The Goose Girl [Hardcover]

 

 

Create your own review

As someone who has never heard the actual Grimm fairy tale about the goose girl/princess, I can't exactly judge this book against the original story. As a story in itself, I found it just okay. We are first introduced to Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree when she is just a young girl, and helped by her aunt, discovers she has the ability to speak to animals. As the first child born to the King and Queen, she is supposed to be first in line to the throne, but Ani (as she is called) doesn't really feel like she fits in. After her father dies, the Queen announces that Ani's younger brother will take the throne and Ani will be send to marry the prince of Bayern, a nearby country that Kildenree has only a "civil" relationship with. Ani, her guards and her lady-in-waiting, Selia, set off on the long journey to Bayern, only to find out that Selia has other plans. Ani eventually arrives in Bayern, but must be careful to blend in. She ends up taking a job as goose girl. While I think this first book by the author was good, it wasn't GREAT. Too many characters and the fact it dragged on in some spots made me not like it as much as I could have. I think I might check out the next book by Hale however, because it centers on interesting and little developed character that appeared in this book.

I heard great thing about this book and I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed. It was not bad by any means, but I didn't exactly live up to the rave reviews I've read either.

The story follows a young princess named Ani who, when she was born, did not open her eyes for three days. She opens her eyes after her aunt comes to her and this aunt raises Ani with stories of magic. More importantly, her aunt teaches Ani how to communicate with animals. She teaches her how to understand and talk to swans and tells her that there are three abilities people are capable of possessing; people talking- talking so that your words convince your listener to agree with you, animal talking- to talk with animals, and the very rare nature talking- to talk with nature itself. After a certain age, people in the castle start to notice Ani trying to talk to animals and her aunt gets sent away. Ani is penalized for trying to talk to animals and must instead train to be the next in line for the crown, which she is very horrible at. Ani is very weak-willed and timid at this point in the novel (as she remains through pretty much the entire novel) and allows people to walk all over her and feels insufficient at all she does. After her mother discovers that a much larger and more powerful neighbouring kingdom may threaten to go to war with their country over resources, the queen tries to satisfy them by Promising Ani to the heir to their throne, without consulting Ani first. So off she is sent to an unknown land to marry a complete stranger. On the journey however, an even takes place that hinders Ani on her way and she is forced into hiding and eventually comes to hold the position of goose girl for the kingdom's geese. She learns more about herself and eventually overcomes the injustice done to her.

The plot itself I rather enjoyed. I thought it progressed in a very steady and logical manner. It wasn't boring but there were no inexplicable leaps either, so overall light reading in that department. There is a supernatural element to the story as well, but it is not portrayed as magical ability. Ani's ability to talk to animals is presented as a language she is trying to learn rather than a special ability, even though she is the only one who can seem to do it. It was almost like we watch her work through translating a newly discovered lost language rather than tapping into a magical ability.

If anything bothered me about the novel it would have to be the character Ani herself. Overall I didn't mind the characters in the novel. There was a decent mix up of personality types. Actually I think one of the reasons this story is so like a fairy tale is because many important people who decide Ani's fate are in their own way cruel about it, and those who aren't cruel do nothing to really help her until she gains some self-confidence. It wasn't her weak-willed nature or lack of self-confidence that bothered me however (that is the character and in time she grows beyond her perceptions of her short comings). In fact I applaud the author for keeping Ani so timid throughout the novel, but still forces her to go on despite her timidity. What bothered me was her naiveté. The author would spell out situations that would otherwise build suspense so that the reader is very aware of the plot and is waiting for the heroine to wake up, because even though she is given many clues she is unable to suspect anything until it is actually happening to her, and that was kind of frustrating to me as a reader. I usually like experiencing the story along with the main character, not with the author or the narrator where I know ahead of time what will happen. This is personal preference of course and I'm sure there are several people who didn't mind this. The other thing that I found slightly bothersome was at the end of the novel, her big climax of coming out of her shell and telling off the king, it sounded so juvenile. I was expecting some sort of outburst from her seeing as how she was introverted for most of the novel, but I was expecting that outburst to be somewhat mature and enlightened (which can be done in a passionate way) instead it seemed more like an angsty teenaged 'so there!' which was disappointing.

Despite that however, I did enjoy the book. It was a good read and a nice adaptation of the original.

That's it,yawn. What a stuggle to get throught this book. It had the potential to be a really good story.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 18 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars 'The Goose Girl' Takes Flight
Imagine a rush of sweet, warm air washing over you, tingling your senses and flowing into a smile. 'The Goose Girl', by Shannon Hale, is like that soft breeze, a story of a girl... Read more

Published on July 11 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Goose Girl
Goose Girl is a exciting book. Ani is a princess, who is knocked off her post by her lady-in-waiting and the soldiers who support her. Read more

Published on July 3 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Fairy Tale Remake
I absolutely loved this book, so much so that I didn't put it down. (Fortunately I was sick that day and didn't have to worry about doing anything else than moan/read). Read more

Published on Jun 25 2004 by S. Gregory

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written
Good fantasy has the power to take you to a place of wonder via beautiful words and images. This book succeeds in doing that! Read more

Published on Jun 8 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars The Goose Girl
I love this book. The plot constantly changes throughout the book. Hale keeps you spellbound with her retelling of the fairy tale.

Published on May 25 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars A writer with a gift
Shannon Hale has the gift of writing. The Goose Girl is the best book I have read in a long time. Readers will not be disappointed in this book. Read more

Published on Jan 15 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing retelling
This is one of the top ten best young adult fairy tale retellings I have read, and I thought it was excellent. Read more

Published on Dec 7 2003 by Kelcony

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!
I bought this book after I heard the author speak at a book store. I was so impressed with her that I took the plunge and bought the book. Read more

Published on Nov 12 2003 by Megan Johnson

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book ever!
This was one of the best books i have ever read! A girl named Ani is crown princess of Kilendree, but after her father dies, her mother decides that her brother should be the next... Read more

Published on Oct 26 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous
The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale is a fabulous book. Everything is described so well that you feel as if you were in the book. Read more

Published on Oct 24 2003

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 18 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!