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4.54 AVERAGE
4.54 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Brilliant. Bittersweet. Hopeful. And so so so full of heart and humour.
I truly love Backman’s way of writing; his omniscient narration that isn’t afraid to tell you exactly where you’re going from the start of the book; his characters so full of hopes, dreams, and flaws who can’t help but feel so so very alive; the humour and dry observations peppered throughout every page, humour that is so often paired effortlessly with the greatest moments of tragedy; the grief that he preemptively warns you will be coming with every turn of the page, and then the warmth as he guides you to feel/live through it, breaking your heart step by step by step.
His books always feel to me like the most hopeful explorations of specific aspects of grief, regret, love, self perception and sorrow. And through this exploration, he always somehow manages to magnify small everyday moments of community and connection into monumental moments, magnifying them and drawing out their essence until these moments feel larger than life.
Overall: My Friends was a beautiful blend of heartfelt moments, genuine connections and bittersweet sorrow, at its heart exploring the way true friends (or even just people in your life) can hold you through your worst times, change your life, or even change the way you see yourself.
I truly love Backman’s way of writing; his omniscient narration that isn’t afraid to tell you exactly where you’re going from the start of the book; his characters so full of hopes, dreams, and flaws who can’t help but feel so so very alive; the humour and dry observations peppered throughout every page, humour that is so often paired effortlessly with the greatest moments of tragedy; the grief that he preemptively warns you will be coming with every turn of the page, and then the warmth as he guides you to feel/live through it, breaking your heart step by step by step.
His books always feel to me like the most hopeful explorations of specific aspects of grief, regret, love, self perception and sorrow. And through this exploration, he always somehow manages to magnify small everyday moments of community and connection into monumental moments, magnifying them and drawing out their essence until these moments feel larger than life.
Overall: My Friends was a beautiful blend of heartfelt moments, genuine connections and bittersweet sorrow, at its heart exploring the way true friends (or even just people in your life) can hold you through your worst times, change your life, or even change the way you see yourself.
emotional
funny
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
emotional
funny
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
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I really did not enjoy reading this book. I realize I'm in the minority here.
This book was so rife with problems that it became a slog, and a near-DNF. Problems are:
1. Ham-fisted, clumsy red herrings and redirections just BLOATED this book (he died! no, she died! No, wait they both died! Gotcha! Neither died!)
2. Cartoonish dialogue and narration that comes off as clumsy at best, and annoying as hell at worst. Why is a 40-year-old man written as an 80-year-old? Why is an 18-year-old written as an 8-year-old???
3. Amateurish repetition of prose throughout the book that was distracting and annoying. Every character "wipes a tear"; everyone laughs so hard that something shakes; a character is always ROARING, etc.
4. Given its pedantic, simplistic style (adults are bad, children always good, etc) it felt written for children despite serious adults themes of domestic violence, death, cancer, foster care, murder, etc.
5. And I find it hard to believe that no one else has noted this, but the Joar and "the artist"(KimKim) characters are entire rip-offs of the Chris Chambers (River Phoenix) and Gordie LaChance (Wil Wheaton) characters from "Stand By Me"/"The Body." Joar/Chris are seen as tough, wrong-side-of-the-tracks boys with no futures and abusive dads, but ensure that their creative genius friend survives to be famous; the artist/Gordie are that creative genius, who ultimately becomes famous.
6. The entire book just drags on and on, for about 150 pages too long. A better book (IMO, of course) would be to remove Louisa and all the redirecting flashbacks completely, and just tell the story of the friends.
This was a colossal disappointment to read, as I have loved Backman's "A Man Called Ove" and "Anxious People," and many of his short stories.
This book was so rife with problems that it became a slog, and a near-DNF. Problems are:
1. Ham-fisted, clumsy red herrings and redirections just BLOATED this book (he died! no, she died! No, wait they both died! Gotcha! Neither died!)
2. Cartoonish dialogue and narration that comes off as clumsy at best, and annoying as hell at worst. Why is a 40-year-old man written as an 80-year-old? Why is an 18-year-old written as an 8-year-old???
3. Amateurish repetition of prose throughout the book that was distracting and annoying. Every character "wipes a tear"; everyone laughs so hard that something shakes; a character is always ROARING, etc.
4. Given its pedantic, simplistic style (adults are bad, children always good, etc) it felt written for children despite serious adults themes of domestic violence, death, cancer, foster care, murder, etc.
5. And I find it hard to believe that no one else has noted this, but the Joar and "the artist"(KimKim) characters are entire rip-offs of the Chris Chambers (River Phoenix) and Gordie LaChance (Wil Wheaton) characters from "Stand By Me"/"The Body." Joar/Chris are seen as tough, wrong-side-of-the-tracks boys with no futures and abusive dads, but ensure that their creative genius friend survives to be famous; the artist/Gordie are that creative genius, who ultimately becomes famous.
6. The entire book just drags on and on, for about 150 pages too long. A better book (IMO, of course) would be to remove Louisa and all the redirecting flashbacks completely, and just tell the story of the friends.
This was a colossal disappointment to read, as I have loved Backman's "A Man Called Ove" and "Anxious People," and many of his short stories.
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
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
My Friends is a beautiful story about the messiness of life and how real friendships, even in the most unlikely of places, can provide the empathy, support, and inspiration one needs to find purpose and carry on.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes