Scan barcode
A review by imogenrose97
The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The first time I saw this book I judged it by it's cover and I didn't want to get involved, I did however grab a copy for a friend and she was O B S E S S E S ED, so naturally I found a cover I actually loved and when Christmas came around I was gifted the most beautiful hardback copy from the friend who's copy I bought for her.
I started as I start so many books, without reading the blurb and it worked out perfectly this time. I got to experience it all blindly. I loved the descriptions of the singularly isolating experience of childhood as a strange child in the countryside, let loose to roam without adult interference, the games you make up, the intense clarity you feel about who you are without knowing how to name each part. The stupidity of adults who don't really know you, despite having known you your whole life. '
I felt a little cheated that queerness was not explored in the intensity of our main characters' friendship. However, queerness is also something that I as a child did not know or acknowledge in my strangely possessive friendships, there was though ample opportunity in the descriptions of the present moment. This likely is why I didn't give it five stars. It felt like it would have slotted sweetly into the plot to answer so many questions on my mind. I guess the beauty of the story was this unanswerable question, why was the friendship the way that it was?
I started as I start so many books, without reading the blurb and it worked out perfectly this time. I got to experience it all blindly. I loved the descriptions of the singularly isolating experience of childhood as a strange child in the countryside, let loose to roam without adult interference, the games you make up, the intense clarity you feel about who you are without knowing how to name each part. The stupidity of adults who don't really know you, despite having known you your whole life. '
I felt a little cheated that queerness was not explored in the intensity of our main characters' friendship. However, queerness is also something that I as a child did not know or acknowledge in my strangely possessive friendships, there was though ample opportunity in the descriptions of the present moment. This likely is why I didn't give it five stars. It felt like it would have slotted sweetly into the plot to answer so many questions on my mind. I guess the beauty of the story was this unanswerable question, why was the friendship the way that it was?