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A review by inherbooks
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
5.0
If you’re thinking of reading this and can't be bothered to read the rest of this review, do it. You can thank me later. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that touched my soul the way this one has. And coming from someone whos a crybaby when it comes to books, movies, tv shows, that’s saying something.
Anxious People is about a bank robbery that turns into a hostage situation gone all the way wrong. Atleast that’s all I thought it was – until I kept reading and I got to know each and every character that gets caught up in this seemingly unfortunate circumstance. It’s a story of life, of adults facing their individual pressures and anxieties, trying to figure out what they don’t know they don’t know yet. This book isn’t just a listing of problems and complaints, it’s introspective, thought-provoking & intense, all with a tint of humour – almost as if it’s a coping mechanism to get through this wild ride called life (I know because I’ve tried it, laughing is the only solution sometimes). The author peels back layers bit by bit, just enough to make it make a bit more sense, and make you (me) feel that much better about adulthood.
I spent most of the time laughing or grinning at a sarcastic comment, sometimes to the point of tears (happy or sad, mostly happy). Each character is relatable in that there’s something (personality trait, life experience etc.) in you, or someone you know, that you can recognize in every character, from every walk of life. I think that’s what makes this book such a good read. It doesn’t feel like an overdramatic writing, it feels like someone telling you how unreal life can really be & humanizes the trials & errors of adulthood.
If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. It’s gotten the recognition it has deservedly so. Fredrik Backman is an amazing author, & I’m saying this after just reading one book of his. I’m looking forward to reading his other novel A Man Called Ove. This novel is witty, sarcastic, and insightful and this is me holding back so I don’t tell you too much.
Anxious People is about a bank robbery that turns into a hostage situation gone all the way wrong. Atleast that’s all I thought it was – until I kept reading and I got to know each and every character that gets caught up in this seemingly unfortunate circumstance. It’s a story of life, of adults facing their individual pressures and anxieties, trying to figure out what they don’t know they don’t know yet. This book isn’t just a listing of problems and complaints, it’s introspective, thought-provoking & intense, all with a tint of humour – almost as if it’s a coping mechanism to get through this wild ride called life (I know because I’ve tried it, laughing is the only solution sometimes). The author peels back layers bit by bit, just enough to make it make a bit more sense, and make you (me) feel that much better about adulthood.
I spent most of the time laughing or grinning at a sarcastic comment, sometimes to the point of tears (happy or sad, mostly happy). Each character is relatable in that there’s something (personality trait, life experience etc.) in you, or someone you know, that you can recognize in every character, from every walk of life. I think that’s what makes this book such a good read. It doesn’t feel like an overdramatic writing, it feels like someone telling you how unreal life can really be & humanizes the trials & errors of adulthood.
If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. It’s gotten the recognition it has deservedly so. Fredrik Backman is an amazing author, & I’m saying this after just reading one book of his. I’m looking forward to reading his other novel A Man Called Ove. This novel is witty, sarcastic, and insightful and this is me holding back so I don’t tell you too much.