The Book of Goose

The Book of Goose is a 2022 novel written by Yiyun Li.[1][2][3] The novel was longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.

The Book of Goose
AuthorYiyun Li
LanguageEnglish
GenreFiction
PublisherFarrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date
2022

Writing and development

Li's initial inspiration for the novel was the discovery of a review of several books about French prodigies, published in the mid-20th century.[4] Li set the novel in France, though she had made only "occasional" trips to the country.[5] French-speaking writer Edmund White, a friend of Li's, read the novel before publication.[5] Li conducted historical research about France after World War II, the period during which portions of the novel takes place.[4] However, Li chose not to center the novel on the facts and information she discovered, as she did not feel the narrator, Agnes, needed to provide the readers overt verisimilitude.[4]

When Li completed the book, Li's editor compared the novel to the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante.[4]

Reception

Critical reception

According to literary review aggregator Book Marks, the novel received mostly "Rave" reviews.[6]

Critics have written about similarities between The Book of Goose and the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante.[7][8][9] Writing for The Atlantic, Sarah Chihaya referred to comparisons between the novel and the series by Ferrante as "too-easy" and "only helpful in orienting the reader toward the themes of desire and self-determination shared by the works."[7] In a review published by The Financial Times, Lucy Scholes asserted that comparisons between "any well-written novel about female friendship" and the Neapolitan Novels were inevitable.[8] Scholes specifically highlighted similarities in the settings of the works and the "dynamic" of the friendships.[8] Megan O'Grady wrote in a review for The New York Times that the comparisons were valid at the outset of the book, but as the novel evolved and the setting changed it instead reminded her of writing by Belgian author Fleur Jaeggy and Scottish writer Muriel Spark.[10]

Accolades and honors

The novel was long-listed for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.[11]

It was included on lists of the best novels in 2022 published by The New Yorker, Slate, and Time.[12][13][14]

References
  1. O’Grady, Megan (September 18, 2022). "Why Write? Yiyun Li's New Novel Explores Our Urge to Invent". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  2. "The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li – clever, witty novel of friendship". The Guardian. September 25, 2022.
  3. Chihaya, Sarah (September 26, 2022). "A Novel With a Secret at Its Center". The Atlantic.
  4. Yoo, Jaeyeon (22 September 2022). "Two Peasant Girls in Rural France Make a Plan to Fool the World". Electric Literature. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  5. Armistead, Claire (18 September 2022). "Yiyun Li: 'I'm not that nice friendly Chinese lady who writes… Being subversive is important to me'". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  6. "The Book of Goose". Book Marks. Literary Hub. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  7. Chihaya, Sarah (26 September 2022). "A Novel With a Secret at Its Center". The Atlantic. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  8. Scholes, Lucy (15 September 2022). "The Book of Goose — a tale of female friendship worthy of Elena Ferrante". Financial Times. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  9. O’Grady, Megan (18 September 2022). "Why Write? Yiyun Li's New Novel Explores Our Urge to Invent". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  10. O’Grady, Megan (18 September 2022). "Why Write? Yiyun Li's New Novel Explores Our Urge to Invent". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  11. "2023 Andrew Carnegie Medals Longlist". Locus Online. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  12. "The Best Books of 2022". The New Yorker. January 25, 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  13. Miller, Laura (2 December 2022). "The 10 Best Books of 2022". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  14. Gajanan, Mahita. "'The Book of Goose' Is One of the 100 Must-Read Books of 2022". Time. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
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