The Snow Goose and the Small Miracle

"Wild spirit called to wild spirit..."

Take the most minimal of ingredients—a deformed reclusive man, a skittish young English lass, a snow goose flown far off course.

Then add time. And war.

Those are natural ingredients (humans are natural, baffling, but natural), sometimes bitter wilds, from which Paul Gallico gathered to make a stunningly eloquent and clear-eyed tale that has every right to be a classic.

In one small hour, I fell in love with it.

I'll be bequeathing my tiny hardback copy to my quiet oldest grandson, soon to be 18, already himself a talented professional artist. It speaks of everything I'd wish to tell him about the world.

I would read it to him, except he's now too grown up, soon a man, and too ready for the world.

I went into this book blind, with no knowledge of what it was about. Our Twitter book club picked it, thanks to Dave, and we delved right in. I didn’t know what to expect, but it did not disappoint. I wish it came with a warning, though, for the bittersweet ending. So consider yourself warned you might need some tissues on hand. I won’t talk much about the plot because there’s not much I can say without giving away spoilers. If you read the description from the back cover you get an idea.
The Snow Goose is a quick read, but it’ll tug at your heartstrings. Love, healing, and human connections are the main themes, and they’ll stick with you.

The backdrop of WWII in this novella makes you think about how war affects people. It’s show more a really good read. What sets “The Snow Goose” apart is its ability to be both accessible and profound, appealing to a broad spectrum of readers.

You’re initially drawn in by the melancholy, like a soft rain that stirs up a medley of feelings — there’s a touch of sadness, a sprinkle of hope, and a warmth of compassion.

You’ll be hooked on the characters’ experiences as the story goes on. You root for Philip Rhayader, with his gentle soul and the unconventional friendship he forms. You ache for Fritha, feeling her innocence and her devotion to the wounded snow goose.

The book brings the marshes and snow goose to life as characters. You’re swept away by the imagery, imagining the vastness of the marshlands and the beauty of the snow goose in flight. You can imagine feeling the breeze and hearing the birds.

Love, acceptance, and friendship are so relatable. You find yourself reflecting on your own life, relationships, and the importance of embracing imperfections. The snow goose is a sign of hope, reminding us that even those who are hurting can recover and thrive.

The end will leave you with a bittersweet song in your heart. You feel a mix of sorrow and comfort, like saying goodbye to a dear friend. You can’t shake the feeling. It makes you think about the beauty of human connections and the world.

In conclusion, “The Snow Goose” is a literary treasure that lingers in the mind, a touching exploration of love, compassion, and the resilience of the human spirit. show less

Of all short stories I have ever read, The Snow Goose is the one to which I most often return, and most fondly.

A number of Paul Gallico's other books (Poseidon Adventure, The Steadfast Man, The Immortals) are so poor as to make a dark backdrop on which we might be surprised to find such a jewel. But jewel it is - beautiful, and rich and rare, on a par with his The Man Who Was Magic.

The story is a delight because of the story itself and because of the way it is told. Simple in style, almost awkward in its narration, yet with such turns of phrase that the sentences beg to be read out loud.

It is a story of fragile, undefined love in the loneliness of life and of rescue both heroic and fulfilling, set against the Dunkirk evacuation. The show more characters are drawn briefly but believably, and are unforgettable.

To say more might diminish the delight of a first reading, but, paradoxically, even if I revealed all, it would not remove the joy of reading it again. show less

I had two customers at the bookshop asking for this book in the last week or so, which often happens if it's recently been featured on the radio. The second customer, a sweet little old lady, fell into a tone of deep reverence and told me it was 'lovely, just lovely - I knew I needed to have a copy!' Well, happily for me, I have a copy, so I searched it out and read it straight away!

The back of this edition says that 'The Snow Goose' is 'a beautiful tale of a hunchbacked artist, a girl, a wounded bird and a courageous act at Dunkirk.' It being a short story, there really isn't much I can add to that without ruining it. All I can say is that my customer was right - it is lovely. From the first page it resounded with poetry and bravery, show more deep sadness and a profound love and respect for the natural world. By the end I was in tears and absolutely certain that this book wouldn't be leaving my shelves any time soon.

The second story, 'The Small Miracle', is a modern fable about a poor orphaned Italian boy, Pepino, and his quest to save his best friend and only remaining family, his beloved donkey Violetta. She is very sick, and his only chance is to get her into the crypt of his local church at Assisi for St. Francis to heal her. Again, it's a very moving story - orphan boy, sick donkey, here come the tears again! - and it's woven through with an appealing atmosphere of innocence and faith.

For me, the first story will be unforgettable; the second story less so, but still far surpassing every other short story I have ever read, at least as far as my memory serves! Very highly recommended. show less

This little book was a gift from a dear friend. It is a beautiful story -- almost a fable, garnered from sources and embellished by Gallico, presented as a modern-day fairy tale with elements of the miraculous and magical. A misshapen man, Philip Rhayader moves into a lighthouse in the marshy east coast of England. He is a landscape artist and birdlover and creates a sanctuary on his land. Though fierce in appearance, he is a kind man with a loving heart for all creatures. One day a young girl, Frith, brings him a snow goose that has been injured and is far off course. She is a bit wild herself, a child of the marshes and nearby fishing village. Together they tend the goose and develop a friendship. Both the goose and girl return to show more this sanctuary year after year, til she is quite grown and understands her feelings for Philip. WWII is battering England and Philip, though unfit to fight, answers the call to help evacuate Dunkirk with his small boat. He and the goose together embark on this mission to save British soldiers and it is through their accounts that the remainder of the tale is told. Philip's bravery, daring, and heroics save many lives, but not his own. The snow goose returns to the lighthouse for a last flyover goodbye to Frith and she knows from this what has happened to Philip. show less

These are a pair of stories that are shorter and both tell tales full of life and love and nature and the love of nature that some people have.
Philip Rhayader is an artist and a hunchback who has more time for the birds around him than for the people in the village he lives near, well the birds don't judge on appearance. When the local wild child Frith brings him an injured snow goose he nurses it back to health. When the call comes for boats to rescue people from Dunkirk Philip goes. It's a story of humanity and love and is a soft story.
The Small Miracle is the story of a boy and his donkey wanting to get into the grotto of St Francis and was a little obvious.
I would recommend the Snow Goose for it's wry look at people and love of animals.

Wonderfully written. The Snow Goose left me in tears.