Book Review: Fredrik Backman's Anxious People

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with a copy of Fredrik Backman’s latest novel, Anxious People, in exchange for an honest review.

After a failing to rob a bank, a would-be thief enters a nearby apartment complex and takes a group of hostages. The hostages are an eclectic bunch of strangers who have come for an apartment viewing. The two police detectives on the case are a father/son pair who are struggling to communicate and their situation is further strained when they cannot figure out how all of the hostages were freed, yet no one has any idea what happened to the robber. After making no demands other than pizza to feed the hostages, she seems to have disappeared.

Anxious People is told via flashbacks to the hostage situation, flashbacks to important moments from the lives of the key characters, and police interviews following the release of the hostages. The suspense is high and Backman’s story unfolds in a way that allows readers to solve the mystery as they read.

More than a mystery, Anxious People is a drama, a story about how failure to communicate with others leaves us feeling isolated and anxious. It’s a story about being human. It’s about the flaws and needs of every human. Backman often breaks the forth wall and speaks directly to the reader, pulling us into the emotional core of the story. We are the hostages, we are the robber, and we are the police. Their story is our story.

In 2020 we need hope more than ever and Backman provides hope. His characters choose kindness and compassion. It isn’t trite, it is human. Yes, I cried buckets.

I’m loath to use the phrase “trigger warning,” but I feel that I must mention that part of the story involves suicide. My father committed suicide when I was four and it is certainly a sensitive subject, but not one that I shy away from. I’m not sure how it might affect others. The suicide aspect of Anxious People has more to do with the people left behind, the people who feel they could have prevented the suicide.

Anxious People is an entertaining mix of genres. It’s surprising, humorous, and has a big heart. I’ve been a fan of all of Backman’s previous novels and I look forward to reading his next one.

Book Review- Fredrik Backman's Britt-Marie Was Here

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advanced copy of Fredrik Backman's novel, Britt-Marie Was Here, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - Britt-Marie is having a crisis. Her husband Kent has suffered a heart-attack and she has received the bad news from her husband's mistress. Double-Whammy. Britt-Marie has spent her life a career homemaker, but after hearing about her husband's affair, she decides to leave him and look for a job. Although she has many skills, not many of them look appealing on paper, especially during a time when her country (Sweden) is in an economic crisis. Britt-Marie decides to take the only job offered, a low-paying, temporary position as a community center director in the impoverished town of Borg. Who will benefit more? A town in need of a new start or Britt-Marie?

LIKE- When I saw that Fredrik Backman had a new release and that I was approved for an advanced copy, I was thrilled. Backman's A Man Called Ove, is one of my all- time favorite books. Honestly, it was going to be hard for Backman to top, A Man Called Ove and even though, Britt-Marie Was Here is a wonderful book, it doesn't quite compete.

As with his character Ove, Britt-Marie has some big flaws. She's very particular about her methods of doing things and she's blunt in her criticism. However, these faults are quickly melted with her big heart that has been hidden under her tough exterior. I like how Britt-Marie is a strong character that takes control of her destiny. She's a fighter and her spirit affects change in other characters, even when their situations seem hopeless. 

Backman has a wicked sense of humor which drives most of the story. I love stories that are able to find the balance between comedy/drama, light/dark. Backman is a master at this. When Britt-Marie Was Here takes a serious turn, it's like being slammed into a brick wall of emotions. It hits hard.

DISLIKE- It's not so much a dislike, rather a distance I felt due to my own lack of interest/understanding with regard to European football. It's called soccer in the book, but I think that might be a change for American readers. Much of the plot has to do with the children of the town struggling to keep their team going and I felt a tad clueless as I don't follow the game. Backman does explain it for non-fans, but I think the story would have been sweeter if it was something that interested me.

RECOMMEND- Yes! If you're a fan of Backman, this is a must and if you have not discovered him, what are you waiting for? Britt-Marie Was Here is a heartfelt story from a marvelous storyteller.

Book Review - Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove

Prior to our 2015 summer vacation in Europe, I headed to Vroman's Bookstore to find some physical books to supplement my Kindle library for our trip. I mean, what if the Kindle broke or the battery died? I can't face being bookless. The horror!

So, I was browsing at Vroman's and Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove called out to me.

Basically, it had a cat on the cover. How could I resist?

 However, I also discovered that the author is Swedish and as I was vacationing with my Swedish step-children, this was kismet. 

PLOT-  What is the root of pessimism? Ove is a grump. He's nearly sixty, a widower and his greatest enjoyment is policing his housing estate. Ove has decided that he is ready to leave this world. Unfortunately, the world is not ready to let Ove go. Every time he tries to commit suicide, his plans are thwarted by needy neighbors, including a mangy, stray cat. Will his neighbors make Ove realize that he is a vital part of their community or will he succeed in his wishes?

LIKE - Even with dark themes like loneliness and suicide, A Man Called Ove, is absolutely hilarious and utterly charming. I dare you to read this book and not fall in love with Ove or his neighbors. The story unfolds slowly, peeling back the layers to discover the root of Ove's pessimism. Backman handles the reveal with pitch perfect pacing, allowing the reader to fully absorb the scope of Ove's life. 

You will cry. Buckets.

A Man Called Ove is incredibly moving and poignant. I'm a fast reader and I had to force myself to slow down to take in the heft and impact of this story. This is a story of the power of community and the need to let people into your life, however I had the funny experience of wishing that I was reading this book alone, not while on a packed cruise ship. I guess it's hard to experience powerful emotions while around other people, even if that is what this story is promoting. I hope this will be made into a movie, as I love the cathartic experience of crying in a theatre, where you are both alone and surrounded by people. 

Ove is not the only memorable character. In Ove's backstory we learn about his wife, Sonja, who loves him warts and all. She is his ideal companion and a strong woman. We also meet Anita and Rune, their neighbors, with whom Ove has done battle over the years. Most endearing is Parvaneh, who has just moved to town with her husband and children. Parvaneh's family needs a lot of help and they don't seem to understand personal boundaries with new acquaintances, which is exactly what Ove doesn't want, yet desperately needs. The burst into his life with an utter lack of awareness that is both irritating and charming.

DISLIKE- Nothing at all. A Man Called Ove isn't just one of the best books that I've read this year, it is one of the best books that I've ever read. Truly and I don't throw that around lightly. I've enthusiastically recommended it to several friends and will continue to do so.

RECOMMEND - Don't hesitate, go read A Man Called Ove immediately. I left my copy in the library of Royal Caribbean's The Explorer of the Seas, in hopes that it will be enjoyed by many people. This is such a beautiful story with memorable characters and it will not leave readers unaffected.