Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Grief'
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman
64 reviews
missknown's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The sweetest book I've ever read. Told from the perspective of a almost 8 year old girl, Elsa, who just lost her grandmother and best friend, and now as to learn how to deal with all her emotions. The narrator takes the simple view of the world from a child perspective to tell a Christmas tale of loss, love, friendship, and above all else the power of imagination.
Most of the characters, if not all, can be frightening, challenging or straight obnoxious. Although the author manages to transform those same characters into likable people. Explores their past and stories, making them more human, making the reader see they are in fact good people that occasionally do shitty things.
Despite the harshness of some stories and the topics it explores, like grief, the book is very humorous. The light-hearted view of the world from Elsa's perspective and the chaotic energy of Elsa's grandmother, there is plenty of funny moments to break an otherwise very melancholic narrative.
Most of the characters, if not all, can be frightening, challenging or straight obnoxious. Although the author manages to transform those same characters into likable people. Explores their past and stories, making them more human, making the reader see they are in fact good people that occasionally do shitty things.
Despite the harshness of some stories and the topics it explores, like grief, the book is very humorous. The light-hearted view of the world from Elsa's perspective and the chaotic energy of Elsa's grandmother, there is plenty of funny moments to break an otherwise very melancholic narrative.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Cancer, Infidelity, War, Animal death, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse
qiqiwooo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book overall, the characters are extremely loveable and it’s wonderful to see how they change as the book progresses. I feel like this book talked about many more serious topics than I first expected? I finished it in 2 sittings ~3 and a half hours altogether
I think the further I read the more I grew to love the other characters and the more I grew to dislike the main character ?? She gets frustrating and also doesn’t seem to fit her age of 7 (nearly 8) years old (elsa stop feeding chocolate to the “dog” and referring to your neighbour as “the monster”)
Also the aimless referencing to “miasma” got really confusing after a while and I felt like I couldn’t really tell what was really happening?? It made it harder to read and made me go “oh huh ??” a bunch of times
Anyways, it was a good experience and whilst I dont regret reading it the ending felt well, not very ended?? Which I dont tend to enjoy greatly, especially since a lot of the characters are kind of left with issues that I wish were explored more
a good example being w/ wolfheart someone please help the poor boy what ?? is he just going to be left with his definetely unhealthy obsessive compulsions whatt
also as relationships are explored in the stories I wish there were more experiences actually between the characters ?? I love alf
I think the further I read the more I grew to love the other characters and the more I grew to dislike the main character ?? She gets frustrating and also doesn’t seem to fit her age of 7 (nearly 8) years old (elsa stop feeding chocolate to the “dog” and referring to your neighbour as “the monster”)
Also the aimless referencing to “miasma” got really confusing after a while and I felt like I couldn’t really tell what was really happening?? It made it harder to read and made me go “oh huh ??” a bunch of times
Anyways, it was a good experience and whilst I dont regret reading it the ending felt well, not very ended?? Which I dont tend to enjoy greatly, especially since a lot of the characters are kind of left with issues that I wish were explored more
also as relationships are explored in the stories I wish there were more experiences actually between the characters ?? I love alf
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Cancer and Violence
Minor: Drug abuse
brookebatesratesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
bookedwithbrie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, War, Death, Bullying, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Abandonment
themirrorball's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
for the first 150 or so pages of this book i could not get into it. i didn’t understand what was going on with the fantasy worlds (miamas, etc.) and it almost seemed like it was trying too hard to be quirky, which was a lot considering i love this author’s writing. but halfway through it really picked up and i began to fall in love with the characters and become interested in where they were going. the way the fairytale kingdoms tie in with the real world is insanely creative and interesting to read about. while i did find the plot towards the end a little predictable, i didn’t mind because the story seemed to be focusing more on characters anyway. once i got past 200 pages, i couldn’t put this book down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Alcoholism and Cancer
Minor: Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Domestic abuse
amavi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book wasn't for me, I disliked many things. I wanted to dnf it at least five times. I didn't like the fairytale aspect, the repeated references, the very unbelievable situations, felt very meh, I was annoyed many times, and I forced myself to finish it. The ending is wholesome and a lot of things come together into a cute story, that's why I bumbed it to a 3 star read. The writer did make me cry again, I'll give him that but A man called Ove was quite better for me personally
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Cancer, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Car accident, and Grief
madisonfrank's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War, Animal death, Grief, Death, Pregnancy, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Stalking
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Stalking, Violence, War, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Physical abuse
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Elsa is unique and seven years old. Her grandma is crazy—as in, standing on the balcony and shooing strangers with paintball guns—at the age of 77. Additionally, she is Elsa's one and only friend. In the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas, where everyone is unique and nobody needs to fit in, Elsa seeks solace in her grandmother's tales at night.
Elsa's biggest journey starts when her grandma passes away and leaves behind a collection of letters in which she expresses her regret to those she has mistreated. The directions given by her grandmother take her to an apartment complex filled with monsters, drunks, attack dogs, and elderly ladies, but they also reveal the truth about fairy tales and kingdoms and introduce her to a grandma unlike any other.
I adore Fredrik Backman's writing style. I adore how he brings the intricacy of his characters to life in his writings. I really like the plot and the characters in this book, but one thing really got on my nerves: how frequently Harry Potter references were made. I understand that Elsa is young and that she should enjoy Harry Potter; she is free to act anyway she pleases. However, I don't want to read about Elsa being so enraged when someone hasn't read the books or seen the movies. I also don't want to read every two pages about the Gryffindor scarf. But aside from that, I think the book is both interesting and informative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
theonlybaillie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Mental illness, and Pregnancy
Minor: Blood, Violence, Stalking, Physical abuse, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Alcohol