Reviews with content warning for Death - En elke ochtend wordt de weg naar huis steeds langer

I expect nothing less from Backman and since I didn't end up finishing A Man Called Ove (left it halfway) because I was crying so much; this ended up being my first ever Backman's book.... and truly; I am just in love; and yes, I cried so hard my eyes are squinting as I'm typing this.

How does it feel to lose the one you love even if they're alive?

That's what conditions like dementia, or Alzheimer's does to you. Backman had done such a splendid job in portraying how and what it feels like to have conditions where you're alive; but you're nowhere near the people that you love, or home.

"I'm in space for a few moments, have to blink and rub my eyes and let my brain take a couple of extra steps to remember who I am and where I am. To get home.

That's the road that's getting longer and longer every morning; the way home from space."

Backman wrote this with so much love and warmth that it breaks your heart in every single page. How does a book, less than 100 pages can make you feel so much. Backman's writing feels like a lullaby; where you're sitting on the beach, staring at the sunset whilst the waves crash and makes you feel nothing and also everything. It tugs on your heartstrings and opens up a flood of memories of yourself and your grandparents. It showed how love can go through time and space; and a part of love is having to remind the people that we love and bring them home.

This book had brought that definition for me. Of loss and love. Of everlasting happiness and a relationship that goes beyond space; infinity.

Biggest thank you to Times Reads for this copy! I am forever thankful.

Content Warnings

itsmeyseniab's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Live your life. It’s an awful thing to miss someone who’s still here.

This novella was such a punch to the gut, but 100% worth the read. I don't personally connect with the subject matter

(a loved one battling with dementia)

, but it definitely forced me to reflect on my own life and realize the importance of embracing all of the ups and downs while enjoying the little moments and not taking anything for granted (something that I find myself guilty of, especially during life's busy times). Ultimately this is a beautiful story that makes me want to hug my loved ones extra close.

Content Warnings

audiomostly's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.75

A book that reflects on old age and learning to say goodbye to a grandparent with dementia. A very short and beautifully written book, highly recommended.

Content Warnings

remimicha's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

mermaidstears's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this book is the definition of short and sweet. Gorgeous book and portrayal of dementia and the characters are so unbelievably loveable. Filled with beautiful quotes and meanings of life. I recommend the read it's so worth it.

Content Warnings

fullybookedlola's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was a nice turn of reading instead of the normal stories I enjoy. It was sad and emotional, but good. I don't regret reading this, but as it is only 50 pages long, I don't have that much to say about it. The writing style was different, but still beautiful. It threw me off at first, but I liked it after. People who get older and are forgetful, will have mornings who make the way to home longer.

The last 13 pages of the book (total: 63) where about another story, but that was not really my thing. I couldn't connect, I couldn't understand. It was a preview for another, new, story. But this is all I have read from it and that's where it ends.

Content Warnings

fatkidatheartreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad

Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

"My memories are running away from me my love, like when you try to separate oil and water. I'm constantly reading a book with a missing page and it's always the most important one."

" You have never become ordinary to me my love, you are electric shocks and fire."

"I miss you unbearably."

"To get home, that's the road that's getting longer and longer every morning."

"You were my shortcut...Death isn't fair..
I miss all our most ordinary things...I miss you then, darling sleepy you. Miss you there. We lived an extraordinary ordinary life, an ordinarily extraordinary life."

"She was a force of nature. Everything I am came from her, she was my big bang."

"Are you scared you're going to forget her?
Very...
I'll tell you about her when you forget grandpa. First thing every morning. First of all, I'll tell you about her.
Grandpa squeezes his arm, 'Tell me that we danced Noah Noah. Tell me that that's what it is like to fall in love. Like you don't have room for yourself and your own feet.
I promise."

"It's an awful thing to miss someone that's still there."

"It's a never ending rage being mad at the universe."

"Your mother is waiting for us, I'm sure she is worried."

"A great brain can never be kept on earth."

Fredrick Backman 😭😭😭
The tears I've shed over this novella, my chest hurts.
I miss my grandpa!

Content Warnings

tpasta's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A sad but moving and reflective short story. Fredrick Backman is always great at describing the relationship between grandchildren and grandparents.

Content Warnings

More...