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murfmonkey 's review for:
Britt-Marie Was Here
by Fredrik Backman
This is another fantastic book by Frederik Backman. He has an unusual ability to take a character who is not very likable, begin to tell you their back story and pretty soon you not only like them, but love them.
The main character in this book is Britt-Marie who was an unlikable character in his last book. She ends up needing a job and is assigned to the town of Borg where she meets a set of suitably weird characters who do not seem to mind her somewhat obnoxious and overbearing character. Once we discover her back story and begin to understand why she is the way that she is, we begin to empathize with her and before you know it, the reader actually likes Britt-Marie.
What stands out to me about this book [aside from how Backman weaves in soccer which is quite delightful] is the overarching human need to be part of something bigger than themselves, to believe that one's life has made a difference, and to be helpful. Britt-Marie doesn't set out to do anything other than do her job and do it well [because this is her character], but the town of Borg sucks her in despite her best efforts and changes her as she in return changes it.
Backman's books force the reader to consider what it means to be human and to what extent and how being part of a group changes people for the better. In the process the reader begins to understand the dangers of isolation and that every character matters [even if it happens to be a rat].
The main character in this book is Britt-Marie who was an unlikable character in his last book. She ends up needing a job and is assigned to the town of Borg where she meets a set of suitably weird characters who do not seem to mind her somewhat obnoxious and overbearing character. Once we discover her back story and begin to understand why she is the way that she is, we begin to empathize with her and before you know it, the reader actually likes Britt-Marie.
What stands out to me about this book [aside from how Backman weaves in soccer which is quite delightful] is the overarching human need to be part of something bigger than themselves, to believe that one's life has made a difference, and to be helpful. Britt-Marie doesn't set out to do anything other than do her job and do it well [because this is her character], but the town of Borg sucks her in despite her best efforts and changes her as she in return changes it.
Backman's books force the reader to consider what it means to be human and to what extent and how being part of a group changes people for the better. In the process the reader begins to understand the dangers of isolation and that every character matters [even if it happens to be a rat].