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A review by elise0405
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a book I liked a lot. It kinda felt like “Maybe you should talk to someone” by Lori Gottlieb, even though they are different genres.
And I think it’s important to say that the writing stile is … something… something that some readers will love and some readers will find theatrical/overdramatic and insufferable. I like Fredrik Backmans writing stile a lot but I understand that its not everyones cup of tea… and If this ist the first book of this author you consider and you wanna find out if his writing style is something for you, then this is NOT the best book to start with .
You probably will have to push though the first fifth of the book, and there are other books in which you can get a proper sense of his writing a lot quicker. If you like those, its worth coming back to this one and waddle your way through the first sixteen chapters.
I almost gave up in those first chapters because the characters (especially the real estate agent and London) seemed so incredibly flat and cartoonish… I wanted to scream and slap London across the face.
But I am so glad I didn’t.
It got better and I grew really fond of most of the characters.
You get a first impression of many different characters that all seem weird or eccentric and then bit by bit learn about their background and what causes them to act like they do now, their traumas and storys layer by layer (like an onion) until their actions (kinda) make sense. This is very typical for Fredrik Backman and I really enjoy his characters and how beautiful he captures the way we all try our best and still fuck up and hurt people.
And I think it’s important to say that the writing stile is … something… something that some readers will love and some readers will find theatrical/overdramatic and insufferable. I like Fredrik Backmans writing stile a lot but I understand that its not everyones cup of tea… and If this ist the first book of this author you consider and you wanna find out if his writing style is something for you, then this is NOT the best book to start with .
You probably will have to push though the first fifth of the book, and there are other books in which you can get a proper sense of his writing a lot quicker. If you like those, its worth coming back to this one and waddle your way through the first sixteen chapters.
I almost gave up in those first chapters because the characters (especially the real estate agent and London) seemed so incredibly flat and cartoonish… I wanted to scream and slap London across the face.
But I am so glad I didn’t.
It got better and I grew really fond of most of the characters.
You get a first impression of many different characters that all seem weird or eccentric and then bit by bit learn about their background and what causes them to act like they do now, their traumas and storys layer by layer (like an onion) until their actions (kinda) make sense. This is very typical for Fredrik Backman and I really enjoy his characters and how beautiful he captures the way we all try our best and still fuck up and hurt people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Gun violence
Minor: Alcoholism