Chinese American novelist Li Yiyun’s The Book of Goose has won the 2023 Faulkner Award for Fiction. “Li’s The Book of Goose is a dazzling, conventions-defying, nuanced (细腻入微的) novel, ” stated the judging panel for the 2023 Faulkner Award.

First published in September 2022, The Book of Goose is “a gripping, heartbreaking new novel about female friendship, art, and memory, ” which is centered-around a conversation between its two protagonists (主角) — Agnes and Fabienne — on happiness and tells the story of how two French girls succeeded in literature after World War II.

Back in her younger years, Li did not believe she would go on such a long literary journey. After graduating from Peking University in 1966 with a bachelor’s in biological science, she went on to do her master’s in immunology (免疫学) at the University of Iowa, US.

What changed her life track was a community writing workshop in 1997. Without any specific purpose in mind, Li attended the workshop just like how “a housewife goes to a yoga class for fun,” she recalled. After that, Li began to write stories in English although she had no prior writing experience. Her efforts later earned her international fame.

Now Li is the author of several works of fiction, including Must I Go, Where Reasons End, and A Thousand Years of Good Prayers which have won her many awards. Her works have been translated into a dozen of languages, with some even adapted into movies.

Her works touch on thought-provoking topics like humanity, emotion, and cultural divide. She has been dedicated to exploring the different sides of human nature and the conflicts people face when coming from different cultural backgrounds. “I do have an interest in imperfections,” Li said. “I think it’s a matter of character. Some people will say I like the dark side, that is also character. ”

【小题1】What do we know about The Book of Goose?

A．It was first published in September 2023.

B．It has won the 2022 Faulkner Award for Fiction.

C．It is a new novel about friendship, art, science, and memory.

D．It tells of two French girls’ experiences of success in literature after World War II.

【小题2】What does the author want to tell us by writing Paragraphs 3 and 4?

A．Li turned novelist unexpectedly.

B．Li did well in academic performance.

C．Li’s efforts earned her international fame.

D．Li attended the writing workshop just for fun.

【小题3】What does the underlined word “prior” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Valuable.

B．Previous.

C．Outstanding.

D．Proper.

【小题4】What is the author’s attitude towards Li Yiyun and her works?

A．Unconcerned.

B．Negative.

C．Objective.

D．Doubtful.