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nicole_theythem's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Violence
fantaiil's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love his words, his characters and how he makes me cry while talking about humans and their inability of saying, what they want to say.
This book is about love, despair, kids, dumb choices, pizza, love, marriage, kids and their parents, money, capitalism, love and a bridge. It's about the connection between people and the irrational things we do, when we feel emotions that are to big to describe.
Backman is a magician. A magician of words and sentences and making one feel and cry and laugh and feel once again.
I wish, I could buy this book a thousand times and gift it to everyone I know.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Self harm, Murder, Blood, Violence, Grief, Addiction, and Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, and Gun violence
kato_dg's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Pregnancy, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Classism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Mental illness
kmwolff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Infidelity, Homophobia, Misogyny, Mental illness, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence, Violence, and Alcohol
katstu1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Self harm, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Cancer, Confinement, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, and Suicide attempt
manu_k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It keeps its pacing all throughout the book, and even when we get to the heavy parts, Backman keeps it light with a well-timed sarcastic comment or incongruous joke. The story flows well, and the smooth change in point of views compliments the non-linear storytelling. The writing is beautiful and the way the story comes together at the end is inspired.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Alcoholism
Minor: Violence, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Blood, Pregnancy, Grief, Confinement, and Cancer
caleb_makes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Classism, Grief, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts
emmabc's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Xenophobia, Violence, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
beca_reads's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
We follow two different timelines. The first timeline is the hostage drama. A bank robber is in need of money so tries to rob a bank, unfortunately for them the bank is cashless. They are then alerted to the fact that there is police outside, and they end up running into an apartment viewing and taking a bunch of people hostage. From there we are introduced to all of the hostages and their back stories. Each character has such a strong back story, they could easily have their own book each. The hostage situation is ridiculous in the best way, and ends up bringing these strangers together. Meanwhile we have the other time which takes place after the hostage. Jim and Jack are father and son, and work for the Swedish police. Jack is determined to figure out who the bank robber is as they can't find them, and believe that the hostages are hiding information. Both timelines are carefully interweaved to form this amazing story. For me personally I found Zara's and Estelle's storylines my favourites.
Trigger warnings: suicide, suicide ideation, and confinement.
Also if you plan on watching the Netflix adaptation (which is good by the way) I recommend reading the book all the way through first.
Graphic: Death, Dementia, Suicide, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Classism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
Minor: Blood, Cancer, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, War, Violence, and Sexual content
homophobia and lesbophobia are only mentions of previous cultural attitudes towards queer people