Scan barcode
rellimreads's review against another edition
3.0
I can't add much to the blurb without spoiling anything.
Beautiful and hauntingly hopeful short story.
Narration:
This was my first time listening to Santino Fontana. His performance was perfect for this emotionally evocative short. I look forward to more of his work.
Note:
While beautiful - I feel this is overpriced. $5.99 for a very short story that is only 67% of the ebook length (same cost for a 45min audio) is disappointing. I'm definitely glad I borrowed it from the library.
Beautiful and hauntingly hopeful short story.
Narration:
This was my first time listening to Santino Fontana. His performance was perfect for this emotionally evocative short. I look forward to more of his work.
Note:
While beautiful - I feel this is overpriced. $5.99 for a very short story that is only 67% of the ebook length (same cost for a 45min audio) is disappointing. I'm definitely glad I borrowed it from the library.
jonisbookquest's review against another edition
3.0
3,5*
Voor een novelle is dit zeker niet slecht, maar ik denk dat dit beter was geweest als roman. Nu had ik niet echt tijd om aan de personages gehecht te raken. Het was wel weer een emotioneel en ontroerend verhaal, zoals alles van Backman
Voor een novelle is dit zeker niet slecht, maar ik denk dat dit beter was geweest als roman. Nu had ik niet echt tijd om aan de personages gehecht te raken. Het was wel weer een emotioneel en ontroerend verhaal, zoals alles van Backman
slampizzy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
4.75
lucy2006's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
fast-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
suvata's review against another edition
5.0
Don’t let this book’s cover fool you. From the cover, I thought it would be a light and breezy Christmas story. I’m not sure why. It’s just that most Christmas stories are. Surprise! This is a dark tale about death and regrets. I don’t know how Backman achieved it but this story is so melancholy that it brought me to tears on several occasions, yet, somehow there was an uplifting overtone at the end. So many emotions from such a tiny story – that’s why I rated it 5-stars.
On a personal note, you know how they say a book will come to you at just the right time in your life? Well, this was such a book for me…
On a personal note, you know how they say a book will come to you at just the right time in your life? Well, this was such a book for me…
book_concierge's review
1.0
Book on CD read by Santino Fontana.
DNF - zero stars
I quit after about the equivalent of 30 pages. Didn't seem like the feel-good Christmas story I was expecting. I hated the narrator / main character. And thought the whole idea of "the woman in the grey sweater" was creepy and ridiculous.
Santino Fontana’s performance on the audio didn’t help. His voice seemed distant and detached. Perhaps that’s because it’s the way Backman wrote the character, but the result was the same: I didn’t want to continue.
For me, there are too many other great books out there to waste time on this one.
DNF - zero stars
I quit after about the equivalent of 30 pages. Didn't seem like the feel-good Christmas story I was expecting. I hated the narrator / main character. And thought the whole idea of "the woman in the grey sweater" was creepy and ridiculous.
Santino Fontana’s performance on the audio didn’t help. His voice seemed distant and detached. Perhaps that’s because it’s the way Backman wrote the character, but the result was the same: I didn’t want to continue.
For me, there are too many other great books out there to waste time on this one.
xcinnamonsugar's review
2.0
A (very) short story that nudges you to think about how we measure the relative values of different lives, and what happiness is worth. I liked the poetic plot twist and the allegory. But I didn’t vibe with the little-girl-with-cancer trope. It felt too formulaic and the kind of shortcut that writers less talented than Backman reach for in an attempt to make people cry.
shrootreads's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0