The Book of Goose

Geese are a motif in The Book of Goose, their inclusion in the novel’s title suggesting their importance. In Pennsylvania, Agnès takes care of geese, a remnant of her life growing up in the French countryside. Her geese are therefore a symbolic extension of the girl she once was. The geese help her revisit her and Fabienne’s childhood, inspiring the writing of The Book of Goose. Agnès admires her geese because they live by instinct and, as animals, have emotional depths that are unperceivable by humans. She projects her desire for her own life onto these geese because she has learned through challenges that sharing dreams with others gives them too much power over her. Thus, The Book of Goose is not about geese but the ways in which humans act like animals to protect themselves.

Storytelling is an important motif, as Fabienne is a true storyteller whose power over Agnès is enhanced through fantasies. For Fabienne, storytelling is a game that helps her and Agnès feel alive. It stimulates their minds and helps Agnès escape Saint Rémy through fleeting literary fame. However, she learns the outside world is not as interesting as Fabienne’s stories.