Author: Fredrik Backman
Pages: 352
Publisher: Atria Books
Publishing Date: September 8th 2020
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Swedish Literature
Format: Kindle
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
This novel is a different Backman, but at the same time, the same author most people grew to like reading. Just don't compare this novel to his others. Also, this is not a comedy, don't buy that line.
There were some funny moments, but there were also a lot of cringe-inducing ones. You need to read a good chunk to get the point of the novel, to familiarize yourself with all the characters (and there are plenty), and to see how things connect. After the initial curiosity, I became a bit bored and I was just reading to see where the story will lead. The first part seems silly, it's repetitive and almost condescending, but it picked up in the second half, especially as I became more familiar with the characters and their interactions. Some aspects are predictable, but some did surprise me. I've always liked his whimsical, deep-lines-that-make-you-think-and-almost-cry writing, but with this novel I got the sense he tried too hard. You know how some people say they don't like when an author is out to make them sad and cry and feel things too much? This is a good example of that.
In true Backman fashion, every character has their own sadness. One thing that bothered me throughout the novel was the attitude towards the police, totally misplaced here. The police duo, father and son, are polite and trying to do their job, while the hostages are attacking them and making impolite and passive-aggressive comments that don't add to the quality of the story. Speaking of characters, everything you can imagine to make this novel inclusive is here: sad single woman that goes to therapy and eventually opens up to the idea of love; married couple whose love is dying out; gay couple wanting to start a family; sad life's unfairness that leads a person to unthinkable decisions; old person who's trying to make sense of life without their partner; therapist with a history; family background that influences the everyday dynamics - it's all in there. Getting to learn more about each character the overarching thought was that this novel exuses sadness and overwhelm. What I think is a redeeming aspect of most of Backman's stories, though, is the focus in the end on people's good, and an attempt to tie all nicely. That can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how you see things.
The themes dealt with are heavy: suicide, divorce, death of a loved one, kidnapping (or attempt...). Basically these are all part of being a human on Earth, but the humorous parts scattered throughout the novel show how hard things can coexist with people's clumsy attempts to make sense of it all. Although the topic of the novel is not a breezy one, once you're hooked you want to keep on reading, especially because of how it's constructed: offering a bit of information about a certain character at a time, changing focus just when things become interesting, throwing in an unforeseen detail - well played! I especially liked the passages on anxiety, there are some good words.
Am I glad I read this novel? Sure, it was fine. Was is memorable? Nope. Will I reread? Def not. Will I recommend? Don't think so... Am I eager for him to write book three of the Beartown series? YES, of course, can't wait.
I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher Atria Book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
There were some funny moments, but there were also a lot of cringe-inducing ones. You need to read a good chunk to get the point of the novel, to familiarize yourself with all the characters (and there are plenty), and to see how things connect. After the initial curiosity, I became a bit bored and I was just reading to see where the story will lead. The first part seems silly, it's repetitive and almost condescending, but it picked up in the second half, especially as I became more familiar with the characters and their interactions. Some aspects are predictable, but some did surprise me. I've always liked his whimsical, deep-lines-that-make-you-think-and-almost-cry writing, but with this novel I got the sense he tried too hard. You know how some people say they don't like when an author is out to make them sad and cry and feel things too much? This is a good example of that.
In true Backman fashion, every character has their own sadness. One thing that bothered me throughout the novel was the attitude towards the police, totally misplaced here. The police duo, father and son, are polite and trying to do their job, while the hostages are attacking them and making impolite and passive-aggressive comments that don't add to the quality of the story. Speaking of characters, everything you can imagine to make this novel inclusive is here: sad single woman that goes to therapy and eventually opens up to the idea of love; married couple whose love is dying out; gay couple wanting to start a family; sad life's unfairness that leads a person to unthinkable decisions; old person who's trying to make sense of life without their partner; therapist with a history; family background that influences the everyday dynamics - it's all in there. Getting to learn more about each character the overarching thought was that this novel exuses sadness and overwhelm. What I think is a redeeming aspect of most of Backman's stories, though, is the focus in the end on people's good, and an attempt to tie all nicely. That can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how you see things.
The themes dealt with are heavy: suicide, divorce, death of a loved one, kidnapping (or attempt...). Basically these are all part of being a human on Earth, but the humorous parts scattered throughout the novel show how hard things can coexist with people's clumsy attempts to make sense of it all. Although the topic of the novel is not a breezy one, once you're hooked you want to keep on reading, especially because of how it's constructed: offering a bit of information about a certain character at a time, changing focus just when things become interesting, throwing in an unforeseen detail - well played! I especially liked the passages on anxiety, there are some good words.
Am I glad I read this novel? Sure, it was fine. Was is memorable? Nope. Will I reread? Def not. Will I recommend? Don't think so... Am I eager for him to write book three of the Beartown series? YES, of course, can't wait.
I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher Atria Book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
