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emtron's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
meb1916's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn't know what to expect from this book and it surprised me. The specifics of the setting and characters made me feel so connected and invested in what would happen. Reading from the perspective of a 7 year old was so touching and wonderful, as well as heartbreaking. A true modern fairy tale with very important lessons.
jennychism's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
kitkat962's review against another edition
4.0
Ah, how I loved Fredrik Backman's characters and humors. "The man called Ove" took me to "Beartown" (which is quite agonizingly slow to read), and this little book.
The land of Almost asleep made the main story hard to follow, as they intertwine and reflect each other. It didn't even make sense in the beginning (I was so confused with "The Monster"), but I promise, stick with it till half of the book or so, and you could really felt the warmth and the struggle of each characters, both the protagonist and the supporting casts.
"I want someone to remember I existed. I want someone to know I was here.” - this quote alone made me want to read Britt-Marie next, and, if he decided to make spin-offs for all the characters, I'd gladly read all of them
The land of Almost asleep made the main story hard to follow, as they intertwine and reflect each other. It didn't even make sense in the beginning (I was so confused with "The Monster"), but I promise, stick with it till half of the book or so, and you could really felt the warmth and the struggle of each characters, both the protagonist and the supporting casts.
"I want someone to remember I existed. I want someone to know I was here.” - this quote alone made me want to read Britt-Marie next, and, if he decided to make spin-offs for all the characters, I'd gladly read all of them
emhope95's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
logancoxx's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-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
1.0
It’s a sad day when you read the first bad book by an author you really enjoy. This what that book. I just could NOT get into it & didn’t know what was happening most of the time?
Thoughts while reading:
23% tbh I really don’t know what’s happening. Like I do… but I don’t
50% this seems like a lot, and very deep emotions, for a 7 year old
I’ve seen a book w Britt Marie in the name by Blackman… same character? She’s super annoying in this book
67% not gonna lie I wanna DNF… I just am not in this at all
70% no for real what’s going on?
Why was like all of one chapter just randomly focused entirely on Britt Marie and her backstory?? Feels forced since I know he has another book about that character
Thoughts while reading:
23% tbh I really don’t know what’s happening. Like I do… but I don’t
50% this seems like a lot, and very deep emotions, for a 7 year old
I’ve seen a book w Britt Marie in the name by Blackman… same character? She’s super annoying in this book
67% not gonna lie I wanna DNF… I just am not in this at all
70% no for real what’s going on?
Why was like all of one chapter just randomly focused entirely on Britt Marie and her backstory?? Feels forced since I know he has another book about that character
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Ah ... this was my last Backman book (well, I still have his non-fiction and Christmas story). I DO wish I'd read this before reading Britt-Marie was here, not that it really makes a huge difference. While this is a 5* for me, I can see why some struggle with it. The fantasy elements/world were confusing, but in the end, I loved it, as I've loved all of Backman's books. It's one I want on my shelf, one I'll go through and see what quotes others have saved - one I'll remember.
I know the fantasy world overlapped, and the "wurse" in fantasyland wasn't a dog. BUT ... wasn't he a dog in real life? In the picture on the cover? When the wurse was fed chocolate, that just made me cringe (because IRL was the girl feeding a dog chocolate?)
Per usual for Backman, this was 3rd person/present tense. A huge cast of characters (and when I say characters I REALLY mean characters, because they were all really unique. The chapters did have headings, although they weren't really descriptive (as far as jogging the memory to remember what happened in that chapter) ... Tobacco, Monkey, Coffee, Beer, Lilies, Cleaning Agents, Leather, Rubber, Soap, Alcohol, Protein Bars, Mint, Wine, Tires, Wood Shavings, Dust, Cinnamon Bun, Smoke, Sponge Cake Mix, Clothes Shop, Candle Grease, O'Boy, Dishcloth, Dreams, Spruce, Pizza, Mulled Wine, Potatoes, Swiss Meringues, Perfume, Peanut Cake, Glass, Baby, Granny. Per MY usual pet peeve, the hard copy did NOT have a Table of Contents. I cannot comprehend why a TOC isn't included (it's in the digital copies, ebook and audio, for navigation, but physical books could use that too, knowing what page a chapter starts on rather than just randomly flipping through? Seeing all the chapter headers together, knowing that there 34 chapters and an epilogue ... I always want a TOC, even in a physical copy, even in fiction, even if there aren't chapter headers.
I connected with the characters and really cared about them - to the point of tears a few times.
No proFanity, no sex ... dealing with death and some scary moments.
I know the fantasy world overlapped, and the "wurse" in fantasyland wasn't a dog. BUT ... wasn't he a dog in real life? In the picture on the cover? When the wurse was fed chocolate, that just made me cringe (because IRL was the girl feeding a dog chocolate?)
Per usual for Backman, this was 3rd person/present tense. A huge cast of characters (and when I say characters I REALLY mean characters, because they were all really unique. The chapters did have headings, although they weren't really descriptive (as far as jogging the memory to remember what happened in that chapter) ... Tobacco, Monkey, Coffee, Beer, Lilies, Cleaning Agents, Leather, Rubber, Soap, Alcohol, Protein Bars, Mint, Wine, Tires, Wood Shavings, Dust, Cinnamon Bun, Smoke, Sponge Cake Mix, Clothes Shop, Candle Grease, O'Boy, Dishcloth, Dreams, Spruce, Pizza, Mulled Wine, Potatoes, Swiss Meringues, Perfume, Peanut Cake, Glass, Baby, Granny. Per MY usual pet peeve, the hard copy did NOT have a Table of Contents. I cannot comprehend why a TOC isn't included (it's in the digital copies, ebook and audio, for navigation, but physical books could use that too, knowing what page a chapter starts on rather than just randomly flipping through? Seeing all the chapter headers together, knowing that there 34 chapters and an epilogue ... I always want a TOC, even in a physical copy, even in fiction, even if there aren't chapter headers.
I connected with the characters and really cared about them - to the point of tears a few times.
No proFanity, no sex ... dealing with death and some scary moments.