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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Another one day-er. I love the way he writes. You start off immediately hooked.
While you may not think you can identify with the character(s), as you continue to read you find more and more in common. Sometimes the story goes as you would expect, but then it doesn't.
It did remind me a lot of Beartown but maybe that's why I enjoyed it.
#evenolddogscanlearnnewtricks
#ha
#findstrengthindoingforothers
While you may not think you can identify with the character(s), as you continue to read you find more and more in common. Sometimes the story goes as you would expect, but then it doesn't.
It did remind me a lot of Beartown but maybe that's why I enjoyed it.
#evenolddogscanlearnnewtricks
#ha
#findstrengthindoingforothers
The audio version of this book was delightful with voices for each character. This is the story of broken, isolated, quirky Britt Marie who finds healing in the company of the residents of the broken town of Borg. It is charming and fun. Not quite as wonderful as some of Backman’s other books but still worth a read.
Am Anfang hatte ich das Gefühl, dass dieses Buch mich nicht so bewegen wird, wie die anderen Zwei. Aber ich wurde glücklicherweise eines Besseren belehrt. Oh wie ich es doch liebe. Wie auch immer er es schafft, dass man die Figuren so liebt und mit ihnen mitfühlt. Wie auch immer er einen so abholt, dass man am Ende weinend vor dem Buch sitzt und nicht möchte, dass es aufhört. Und wie auch immer er es trotzdem schafft, dass man am Ende Glück verspürt. Richtig begreifen werde ich das wohl nie, aber das einzig wichtige ist dabei nur zu wissen, dass ich mich bereits jetzt auf das nächste Werk freue und nur sagen kann, dass ich hoffe, dass noch tausende danach folgen.
It's been a while since I felt so connected to a set of characters that when I finished the book, I had to just sit a moment in the quiet to say goodbye. I will certainly not forget that Britt-marie was here.
Note -- if you haven't yet read Backman's _My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry_, I highly recommend reading it before this. It helps you know Britt-marie before Britt-marie knows herself.
Also, I listened to the audiobook of this novel read by Joan Walker. I highly recommend that, as well.
Note -- if you haven't yet read Backman's _My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry_, I highly recommend reading it before this. It helps you know Britt-marie before Britt-marie knows herself.
Also, I listened to the audiobook of this novel read by Joan Walker. I highly recommend that, as well.
3.5 stars. Backman is reliably satisfactory. This rating is really just relative to his other books. Britt-Marie was a good character. I'm sad she didn't end up with Sven (maybe she does?) but I absolutely love how much baking powder she uses. ;)
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
When Britt-Marie's husband walks out, she enlists an employment agency to find a job at 63. She ends up in the remote town of Borg, with a hodgepodge of residents who are obsessed with soccer.
The story is the equivalent of a Swedish Bad-News Bears Soccer team.
This would appeal to readers of books like Eleanor Oliphant or Harold Fry.
It got better as the story progressed.
The story is the equivalent of a Swedish Bad-News Bears Soccer team.
This would appeal to readers of books like Eleanor Oliphant or Harold Fry.
It got better as the story progressed.
This book felt a little bit like a combination of A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. As always, Backman is a genius with his slew of small town characters - even if they're a bunch of oddballs they still feel so real. Britt-Marie will show you it's never too late to learn to be yourself and that one person can make all the difference.
I'm still mad he named the most antagonistic character after himself, though.
I'm still mad he named the most antagonistic character after himself, though.
At first, Britt-Marie was annoying and frustrating and drove me a little crazy, as she did in My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, but as time went on and I got to know her a little better, I began to love her. I really don't know how Backman manages to put so much emotion into his books with such simple prose, but he does. I have loved his characters in every single book. He is an absolute master at creating dynamic, relatable, human characters that you can't help but love despite all their flaws.
I loved the aspect of sports in this book, probably because I am such a sports fan. I loved how Britt-Marie began to care about sports because the people around her cared so much and how she tried to understand what people's teams said about them. One of my favorite scenes is when Britt-Marie lets the kids watch the soccer game in the recreation center and they shut her in the bathroom because their team scored while she was in there. Because you can't be a sports fan and not be a little superstitious.
I really enjoyed the way Britt-Marie blossomed in Borg. I loved the idea that no matter how old you are, it is never too late to start again and to really learn who you are and what you care about. Age has nothing to do with having dreams and living them out.
I loved the aspect of sports in this book, probably because I am such a sports fan. I loved how Britt-Marie began to care about sports because the people around her cared so much and how she tried to understand what people's teams said about them. One of my favorite scenes is when Britt-Marie lets the kids watch the soccer game in the recreation center and they shut her in the bathroom because their team scored while she was in there. Because you can't be a sports fan and not be a little superstitious.
I really enjoyed the way Britt-Marie blossomed in Borg. I loved the idea that no matter how old you are, it is never too late to start again and to really learn who you are and what you care about. Age has nothing to do with having dreams and living them out.
Britt Marie is a type a personality. At the beginning of the novel she is hired at a town on the verge of extinction from the 2008 financial crisis as recreation center employee and soccer coach. From this point you see Britt Marie become the glue that holds the band of misfits together. You learn the joys of taking leaps of faith and the love of soccer fans. Wonderful.