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7.9k reviews for:
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry - Target Club Pick
Fredrik Backman, Fredrik Backman
4.12 AVERAGE
7.9k reviews for:
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry - Target Club Pick
Fredrik Backman, Fredrik Backman
4.12 AVERAGE
I love Backman. This book was literally everything I needed and more. All of the characters have so much depth to them and the story was so heartwarming. It’s the perfect story about dealing with grief, and love and found family.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I must admit I'm disappointed. If anyone else wrote this book I'd probably rate it higher but Fredrick Backman is one of my favorite authors and this is probably the worst of his novels in my opinion. I found it quite boring, it got a bit better after the first half but also not that great. Many elements of the plot and connections between the stories seemed forced to me and some themes were ultra schematic. It really annoyed me how the narrator repeated all the time that Elsa is ✨different✨, why not make it apparent by just showing it? Also the ✨magical power of friendship with a dog who everyone else sees as a monster but a child understands✨ didn't convince me. I wasn't even sad when it died . I hated some dramatic lines like "YOU CAN'T DIEEEEEE I NEED YOUUUU" , as well as the depiction of Elsa's relationship with her mum, some dialogs made me think of Wattpad. Probably the biggest downside for me were the characters. Fredrik Backman showed in Beartown how amazing, deep and realistic he can make them but this??? I found (almost) all of them shallow and many exaggerated but not so exaggerated that it would be extra funny or something.
Still, it evoked some positive emotions in me, the ending was quite touching so it's hard to get too angry at this book. I guess it's just not what I was looking for but there are probably many people who will like it, the younger me would probably also do:)
Still, it evoked some positive emotions in me, the ending was quite touching so it's hard to get too angry at this book. I guess it's just not what I was looking for but there are probably many people who will like it, the younger me would probably also do:)
A totally enjoyable read. Hard to really talk about without giving away too much. Suffice it to say, this story of "an almost eight year old" is endearing without being to cute or cloying.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
This was the Backman book that took me the longest to finish. It starts pretty slow and the climax feels like it never really happens but this is a really sweet story. It isn't Backman's best - there are a lot of characters to follow and the story gets a bit confusing bouncing between the real world and Elsa's made up land of The Land of Almost Awake; however, if you can get into it, this is a very endearing story about coping with loss and learning to be yourself when you don't quite fit in.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved how the stories explore ideas of grief and loss through a child’s perspective. It made them seem so simple, universal, and ongoing. Loved the simplicity of the child’s view on adults and complex relationships.