The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Guys, I was beyond excited to reread one of my FAVORITE books for this month’s On the Same Page. There is very little as awesome to me as reading a favorite book with your favorite people, and I couldn’t wait for Brittany and Alyssa to dive in. As always, we all reacted differently, but I was reminded how much I love THE GOOSE GIRL. I couldn’t get enough of Shannon Hale’s writing the first time I read it, and I was captivated by it again.
Because I love the writing in this book so much, I wanted to share just a small handful of my favorite quotes with you guys. YAY QUOTES!
This is the first line from THE GOOSE GIRL and it always captivated me. It sets such a great tone: long, grand name coupled with an odd, interesting quirk. It basically guarantees that there is something going on with Ani. That she is not just a princess, but something OTHER as well.
The romance is not the most important relationship in THE GOOSE GIRL, but it is very sweet. Mostly, this book is about Ani and her struggles with her identity and her purpose. But Geric is old-fashioned and gentlemanly, with a great sense of humor. He’s basically like a Disney prince. I loved the way that Shannon Hale describes their growing romance. It’s very quiet and intense.
This is one of my favorite passages. I love the line about wishing there was magic, and how it comes from Ani looking for answers that she can’t find on her own. I love this passage, too, because of the way it gently advises Ani to try and think for herself and come to conclusions that are her own.
One of the subplots in THE GOOSE GIRL revolves around the forest-dwelling people, who are considered second-class citizens in the city. They become some of Ani’s closest friends, and she becomes very sensitive to their cause. THE GOOSE GIRL is mostly about Ani, but the rest of the series focuses more on the forest-born characters, and they all have great depth.
THE GOOSE GIRL is itself a retelling of a Grimm Brothers fairy tale, and so it’s focus on the telling of stories is fitting. Ani grows up hearing tales from her aunt, and then she herself becomes something of a well-know storyteller upon her arrival in the capital of Bayern. She captivates the other workers she lives with much like her aunt once captivated her.
I just LOVE this quote. Not only is it something I feel like saying on a regular basis in my everyday real life, but I love how it shows Ani’s determination and strength. COME AT ME, HATERS!
Friends, you have to TRUST ME when I tell you that these are only a handful of the lovely turns of phrase in THE GOOSE GIRL, and that if you love old-school fairy tales, you’d love this book.
I can’t believe that I’ve not read The Goose Girl! I actually added it to my library wishlist a couple of days ago – both print and audio! I love the way you guys read books together and are such great friends. LOVE IT.
The Goose Girl is a favorite boo of mine as well. Have you ever listened to the audiobook? It’s a Full Cast Audio production, and recorded where I live in Syracuse, NY. And, actually, I know the woman who was the regular narrator. She was a librarian in the library system where I work know. She’s just about the smartest person EVER!