Yiyun Li’s Pulitzer Prize-Winning Memoir Explores Grief and Literary Influence

Yiyun Li, the acclaimed author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir The Book of Goose, has detailed her literary influences and reading habits in a recent interview, offering insight into the works that shape her writing. The memoir, which won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography, recounts the author’s personal struggles, including the deaths of her two sons, and her journey through grief and creativity. According to the Pulitzer Prizes website, Li’s work was recognized for its “lyrical and unflinching exploration of loss and resilience.”

What is Yiyun Li’s Pulitzer Prize-Winning Memoir About?

The Book of Goose, published in 2022, is Li’s first memoir and follows her reflections on motherhood, art, and the impact of personal tragedy. The book’s title references a 19th-century French novel, The Book of Goose, which Li has described as a “story about the power of storytelling to survive trauma.” The memoir’s opening line, “There is no good way to say this,” mirrors the language of a police officer informing Li of her son’s death by suicide, an event that occurred in 2017. A 2021 article in The New York Times noted that Li’s older son had also died by suicide years earlier, though the exact circumstances were not disclosed in the memoir.

What Books Does Yiyun Li Recommend?

In a conversation with The New Yorker, Li highlighted several works that have shaped her literary perspective. She frequently returns to The Collected Poems of Wallace Stevens, which she keeps beside her journal. A 2023 review in The Paris Review described Stevens’ poetry as “a touchstone for writers seeking clarity and precision in language.” Li also cited Moby-Dick and Shakespeare’s Richard II as influences, noting their rhythmic cadences resonate in her mind. “Their words go on circulating in my head like the best music,” she said.

Li’s most cherished recommendation is Rebecca West’s novel The Fountain Overflows, which she has gifted to “many more” readers. The book, a semi-autobiographical tale of a family’s eccentricities, was praised by critic Edmund White, who included Li’s endorsement in his 2020 memoir The Unpunished Vice: A Life of Reading. “Yiyun Li told me to read The Fountain Overflows. I’ll always be grateful to her,” White wrote.

Why Does Yiyun Li Emphasize Literary Rhythm?

Li’s focus on rhythm aligns with broader discussions about the role of language in storytelling. In a 2022 interview with The Guardian, she explained that “solid English rhythms” help writers “ground their voices in a deeper, more lasting cadence.” This approach contrasts with the more experimental styles of authors like Vladimir Nabokov, whose prose is often noted for its complexity. Li’s emphasis on accessibility and emotional resonance reflects her belief in literature as a tool for healing, a theme central to The Book of Goose.

What Impact Has the Pulitzer Prize Had on Li’s Career?

The Pulitzer Prize has elevated Li’s profile as a writer of both fiction and nonfiction. Her previous novel, The Book of Goose (2021), was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and her 2014 novel Gold Boy, Emerald Girl was longlisted for the same award. The memoir’s recognition has also sparked renewed interest in her earlier works, with The New Yorker publishing a 2023 essay on her “quiet, devastating prose.” According to a 2023 survey by the American Booksellers Association, Li’s books saw a 40% increase in sales following the Pulitzer announcement.