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The Book of Goose
The Book of Goose: A Novel | Yiyun Li
54 posts | 43 read | 28 to read
Fabienne is dead. Her childhood best friend, Agns, receives the news in America, far from the French countryside where the two girls were raisedthe place that Fabienne helped Agns escape ten years ago. Now, Agns is free to tell her story. As children in a war-ravaged, backwater town, theyd built a private world, invisible to everyone but themselvesuntil Fabienne hatched the plan that would change everything, launching Agns on an epic trajectory through fame, fortune, and terrible loss. A magnificent, beguiling tale winding from the postwar rural provinces to Paris, from an English boarding school, to the quiet Pennsylvania home where Agns can live without her past, The Book of Goose is a story of disturbing intimacy and obsession, of exploitation and strength of will, by the celebrated author Yiyun Li.
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review
IuliaC
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Mehso-so

In a French village ravaged by WWII, the astonishing friendship between two girls generates a temporary farse in the literary world and separates their destinies by sending one of them to Paris and then to a British boarding school.

Although the writing and existential questions are beautiful, the ressemblance with my "My Brilliant Friend" is shocking, but Elena Ferrante's novel remains more remarkable, more powerful and overall exceptional.

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Sapphire
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#readingbracket2024 #bookbracket2024 I didn‘t know how to choose between this and the Postcard, but then I saw I rated this a rare 5 on StoryGraph. I wonder if this is the year all my favorites will involve stories of differing perspectives.

Catsandbooks Awesome!! 💚 8mo
16 likes1 comment
review
Singout
Pickpick

Moving, engaging, informative: two teen girls, best friends in post WWII France, create a scheme where the more gifted one channels literature through the more middle-class one, whose work is more likely to be accepted. They unexpectedly become separated when the “prodigy”writer is sent to England and the rest of the book explores their friendship, with its strong lesbian subtext, issues of culture and class, and youth power and choices. #Bookspin

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 8mo
12 likes1 comment
review
Sapphire
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Pickpick

I debated reading this book, each time I read the description I had a different reaction as to if I thought it had merit beyond another WWII novel. I loved this book. Its overt story is mildly interesting, but the existential questions it poses are the really beauty. Ideas of existence and meaning and identity explored in a fresh and poignant way.

Ruthiella I really liked this one too. 👍 8mo
jlhammar I loved this too. Great review! 8mo
25 likes2 comments
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Sapphire

Revenge is a story that begins with more promises than its ending can keep.

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Singout

#Bookspin

1. Doppelgänger
2. Nothing to Envy
3. Run Towards the Danger
4. Thank You Mr Nixon
5. When We Were Sisters
6. An Immense World
7. Ghosts of the Tsunami
8. Hunger
9. A Small Place
10. Saving Time
11. Citizen
12. H is for Hawk
13. The Reason I Jump
14. Fruit of the Drunken Tree
15. We Should Not Be Afraid of the Sky
16. The Bandit Queens
17. Big Men Fear Me
18. Don‘t Bite the Hook
19. Some People Need Killing
20. Greenwood

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 9mo
Singout Winner: Nothing to Envy 9mo
9 likes2 comments
review
Larkken
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Pickpick

I found last year's ToB winner interesting, esp the way it made me think about talent thwarted by circumstance and outlets for frustration, the fact it was about two post-war French girls but was written by a woman who lived in China until she was 26, and written in English as a second language. It all made it feel very spare and deliberate. I'm glad #ToB2023 made me read it, though I don't think it was my favorite of that crop of novels.

35 likes1 stack add3 comments
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merelybookish
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I couldn't manage a #top23of23. My collage skills just are not up to the task, so here's some of my favourite reads from the past year. There are a few missing but The Birthday Party, Forbidden Notebook, Girls of Slender Means, and Run Towards the Danger were my absolute stands outs!
@BarbaraBB @Cinfhen

Ruthiella The Fortnight in September is one of my favorite all time books. 😍 (edited) 11mo
squirrelbrain I loved Sorrow and Bliss; in fact, it was my favourite book the year that I read it. 11mo
merelybookish @Ruthiella It's a lovely book. Cosy but not saccharine. 11mo
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merelybookish @squirrelbrain It does such a good job of depicting having a mental illness and loving someone with it. 11mo
Tamra Fortnight was wonderful! 👍🏾👍🏾 11mo
BarbaraBB I loved Birthday Party and Fortnight in September too. Looking forward to Sorrow and Bliss! 11mo
LeahBergen Loved Fortnight and The Shell Seekers! 11mo
CarolynM ❤️I love The Shell Seekers 11mo
batsy The Shell Seekers is lovely, isn't it! And a number of others are on my list! 11mo
merelybookish @Tamra I imagine I might want to re-read it some day. 11mo
merelybookish @BarbaraBB I was surprised by how good Sorrow and Bliss was. 11mo
merelybookish @LeahBergen @CarolynM @batsy It was a lovely, expansive read. Made me want to read more by Pilcher. 11mo
jlhammar Yes, Forbidden Notebook! I think that may end up in my tops as well. 11mo
Megabooks Great list! The Mason and Polley made mine in past years! 📸 11mo
64 likes14 comments
review
emmaturi
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Pickpick

This is an interesting book, set mainly in France and England. Agnes gets news that her childhood friend Fabienne has died. Then we hear the story of her life as a child and how she wrote a book, but the actual story was dictated to her by Fabienne. I enjoyed it, but I felt a bit letdown by the ending.

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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

I fully understand why this novel has been on so many “must read“ lists! Not only is the writing beautiful...but the author has an amazing ability to pull you in until the last page is read. So many emotions! Highly recommend this one. It has definitely made my keeper shelf.

Ruthiella I really liked this one too. 😀 1y
sarahbarnes Loved this one too! 1y
dabbe Well, if it's on the keeper shelf, it's #stacked! 1y
44 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
Melismatic
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Bailedbailed

I tried this book but just couldn‘t get into it. In the spirit of not being afraid to DNF when something doesn‘t feel right to me, I‘m moving on to the next (with ube soft serve ice cream lol).

Sharpeipup Good for you! Too many books out there… 1y
22 likes1 comment
review
Readerann
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Pickpick

🤔 The writing is impressive, but I‘m giving it a tepid “pick”. I read the whole book with a sense of uncomfortable anticipation - like watching what you suspect might become a horror movie.

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BarbaraBB
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Wow, a judge and his kid who don‘t care for Sam and Sadie of Tomorrow x3! The result is The Goose marches on, on its way to become a Rooster?!

In our Zombie round, Tomorrow x3 does win however. With a difference of three Zombie votes it beats Dinosaurs.

So one animal wins, another loses.
I can‘t wait to so see where the rest of both the #ToB23 and the #LitsyToB23 will take us 🐓

merelybookish Wow, I am thrilled and shocked that Goose is doing so well! And loved that essay/judgement.❤️ 2y
See All 11 Comments
Jas16 Today is not my day in either version of the tournament. 2y
jlhammar Really enjoyed reading the judgement today. So happy to see Goose make it to the final match. Also glad Tomorrow lives on in our tournament. 2y
Cinfhen Im sad to see Dino out and actually a bit surprised 😅 pretty shocked to see Goose advance but I‘m happy with the decision ❤️ 2y
BkClubCare Ouch - I thought the TTT criticism a bit harsh. I admit, I liked TTT more right after I read it than now with time gone by. So conflicted today. But always fun to think about why I love books 📚❤️ 2y
squirrelbrain I did feel a bit that he was abdicating responsibility for his decision. 🤔 2y
Hooked_on_books I would like to slap today‘s judge. What an asshole! And keeping T3 away from his kid just because he himself didn‘t like it? How‘s that different from book banning? After all he thought Fabienne was great and his kid (rightly) indicated that she‘s awful! This judgment was so gross. I would have been fine with our choice either way, though I do prefer T3 personally. 2y
batsy I loved reading the judgment. It's great when judges can just come out and say that the find a book or its concept inane or derivative. I also like that it made me re-think my reaction to Goose; I gave it a so-so because the ending made me think "Why bother?" But now I just feel compelled to read it again at some point. Happy to see Goose advance. 2y
sarahbarnes I was very excited to see Goose move forward! I thought the judgment was really creative - you sometimes look at things in the world and think, is this worthy of them (your kid) and I feel like that‘s the sentiment the judge was trying to capture. 2y
52 likes11 comments
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BarbaraBB
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In the #ToB23 The Book of Goose was up against Notes on your sudden disappearance, in ours against Tomorrow x3.

The Goose wins in the ToB, based on the thought of the judge (and maybe we all) having their own Fabienne. In the #LitsyToB23 however, a majority voted for Tomorrow. Maybe we feel more connected to Sam and Sadie than Agnès and Fabienne.

Anyhow, Tomorrow advances in our tournament. Later today I‘ll share our zombies. Stay tuned!

Suet624 I appreciate how much the judge identified with one over the other, specifically because she and maybe many of us have/had a Fabienne in our lives. 2y
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merelybookish I'm happy Goose is still alive in one tournament. It's kind of fun when a judge doesn't even attempt to be measured but just absolutely prefers one book to the other. No hemming and hawing. It was refreshing. (Saying all that as someone who agrees with him. I would no doubt feel differently if I was rooting for Notes.) 2y
jlhammar Hurrah for Goose! I really enjoyed Tomorrow so okay with it advancing in our version. Maybe Goose will end up against Tomorrow in the official tournament‘s zombie round? 2y
Ruthiella I‘m glad to see Goose advance in the real TOB. I love the unpredictable nature of it! What makes our tournament interesting to me is that it is more predictable since I have access to most Littens‘ opinions in advance. So not surprised to see Tx3 advance here. 😀 2y
sarahbarnes Very excited to see Goose move forward in the real TOB. I‘m still to this day on a library hold list for Tx3 and haven‘t wanted to read it badly enough to buy it, so I will have to remain in suspense as to how I feel about it for now. 😁 2y
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella That is true! Tomorrow was a super close call though within our tournament. And I hope our zombies can spice things up a bit 😉 2y
Hooked_on_books Today‘s judgment was really heartfelt and just goes to show how much each matchup of this tournament relies on the taste/life experience of just one person. Which ultimately makes it a bit arbitrary in a way a panel would not be. I appreciated reading it even though their choice was clear from the start. And hooray for T3 in our tourney! 2y
BkClubCare @merelybookish - No, no; I was rooting for Notes, wasn‘t a fan of Goose but the judgement was beautiful. 2y
57 likes10 comments
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BarbaraBB
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The first quarter final in both tournaments is between The Book of Goose and Mouth to Mouth. Ours has a very clear winner: a majority has voted for Goose. Again, we‘ve voted just like the ToB judge. It is getting boring, us being so in sync! Still waiting for big surprises!

BkClubCare 😂😂😂 boring? I really enjoyed the judge‘s process, her energy, her generosity towards finding a way through both books. And though, Goose was my least favorite, I think it deserves its win. 2y
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Ruthiella I‘m pleased with the outcome!😊 2y
jlhammar Yay! So glad I don‘t have to say goodbye to my beloved Goose just yet. 2y
Suet624 It‘s funny because I just saw that I gave goose a so-so rating but I voted for it in this round. I remember more of it than I remember mouth to mouth. 2y
squirrelbrain I‘m the same @Suet624 - Mouth to Mouth was higher on my list than Goose, yet I voted for Goose in this round. Sometimes distance gives you a whole new perspective on things. 2y
Hooked_on_books Interesting. I‘m clearly in the minority since I voted for MtM, but I didn‘t feel strongly about either book, so I‘m not bothered about the results. I look forward to reading the judgement. 2y
BarbaraBB @BkClubCare Me too, I just meant that there‘s are few unexpected decisions in the tournament so far - compared to other years! 2y
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I really liked Mouth too! I voted for it but we‘re a minority! Goose didn‘t do much for me. 2y
kwmg40 I started Goose but never got around to finishing it (not because I disliked it, but because there were more compelling books on my stack). I did like Mouth to Mouth. 2y
batsy Pleased that Goose won! I like what the judge had to say about being apathetic about both books soon after reading it, but growing fond of the books as she started to write about it. 2y
Cinfhen I was underwhelmed by both M2M and Goose when I read them but like @squirrelbrain and @Suet624 I appreciated Goose more with some time & distance. 2y
60 likes13 comments
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BarbaraBB
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“So I tried again later, attempting to set myself up for success—only to again find myself uninterested in continuing, letting my eyes go fuzzy over the words.” Many of us will agree with the #ToB23 judge‘s opinion on Mercury Pictures Presents. She chose The Book of Goose as her winner, as did we in the #LitsyToB23. A convincing majority voted for Goose. Tracy however will be disappointed, she voted for Mercury as her favorite book. Happy weekend!

BarbaraBB I personally agreed very much with this quote by the judge: “While reading I thought of the many friends I had lost, friends I thought would be forever, and the cruelty of life that forces us to grow up. It is no small feat to capture the love and devastation of childhood friendships turned sour.”💕 (edited) 2y
BkClubCare I had a tough time with The Book of Goose and I think it just might be me with the style AND subject - not sure. But I was so bored with MPP! I so loved the author‘s prior books that I wanted to love this. I am not unhappy with this decision either way. 2y
sarahbarnes Yesssss!!! Go Goose! ♥️♥️♥️ 2y
See All 24 Comments
BarbaraBB @BkClubCare Both were not my favorites on the shortlist either but I also thought MPP was boring 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
merelybookish 💯 the right decision! I appreciated that the judge really like Book of Goose and didn't choose it as a lesser of two evils! 2y
batsy Happy with this result! I haven't read MPP and though I had some reservations with Goose I think it's a worthy winner. A distinctive book with some excellent writing, especially in the first half. 2y
jlhammar Woo-hoo! Thrilled to see Goose advance. I loved this match commentary by Kevin Guilfoile “Sometimes trying to find a reason you didn‘t like a novel is like trying to find a reason you didn‘t fall in love with somebody.“ 2y
batsy @jlhammar I just read it and was struck by that, too. So accurate! 2y
squirrelbrain I love that quote too @jlhammar @batsy - so true! I‘m pleased with the result - I found them both a bit forgettable though. 2y
Ruthiella I was disappointed with MPP. It was beautiful writing but too much, all over the place for me. I lost steam reading it. I definitely preferred the narrower focus of TBoG as well as its examination of a certain kind of friendship in childhood/adolescence. 2y
Readerann I didn‘t read Goose (yet), but I have a more favorable opinion of MPP than most of you. Because I found the characters so interesting, I was willing to put up with some disjointedness and overwriting. 2y
Chelsea.Poole I can agree with the judge‘s ruling here as well as what you‘ve quoted in your first comment! 2y
Hooked_on_books I fully expected us to go with Goose and good to see we‘re in concert with the official TOB! It‘s not my favorite of the tourney, but I felt MPP really didn‘t deliver. 2y
Cinfhen The official tournament is turning out to be full of surprises- im totally down with this decision 2y
Megabooks I think I voted for Mercury but only because I hated Goose. I‘ll once again draw a parallel between Mercury and Manhattan Beach. Flawlessly researched but DULL! And agree with you @BkClubCare ! 2y
Well-ReadNeck I fell in love with the characters on MPP. Goose did absolutely nothing for me. But I also couldn‘t get through My Brilliant Friend, which is well liked, but I could not finish. 2y
BarbaraBB @Well-ReadNeck Goose is comparable to My Brilliant Friend indeed. Typically European. I loved the Ferrantes series, and thought Goose was not as good. 2y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks Is Manhattan Beach as dull? Then I am glad I have kept postponing reading it! 2y
BkClubCare @BarbaraBB @MegaBooks - LOL! I adored Manhattan Beach! Isn‘t this just craziness? Shrug- it really is interesting why some books tick the “OH YEaH” and others don‘t. I would have advanced Goose because it felt “better” even as it wasn‘t for me. 2y
Jas16 I am the outlier who is not thrilled with this decision. I thought Goose was fine but really loved all of the stories and characters in MPP. 2y
BkClubCare @batsy - yes, I do think Goose the “better” (more literaturely book!?) than MPP. Yes,yes “whatever that means”) 2y
BkClubCare @Jas16 - good to know. I think it suffered from comparisons to his previous. I ❤️‘d Tsar AND Constellation. #comparisonbias 2y
BarbaraBB @Jas16 You‘re with @Well-ReadNeck so in good company! And among us a few more preferred it over Goose! And like @BkClubCare states, I think expectations might have been sky high because of his earlier books. (edited) 2y
BarbaraBB @batsy I thought the first half of Goose was much better too. 2y
58 likes24 comments
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jlhammar
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Okay, #ToB23 wrap-up time! Looks like I‘m team Goose & Rabbit this year.
5⭐️ LOVED Pictured
4⭐️ REALLY LIKED The Passenger, TomorrowX3, The Violin Conspiracy, Sea of Tranquility
3.5⭐️ Dinosaurs, My Volcano
3⭐️ LIKED Nightcrawling, Mercury Pictures Presents
2.5⭐️ Olga Dies Dreaming, Mouth to Mouth
2⭐️ IT WAS OKAY An Island, Seven Moons
BAILED Manhunt, Notes, 2 AM
IN PROGRESS Babel (enjoying, but will probably end up in the liked category)

squirrelbrain Love your wrap-up! ❤️ 2y
Ruthiella Going with animal titles as winners! 😂 I‘m still reading My Volcano, but I think your top two will make my top five. 👍 2y
BarbaraBB Great stats! I‘m with you on 🐇 2y
See All 11 Comments
Cinfhen Love your rating system!! I‘m also enjoying the diversity of our faves!!! 2y
Hooked_on_books Very interesting rankings! I‘m so glad you ranked My Volcano well I just loved that one! 2y
ashw21 How great was book of goose.. very much like the Ferrante novels.. glad you liked it.. I still have to read rabbit hutch 2y
kwmg40 Thanks for sharing your ranking. Rabbit and Goose are among the ones I haven't got to yet, but I'm thinking I should at least give them a try before the tournament starts. 2y
Readerann Great wrap-up! I wish I had read more of them, but it‘s fun to see everyone‘s reviews. 2y
sarahbarnes Yes!! Love your two top picks! 2y
batsy Nice! I didn't get to Rabbit (among a number of others) but I'm intrigued it's in your top two. I will try to get to it at some point. 2y
BkClubCare Great list! I am still slowly making it through Seven Moons. 2y
72 likes11 comments
review
Suet624
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Mehso-so

As I think of this book I keep wondering why it has this title. What do geese have to do with anything? I liked this story about two intense friendships, a teenage girl with a very active imagination and a tough demeanor and her friend who cares deeply for her. The author does a great job of reminding me of that phase of life where your friendship can feel like a fever. However, over time I don‘t think there‘s much I will remember. #TOB23

Jas16 Great review. 2y
Megabooks I wondered about the title too. 🤔🤔 2y
Suet624 @Jas16 I wish I had more positive things to say about the book! It was a worthy read but somehow it felt too removed. 2y
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Suet624 @Megabooks let me know if you ever figure it out. 😀 2y
Ruthiella The title is a little perplexing…she does keep geese as an adult, sort of a throwback to her rural upbringing. But that doesn‘t seem to have any connection to Fabienne… 🤔 2y
squirrelbrain I vaguely remember that ‘The Book of Goose‘ was mentioned somewhere within the book. I think when they first started writing together and they were considering what they could write about. But I listened on audio and can‘t recall for sure. 🤔 @Megabooks @Suet624 @Ruthiella 2y
batsy "worthy book but too removed" is a great way to sum it up! I felt the same; ended up with a so-so as well. It also left me a tiny bit frustrated, because I felt like there was so much bubbling underneath it all and I kept waiting for something. 2y
Suet624 @batsy Yes, you're right. There was a lot there but it was hard to pull from the flatlining of the story. I'd love to experience the same story written by a different author to see how they might draw me in more. I could understand the feeling of the MC but it was only through my own experience - not through the written word. 2y
Suet624 @Ruthiella @squirrelbrain Maybe the geese are just a plot device to get us into the story of the two girls. Isn't she feeding her geese at the beginning of the story and then she begins thinking back to her friendship? 2y
60 likes9 comments
review
Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

I‘m not a fan of child protagonists, so this was initially a little hard for me to get into, but once I did, I quite enjoyed it. Li develops the characters and the story in such a way that I became invested. My complaint is that I felt she didn‘t do enough to explore Fabienne‘s motivations, and she‘s so important to the story that this left a bit of a hole in it for me, making this a soft pick for me. #tob2023

Cinfhen Insightful review as always 😁This was ok, but not BEST of the year worthy 2y
Ruthiella I see what you mean about not knowing Fabienne‘s reasons. Because the point of view was Agnes‘, I never questioned it…or I accepted it as unknowable. 2y
squirrelbrain Great review - interesting thoughts on Fabienne, as I felt there was something missing too. 2y
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batsy Nicely put! I ended up with a so-so precisely because the absence of Fabienne felt like it left a huge gap in the book, but that is also part of what the book is trying to show, I think. In my view it wasn't wholly successful because to me Agnes herself was a kind of absence. So by the end I felt I was grasping at nothing. 2y
Hooked_on_books @batsy Right, Agnes is a bit of blank slate, isn‘t she? So it‘s so curious as to why Li chose to center her then surround her with such fascinating characters that we can‘t quite get to. 2y
Hooked_on_books @Ruthiella I think I would have been better off accepting it as unknowable. I just found her behavior peculiar and wanted to know why. 2y
Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain Thanks! And I agree @Cinfhen , interesting read but wouldn‘t make my best of the year. I‘ll be interested to see what their reviewer says about it in the tournament. I do think it would be a good book club book. 2y
Cinfhen Yes, for sure😄 2y
Chelsea.Poole Oh what a great point about missing out on Fabienne‘s perspective! Honestly, lacking her motivations put me in Agnes shoes even more…it brought up feelings I experienced in girlhood ie: everyone is more mature than me, more interesting, and other insecurities so maybe that was a way to show these feelings. Even best friends can be unknowable to one another? I‘m not sure but agree—def a good one to discuss! @Hooked_on_books 2y
Hooked_on_books @Chelsea.Poole Those are all really good points, especially since the POV is Agnes rather than an omniscient narrator. I think if she had played up Agnes‘s insecurities a bit more, that would have worked better for me. I just really wanted to get in Fabienne‘s head! Especially when Agnes returned and Fabienne was awful to her. But it‘s true that Agnes wouldn‘t be able to do that and therefore, neither could we. 2y
53 likes10 comments
review
Ruthiella
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Pickpick

I really liked this story of an intense friendship between two girls in France just after WWII. Their relationship is almost symbiotic. However, when circumstances do separate them, they can never be friends again as they once were. The spell is broken, which happens to many young people as they move from adolescence to adulthood. I understand the comparison to My Brilliant Friend, but think this is actually quite different. #ToB2023

BarbaraBB So true. Great review. 2y
Ruthiella @BarbaraBB Thanks! 😊 2y
Hooked_on_books Sounds good! Hopefully I‘ll get to this one sometime in the next week! 2y
See All 20 Comments
Ruthiella @Hooked_on_books I found it to be a fairly quick read. 2y
squirrelbrain Great review! 2y
batsy Great point on how some intense forms of adolescent friendship is like being under a spell. I've yet to read Ferrante, so I'm curious to see how it compares. 2y
Cinfhen Fabulous review 2y
BkClubCare Glad you liked it! 🤩 2y
JenniferP I‘m not sure I‘ll read this but I love the cover! It keeps drawing my attention on litsy. 2y
jlhammar Wonderful review! 2y
sarahbarnes Yay, I‘m glad you liked it! Great review! 2y
Ruthiella @squirrelbrain Thanks! 😊 2y
Ruthiella @batsy I feel the comparison is fairly superficial. I hope you like the Ferrante when you get to it. I loved all four books but have yet to read any of her other stuff. 2y
Ruthiella @Cinfhen Thank you. 😊 2y
Ruthiella @JenniferP The cover is indeed beautiful. The black and white kindle doesn‘t do it justice. 2y
Ruthiella @jlhammar Many thanks! 🙏 2y
Ruthiella @sarahbarnes Thank you! After so many soft picks, it feels good to have a solid winner. 2y
Readerann Wow, some really varied opinions on this one - which makes me want to read it! 2y
Ruthiella @Readerann varied opinions always make me more curious too. 😃 2y
77 likes1 stack add20 comments
review
sarahbarnes
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Pickpick

I finished this book this morning during another stretch of parking lot reading time. I really liked it, with its unresolved tensions, things left unsaid, and blurred lines between fiction and reality. The portrayal of the friendship between Agnes and Fabienne was powerful, especially the place it held in the memory of Agnes as an adult. A favorite from the shortlist for me. #ToB2023.

Cinfhen This book has stayed with me since reading it a few weeks ago. It checks lots of Tournament boxes🤓 2y
Megabooks I‘m glad you enjoyed it! 2y
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Ruthiella I‘m reading this now and very much enjoying it! 2y
kwmg40 Thanks for the review. I hope I can squeeze this one in before the tournament begins. 2y
jlhammar Great review! So glad you liked it. 2y
Hooked_on_books Oh that‘s great! This is my last one to read from the list and I‘m excited to see what I‘ll think of it! 2y
Suet624 Still on a library waitlist for this one. 🥴 2y
merelybookish Great review! It's definitely in my top 3! 2y
batsy So glad you liked it! Even though it didn't totally work for me, quite a bit of the first half especially sticks in my mind. It's definitely one of the top ones from the shortlist. 2y
BarbaraBB I liked it too but a few weeks later and I don‘t remember a thing 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y
squirrelbrain What @BarbaraBB said! And for that reason, it slipped quite a way down my list. 2y
ashw21 I read it last year and enjoyed it.. a little like the Ferrante novels! 2y
48 likes13 comments
review
merelybookish
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Pickpick

Reviews of this are all over the map, but I loved it! I was swept up into this twisted fairy tale about two friends from rural France, Agnes and Fabienne. As others have noted, they were very reminiscent of Lenu and Lila from Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan series. For both duos, there is a sense that playing pretend is key to surviving girlhood, and its loss brings consequences. One of my new faves from the #tob23 shortlist.

Ruthiella I figured you would like this based on both the 👍and 👎reviews. I think it‘s going to hit my sweet spot too. 2y
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merelybookish @Ruthiella Definitely character driven, which as you have probably noticed, is my jam! I hope you enioy too!! 2y
sarahbarnes Ah so happy to hear this! I just picked it up from the library yesterday and I‘m excited to give it a try! 2y
Chelsea.Poole Oh yes, the “playing pretend” of girlhood. And this (and Neapolitan) with the all-encompassing nature of the girlhood relationships, both with overwhelming love and admiration but also with the jealousies and subsequent contempt felt during those years. 2y
Suet624 Oh jeepers. Now you‘ve convinced me. 😃 2y
merelybookish @sarahbarnes I look forward to your review! 2y
merelybookish @Chelsea.Poole Yes to all of this! 2y
merelybookish @Suet624 Sorry! 🤷😀 2y
Hooked_on_books That‘s great! This is one of 2 I have left and I hope to dive in sometime in the next week or two. Hopefully I feel the same! 2y
batsy Glad you loved it and wonderfully put about "playing pretend as key to surviving girlhood". For me, the book began with so much promise and power, but unfortunately I felt that the section about Agnes alone in England lost steam. I would have happily read another 200 pages about her and Fabienne together, though... 2y
merelybookish @batsy I saw your review and was worried. Fabienne brought a lot of energy to the novel but the letters worked for me. And I found the introduction of Jacques to be quite important to understanding their relationship. 2y
merelybookish @Hooked_on_books Well it's a bit of a crap shoot. I loved it! @batsy was lukewarm and a few others like @megnews hated it. 😅 Will be interesting to see where you land! 2y
jlhammar Yay! So glad you loved it. Great review! This is still in my #ToB23 top spot, but still have a few more to read so we‘ll see. 2y
batsy @merelybookish Jacques was a cleverly worked in aspect, I agree! 2y
squirrelbrain Glad you enjoyed it! 2y
Cinfhen Fantastic review!! Agreed, from the shortlist this is one of the better books. 2y
merelybookish @jlhammar This and Dinosaurs are my favourites. Don't imagine either will win. 😂 2y
75 likes1 stack add20 comments
quote
charl08
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People like Mrs. Townsend, who are obsessed with keeping a full account of their lives, are like artists who create optical illusions. 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.

48 likes1 stack add
review
BkClubCare
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Panpan

Boooorrrrrrriiiiinnggggggg - not for me. I thought it would have more geese. #audiobook #tob2023 #itcouldbethatiamjusttired #feelingexhausted #longday

#DogsofLitsy #CopperBopper #whpg #griff 😴🥱

BkClubCare #readICT category friendship 2y
BkClubCare It is possible, very possible, that ToB discussions will show me how stupid and impatient I am when it comes to great literature 🤷🏻‍♀️ (edited) 2y
SamAnne 😂😂😂. More geese! More geese! I will be skipping this read. Thank you for the review. 2y
See All 8 Comments
BkClubCare @SamAnne - eeek! I always get nervous when people say they‘ll skip a book — But what if it would be perfect FOR YOU?! 🤣 I am at that point in the TOB list that I have too many books to read. #sigh And no motivation to give them “proper due” (proper DO?!) 2y
Larkken #thoughtitwouldhavemoregeese sums up my general ambivalence about this year‘s list, tbh. @BkClubCare I‘ve been much more impatient with the books on this years list than previous years, and it‘s surprising me! 2y
SamAnne @BkClubCare hah! My TBR is plenty big as it is. 2y
Chelsea.Poole lol!! Where‘s the goose emoji?? 🦆 close enough 🤷🏼‍♀️ 2y
BkClubCare @Chelsea.Poole LOL - I almost emoji-ed the 🦆 but thought I might be ridiculed 🤣 2y
45 likes8 comments
review
batsy
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Mehso-so

I'm sad about how this turned out. It started off strong—there was something deliciously dark & evocative about how Li set the scene with Agnes & Fabienne & their rural childhood. The writing was sharp, with numerous great lines. I had expectations for a bold, explosive novel. But a good third of it was a meandering segment about Agnes abroad in England & very little of Fabienne, an intriguing character. The novel lost its initial power. #ToB2023

batsy I think I was also under the misapprehension that this was about the complexities of friendship combined with what it takes to write & to live as an artist, but it wasn't about that. It was about the strong force of attraction between two girls that would make them friends in their youth, & of what they could have been to each other. It's an interesting premise, but weakly explored in the end. I'd love to know if I missed out on something... 2y
rmaclean4 @batsy so sorry this did not hit home for you. It was a top pick for me in 2022 2y
jlhammar Darn, sorry this didn‘t land for you! 2y
See All 8 Comments
batsy @rmaclean4 @jlhammar I know, I'm feeling bad about it because it seems like exactly my kind of book! 2y
BarbaraBB I agree though I liked it more than you I think. 2y
batsy @BarbaraBB Yeah, I think I went with the so-so because my expectations were high after a strong start, & I felt like the book just got weaker and more ineffectual. So much of the book not spent on Fabienne but a vision of her through letters seems a crime 😬 2y
sarahbarnes I‘m waiting for this one from the library and also have high expectations. I‘m sorry it didn‘t work for you in the end. 2y
batsy @sarahbarnes I hope you like it a lot more than I did! I seem to be in the minority. It just felt like a lot of unfulfilled potential in this novel and that made me sad. 2y
90 likes1 stack add8 comments
blurb
thewallflower0707
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The weekend in Berlin with my friends was fun and a nice change, but I don‘t feel rested at all 🥱😴.

New books!

review
RebelReader
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Pickpick

Every single relationship in this book was weird. (Maybe I just don‘t understand French culture) Honestly, I think that‘s what kept me reading was it‘s pure weirdness. I thought the middle needed an edit, but overall another soft pick.
#tobshortlist2023

BarbaraBB I see what you mean. Typical French indeed. A soft pick for me too! 2y
squirrelbrain It was very ‘typically‘ French, I thought. 2y
sarahbarnes I‘m waiting for this one from the library and am interested to check it out. 2y
merelybookish I just started this one! I am intrigued. 2y
Ruthiella I‘m down for weird! I should have this from the library by next week! 2y
51 likes5 comments
review
Jas16
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Pickpick

Another #tob23 light pick. A book about two childhood friends in a small French town and the intensity of friendship when you are young. The writing felt muted and I kept expecting something dramatic to happen that never did but in the end I can appreciate this for what it was- a well written, quiet book the details of which will likely be forgotten before the next TOB.

youneverarrived Great review! 2y
marleed I‘m so drawn to the cover art for this book! 2y
BarbaraBB I completely agree with your review. 2y
Jas16 @marleed the cover was the first thing that caught my eye as well. It is lovely. 2y
Jas16 @youneverarrived @BarbaraBB Thank you both. I had to sit with this one awhile before writing my review. 2y
55 likes5 comments
review
RobES
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Mehso-so

I would have rated this a pick if I didn't feel like I need to read it again...I definitely missed something first time through it. There is a dark underlying current that I didn't entirely understand because it is wrapped up in a beautiful, sparse prose. It was bizarre... But in a good way 🤷‍♀️

review
Deblovestoread
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Pickpick

The tagged book is a light pick for me. It kept me company on my commute but with about 2 hours left I wanted to power through so I could just be done. It is a story of friendship and how we change when our circumstances or choices have us go down different paths. #TOB23 #52Books #Secrets

@Librarybelle @rmaclean4 @Read4life @ravenlee @LaraReads @britt_brooke @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB @jenniferw88 @squirrelbrain @KarenUK

squirrelbrain Great review! 2y
ravenlee Oh my goodness, the timing - I had a rough encounter with a goose this morning! Kiddo wanted to go to the duck pond but somebody was feeding the ducks and geese and they got really aggressive when we came by, and they chased us back to the car.😆 (edited) 2y
See All 7 Comments
Librarybelle Hooray! 2y
Deblovestoread @ravenlee That sounds like a nightmare come to life 😂 2y
ravenlee @Deblovestoread it was less fun than we‘d hoped, for sure! Apparently they considered it rude that we didn‘t bring them food. I was staying between the goose and the kid and thinking I‘d hate to have to explain how I got a beak bruise on my butt! 2y
Cinfhen I felt EXACTLY the same way!!! And it‘s been a few weeks since I read it and I hardly remember much of the story 2y
70 likes7 comments
review
ImperfectCJ
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this one, even with the squirmily accurate feeling of being trapped by one's circumstances and choices. Although this is a story about two childhood friends, the feeling of our having spent the best years of our lives carelessly unaware that they were our best years reminds me of middle age. Although that could be the same effect as when, during a breakup, every song on the radio sounds like a love song. #tob2023

review
Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

A #ToB2023 pick for me! It may be because my expectations were incredibly low, based on some of my fellow ToB-er‘s reviews. This felt SO MUCH like My Brilliant Friend, though a different setting (this is France/England vs Naples setting of MBF). Agnes and her best friend, Fabienne, are the most clever girls in their provincial French town. They scheme with an older man to create a hoax which creates ripples throughout their lives.

Ruthiella I loved the Neapolitan quartet ! I think I will like this one since it‘s been a while since I read Ferrante. 2y
jlhammar Yay! So glad this worked for you. I loved it (and I adored Ferrante‘s Neapolitan Novels). 2y
ImperfectCJ I started this one today and came by to see if anyone else felt the similarity between this one and My Brilliant Friend. I'm a little worried I won't be able to assess this one without constantly comparing it to Ferrante's novels! 2y
80 likes3 stack adds3 comments
blurb
Sydneypaige
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This book feels so much like My Brilliant Friend (the show, as I have not read the book). It‘s about young female friendship and it‘s slow and relational and beautiful. The type of book to settle into feels like you‘re watching a movie.

Chelsea.Poole That‘s EXACTLY how I feel about this one! 2y
9 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
perfectlywinged
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So far this mid century French girl friendship is giving Elena Ferrante vibes

sarahbarnes I‘m excited to try this one! 2y
19 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I‘m not really sure what to make of this #tob shortlister. I‘m giving it a pick but it‘s a low pick.

The narrative felt curiously dispassionate and distant to me, which I often find the case with French literature, particularly when translated into English. I wasn‘t sure if this book was written by a native French speaker, so looked it up just before posting and found this fascinating article. ⬇️

squirrelbrain It explains a lot about my feelings around this book, it felt like something didn‘t quite align. Having said that I did find the story intriguing, and found some of the language rather poetic. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/oct/13/the-book-of-goose-by-yiyun-li-revi... 2y
Cinfhen Low pick for me too. Interesting article - thanks for sharing 💖 2y
BarbaraBB I agree it is really quite French. Or Italian for that matter, it reminded me of Elena Ferrante! 2y
See All 9 Comments
Ruthiella I often really enjoy a distant narrator, so we‘ll see! Waiting for this from the library still. I remember hearing a lot about her writing about her son‘s death. That got a lot of attention (edited) 2y
Megabooks Interesting point re: French lit, which I admittedly haven‘t read much of. 2y
sarahbarnes I‘ll be really interested to try this one soon. Great review! 2y
Deblovestoread Great review. It is next up for me on audio. 2y
Aimeesue Dispassionate is right! It was very, "Oh well, what can you do? C'est la vie." 2y
Hooked_on_books I‘m curious to see how I respond to this one. I just heard someone rave about it on a podcast, so it made me a little more intrigued. 2y
82 likes9 comments
review
Megabooks
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Panpan

I did not like this book. At all. I don‘t even think it‘s a marmite book or that there was anything deeply flawed in the writing or conception. It just wasn‘t for me and I accept that. I probably wouldn‘t have finished it, but I‘m trying to be a completist with this year‘s #tob shortlist. (I‘m even going back to The Passenger because @batsy has given me new thoughts about it.) So yeah… 🤷🏻‍♀️

Suet624 Okay! Another one off my list of books I need to read. 2y
Megabooks @Suet624 I‘d encourage you to read fellow tob-ers reviews because several have loved it. And I‘d feel better if I could point to a reason, but it just didn‘t work for me. 2y
Ruthiella This is one that I can get on ebook via my library, so I will definitely try it. 2y
See All 19 Comments
sarahbarnes I‘m sorry you didn‘t enjoy this one. I‘m on the list for it at the library and plan to give it a try. 2y
Aimeesue I thought this one was well written and interesting up to a point, but I felt like it just petered out at the end. Rather like life, I suppose, but disappointing in literature. 2y
merelybookish I am curious about this book, and your reaction. I have it queued up next! 2y
Megabooks @Ruthiella same. That‘s how I read it, and now I‘m glad I don‘t own the hardcover. 2y
Megabooks @sarahbarnes I hope you enjoy it more than I did. I seem to be in the minority so far. 2y
Megabooks @Aimeesue it did. When Fabienne and Agnes were together, the story was dynamic. Agnes on her own was much less interesting. 2y
Megabooks @merelybookish I hope you like it! 2y
Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole very curious about what you‘ll think! 2y
Aimeesue @Megabooks I think Agnes thought so too! 2y
Megabooks @Aimeesue lol! 🤣🤣 2y
Hooked_on_books Oh man! I‘m curious about this one, but have no idea what I‘ll think. I have a few others to tackle first. I get the completist thing—I‘m aiming for the same thing. 2y
BarbaraBB I liked it but I cannot remember a thing about it now 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y
squirrelbrain I just finished this on my commute home last night - I liked it but didn‘t love it. 2y
batsy I am looking forward to it but it feels right to have my expectations managed 🙂 2y
Cinfhen Low pick for me, but I think it would have been close to a bail if I attempted this in print. 2y
81 likes19 comments
blurb
rmaclean4
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Top Reads of 2022! It has been a great reading year.
The Book of Goose
Nightbitch
Popisho
Learwife
Black Sun
Migrations
The Summer Book
The Trees
True Biz
Creatures of Passage
Demon Copperhead
Foster

jlhammar The Trees, Foster and Book of Goose were in my tops as well! I really enjoyed True Biz and loved The Summer Book when I read it a few years back. 2y
rmaclean4 @jlhammar it has been such a good reading year! 2y
17 likes2 comments
blurb
Aimeesue
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Audiobook for dog walking. #ToB shortlist
I'm enjoying the narration, despite (or because of?) the slightly unsettling characters.

@Megabooks @Cinfhen @MicheleinPhilly @Suet624 @Chelsea.Poole @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @sarahbarnes @RebelReader @Hooked_on_books @Ruthiella

squirrelbrain Enjoy! I started this on audio a few weeks ago but parked it as Demon Copperhead came in from the library. 2y
Ruthiella I like unsettling in fiction! Looking forward to this one, though I will have to do it in print. 2y
sarahbarnes I‘m excited to get to this one! 2y
jlhammar Definitely unsettling! Glad to hear you are enjoying it so far. 2y
37 likes4 comments
review
cariashley
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Pickpick

A quick and unusual read that was surreal at times. The writing was very compelling, as was the relationship between Agnes and Fabienne. I probably missed a lot of the symbolism but will be digging into reviews on this book to try and understand it a bit better - definitely a lot going on under the surface. It wouldn‘t be my pick for #TOB23 but I‘m glad the tournament brought it my way.

#PercyCat

squirrelbrain I just started this on Scribd audio but had to park it, as other audio library holds came through. 2y
cariashley @squirrelbrain curious to hear how this is on audio! 2y
rmaclean4 @cariashley i loved the audio! 2y
49 likes3 comments
review
jhod
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Pickpick

Another 5 ⭐️ for the year sneaks in, probably really a 4.5 as I found it quite hard to get into but once I did... Plus I've finally finished work so am feeing generous and festive! Not what I expected which is always a treat. Read on kindle so pic of my parents' tree.

squirrelbrain Lovely pic! I started this book on audio earlier in the week, but only 10 minutes or so…. 2y
70 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Floresj
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Pickpick

Subtly gripping novel about two young girls in rural France who write a book together. Though the basic plot doesn‘t sound captivating, Li‘s writing was engaging and page-turning. Slow boil, yes, but fantastic character development.

batsy Sounds really good! 2y
12 likes1 comment
review
BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

As children in rural France after WWII, Fabienne and Agnès live in their own private world, needing nothing or no one. Until Fabienne comes up with the plan to write a book together with Agnès as its official author. This is the beginning of the end of their perfect little world. I am not sure of the meaning of the book, I feel like I missed something (see spoiler below), but it is an atmospheric and intense read. #ToB2023

BarbaraBB I don‘t get why their friendship had to end after Agnès returned to Saint Remy. Anyone?? 2y
squirrelbrain I‘m looking forward to this one. I sneaked a peek at your question and will let you know when I get to it. 😁 2y
Cinfhen Gorgeous tree 😍and fantastic review 💕💕 2y
See All 12 Comments
Cinfhen I think Fabienne wanted a romantic relationship and Agnes wasn‘t able to give that to her. So Fabienne chased her away to protect herself🤷🏼‍♀️ 2y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I was thinking about that too but is that not a bit too dramatic? On the other hand, they are still so young so you might be right! 2y
Ruthiella Looking forward to this one since other Littens like it. I‘ll come back and check out your spoilers once I‘ve read it. 2y
Cinfhen Yeah, the ending was the low point but I did enjoy the beginning of this book 2y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I did enjoy the whole book but it‘s not among my favorite shortlisted books (edited) 2y
Cinfhen Like we‘re all saying….the long list has been more enjoyable than the shortlist 🤷🏼‍♀️ 2y
sarahbarnes Great review. I‘m interested to try this one 2y
Megabooks The more reviews I read, the more intrigued I am! 2y
batsy Love the gorgeous cover and backdrop! I'm very interested in this. 2y
77 likes3 stack adds12 comments
review
Cinfhen
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Pickpick

A story of intense obsessive childhood friendship between two friends, Agnes & Fabienne. Told throughly the eyes & memories of adult Agnes. #ToB23 - I liked this more than I was expecting. Beautiful writing, atmospheric, reminiscent of My Brilliant Friend.

batsy Sounds very promising! I should probably get around to Ferrante soon 😆 2y
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraBB I am enjoying it too and indeed it reminds me of Ferrante too. 2y
Megabooks I‘m likely doing this as an ebook from the library. I‘m glad you enjoyed it. I was a bit dubious! Also check your 666 email! 😉😏🕎 2y
Cinfhen I think you‘re gonna like this one @Megabooks I didn‘t love the Ferrante but the writing was excellent @batsy BoG is a deeper story @BarbaraBB and the friendship in both stories rings true ☺️ 2y
Ruthiella I loved the Ferrante quartet and look forward to this. So glad the TOB put it on my radar! 2y
sarahbarnes Oh interesting tie to Ferrante! I‘m on hold for this one at the library. 2y
70 likes8 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
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Starting a new #ToB23 shortlist contender
I don‘t know anything about this book, nor have I read any reviews…so I‘m going in cold 😗

Chelsea.Poole Good luck! I like that cover better than the version I‘ve seen at my library‘s digital downloads. 2y
See All 9 Comments
Suet624 Poor goose. 2y
sarahbarnes I‘m on hold for this one at the library - will be interested to hear your thoughts! 2y
Megabooks My library hold on this just came in but I may put it off until the new year. 2y
Ruthiella I like going in cold! Such an adventure. This is how I used to read before the internet. 😂 2y
BarbaraBB I am starting this one too now. But you‘ll probably be finished already 🤣 2y
Cinfhen SO TRUE @Ruthiella the olden days 😂😂I like it so far @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @sarahbarnes @Suet624 @Chelsea.Poole but I didn‘t have any listening time today. 2y
63 likes2 stack adds9 comments
review
Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

I thought this was a beautiful, complex book. The relationship between the two friends at times felt toxic, yet at other times the connection between the girls felt vital to their survival. The setting of a postwar France was also perfect for the story.

I feel that it deserves to be on the #ToB23 shortlist.

Ruthiella I‘m really looking forward to this one and pleased my library actually has a copy! 2y
batsy Excited by the positive reviews I'm seeing for this. Looking forward! 2y
BarbaraBB This will be my next book. Thanks for the review. 2y
See All 6 Comments
rmaclean4 One of my top reads in 2022! 2y
jlhammar Wonderful review! 2y
sarahbarnes Great review! I‘m on hold for this one at the library and looking forward to it. 2y
44 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
jlhammar
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Pickpick

Intimate, mesmerizing, haunting. I loved this novel about an intense friendship between two adolescent girls in 1950s rural France. Elegant, measured prose and very short chapters made for a pleasurable and propulsive reading experience. And that cover is just perfection! #ToB

batsy Such a gorgeous cover! Glad the book lives up to it. 2y
Addison_Reads Great review. I just finished this one too and thought it was great. 2y
Tamra Must read then! 2y
See All 8 Comments
squirrelbrain Looking forward to this; I hope it works as well on audio. 2y
BarbaraBB Great review. I am looking forward to it too. And you‘re right about the cover 😍 2y
jlhammar @Addison_Reads Yay! So glad you liked it. As of now I think it‘s my fav in the tournament. I‘ll be reading Tomorrow, Babel and Mercury Pictures (and maybe some others) in the coming weeks so we‘ll see if it stays that way. 2y
jlhammar @batsy @Tamra @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB I thought it was really unique. Hope you enjoy if/when you give it a go! This was my first time reading Li. I have this one on my shelves and am looking forward to it 2y
kspenmoll Wonderful review! Makes me want to read this! 2y
68 likes2 stack adds8 comments
review
Jolynne
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Mehso-so

I have mixed feelings about this book. I like a book that makes me “feel” but I just wasn‘t feeling this one.
All in all, life can be sad.

Tamra Love that cover art though! 2y
6 likes1 comment
blurb
rmaclean4
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5 🌟
True Biz: Sara Novic 🎧
The Book of Goose: Yiyun Li 🎧
4.5 🌟
Briefly, A Delicious Life: Nell Stevens 📖
Delphi: Clare Pollard 📖
4 🌟
The House of Fortune: Jessie Burton 📖
A Year Without Months: Charles Dodd White 📖
3.5 🌟
Bluebird, Bluebird: Attica Locke 🎧
3 🌟
The Matchmakers Gift: Lynda Cohen Logman 🎧
The High House: Jessie Greengrass 🎧
DNF
While Justice Sleeps: Stacy Abrams

rmaclean4 Great reading month. Read both my #bookspin and #doublespin. Also got my fisrt #BookSpinBingo!! @thearom. Read 2 of the best books of my reading year this month! 2y
15 likes1 comment
review
rmaclean4
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Pickpick

One of the best books I have read this year. If you like Ferrante you will love this novel. Follows a friendship of two young girls in post war France. Beautiful writing. 5 🌟

jlhammar Yay, so great to hear! I love Ferrante and I have this one in my “read soon” stack. 2y
16 likes1 stack add1 comment