Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

11 reviews

lizziaha's review against another edition

funny

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

Backman has such a talent for packing hard-hitting truths between absolute hilarity and the most depressing shit you’ve ever read and with all those smushed together, somehow spin it all to be a hopeful story. I just wish that the bank robber’s character had been developed a bit more. Compared to the hostages and the police, I felt like I knew less about the bank robber. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Confinement, Death, and Gun violence

Minor: Dementia, Pregnancy, War, Cancer, Xenophobia, and Child abuse

aliyachaudhry's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Blood, Classism, Kidnapping, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Lesbophobia and Addiction

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Xenophobia

neverlandpages4's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

• Going into this, I was so sure that it wasn’t going to be a 5 star read. The characters were mostly unlikable, the plot was getting repetitive, and I just felt like it would be an okay read. As soon as I finished it, that immediately changed. The ending and how everything came together was amazing. This book taught me countless lessons. The characters’ development left me speechless. I loved everything about this book. Yes, it might’ve started off boring, but looking back at it, I knew I needed this book. Also, in the rare occasion where a book makes me sob, it’s usually a 5 stars.
• I loved the unusual blend of genres. Mystery combined with humor makes for a surprisingly interesting read.
• The writing style is one of my favorites and it just felt so personal, you almost feel like you’re talking directly to the author.
• Fredrik Backman knows how to articulate some of the most complicated feelings of being human into words. His metaphors are always amazing and I love how easily he explains why we are the way that we are.
• The relationship between the father and son was so wholesome to read about. I think the author portrays parenthood in such an honest way which makes me want to read his nonfiction book about fatherhood.
• This touched on so many different topics like parenting, humanity, substance abuse, mental health, and more.
• Finding out the whole reason behind the robbery was really sad and it shows how life can change completely in a matter of days.
• This was a tough read because it talks about depression and suicidal thoughts quite often and when I picked this up, I was in a pretty good mental state so reading about those topics wasn’t ideal. But at the same time, if I was reading them while I was in a bad headspace, I’m not sure it would’ve been any better. So it’s just a tough book to get through.
• This was a ridiculously funny, heartfelt, and life-changing book that I would recommend to everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Gun violence, and Infidelity

Minor: Xenophobia, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and War

niftynugget's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book was a rollercoaster. I've never cried at the author's thanks before.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Xenophobia

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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

I loved this. Like. God damn what a fun read. I loved the audiobook, and I can't wait to read it again. I'm a bit afraid to watch the Netflix version because this would take a really special director to pull off. Definitely will be looking more into this author. Wow I wish I could write like this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Infidelity, Classism, Death, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, and Gun violence

emmabc's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

Such a beautiful exploration of connection and what it means to be human/what it means to be a good human. One of the greatest books I’ve ever read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Xenophobia, Violence, Child abuse, and Alcoholism

annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

wow wow wow. a new favorite. it took me a second to get used to the style, jumping back and forth with seemingly (but actually never) unconnected plot lines, but everything starts to get wound together and details are filled in and it pays off so beautifully. this is a beautiful love letter to humanity.

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Content Warnings

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

emusing's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death

Minor: Xenophobia, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

bookswithbreck's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Pregnancy, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Drug abuse

Minor: Misogyny, Cancer, Alcohol, Dementia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, War, and Xenophobia

alisonvh's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective 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? No

4.0

This book has so much going on, I don't even know what category to put it in. It's sweet and sad and funny and heartwrenching all at once. I was hoping for something less emotional, but I can never be mad at Backman for the way he always tugs on my heartstrings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Confinement, Infidelity, Racism, Pregnancy, and Grief

Minor: War