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bitofkit'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
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Death, Violence, and War
starlitt_britt'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
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicide
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Cancer
lonelylooper'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
4.75
Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Stalking, Blood, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse
zenzi2read's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicide
Minor: Drug abuse and Cancer
maryehavens'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
Are all Fredrik Backman books like this?
I wanted to highlight so many gems. I started off listening to it but switched to print because I wanted to devour. Listening was great but when I switched to print, it became apparent that I had missed some things. There's a lot going on so it's easy to miss.
The actual story is interesting, cute, a little slow. But the message is what I'm here for. And what I was interested in highlighting. Just so many things I think about or have experienced. Like people not wanting to be on anti-depressants because they are numbed out. Been there, done that.
One of the very last lines really got to me. I've been feeling very stressed out and unmoored and when I get like that, I get pretty low. It's hard to put one foot in front of the other on those days. But that last part of just getting through the day made me feel so seen and hopeful.
I'm a huge mood reader and part of that is because I believe that certain books need to be read at certain points in your life. I think that's why I juggle so many at once. This book was the book I needed for today.
An extra special thank you to my niece, Karis, for gifting me this book many Christmases ago. I finally got around to reading it was because it was meant for this day :D
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Minor: Drug abuse
caroline_norrish'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
4.75
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Gun violence, Grief, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Addiction
modryzamek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Suicide, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
lemonteacat's review against another edition
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
caitielovebug'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
4.5
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Grief
ndmngz'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
The plot itself is a story about a failed bank robbery turned hostage situation, all the events that lead up to it, and what occurs during and after it. It’s told with time jumps and some unreliable 3rd person narration that only adds to the twists and drama as we uncover the ‘mystery.’ But the true gem is the story Backman weaves of the human condition, of the hurts and hardships many face but fail to ever talk or admit. It’s a story about real love, compassion, forgiveness, failure, and redemption, about the depth we all truly share with one another and the ways in which we can impact others’ lives.
There were 10+ significant characters in this story, but I never got them confused or forgot who was who. They all felt well rounded and incredibly developed, but also flawed in a way that so inexplicably human. I rooted for them all despite their many flaws. The author never tried to make the reader forgive or overlook the characters’ mistakes either, he simply made the other parts of them redeemable.
I listened to the audiobook and Marin Ireland did an amazing job at bringing the story to life, I couldn’t stop listening at one point. I will 100% be getting the physical copy of this book to own and markup, because for the first time in my life I feel truly compelled to reread something (or re-consume it in this case).
Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Drug abuse