long time.
The writing and prose is really good and mature! It makes the story interesting and adds a kind of tense energy that contributes to the overall vibe of the book. And the plot itself is also really interesting and unsettling. I loved seeing this back and forth between Agnes and Fabienne and better trying to understand who they are to each other.
However, about midway through, the book begins to lose steam when that's the area that it should really be amping up. Just when Agnes and Fabienne are being actively destructive around each other, they are separated from each other for months and that tense energy fizzles out. There should have been more there. More action, more friendship or dialogue between the two characters, something to make me better understand the intense obsession Agnes has with Fabienne. Because that isn't there, I'm left feeling a little underwhelmed. There also isn't a clear reason that I can see as to why Agnes is willing to drift from Fabienne without much fight. I revisited the first few pages again after finishing the book, and there's still more fire and urgency in Agnes' feelings for Fabienne than what is expressed in the ending.
Ultimately the book is solid and it was definitely enjoyable to read with some really amazing lines throughout! But it needed more action on the characters parts. Maybe it could have been a little longer too--the ending felt rushed.

Content Warnings