I love Fredrik Backman. He is one of my favorite authors. I haven't read everything he's written yet, but I every book of his that I read makes me want to read another. In his latest release, Anxious People, Backman tells the story of a bank robbery turned hostage drama and all the people involved. Understandably, there is a fair amount of anxiety involved in the situation, but we learn that they all had their own share before the day even began. The robbery occurs on the day before New Year's Eve and the hostages include an older couple, a pregnant couple, a very old woman, a woman who certainly doesn't belong, a man whose whole purpose is to be disruptive, and a terrible real estate agent who are all at an apartment showing. When the bank robber comes in looking for somewhere to hide, no one is sure if this is really happening or not.
Backman's characters are always absolutely wonderful with their own distinct personalities and storylines that somehow all converge with one another. These Anxious People are no exception. It begins with this brilliant line:
This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots.
If you've read Backman before you know that he refers to idiots quite frequently, but you also know that it usually ends up being with some measure of affection.
In these difficult times, when we have all likely been feeling a little more anxious that usual, a Fredrik Backman novel is one of the best medicines you can take. His writing is wonderful, his storylines neat and tidy, even if they appear the complete opposite at times, and his message is always something we need to hear. I highly recommend this one and I'll leave you with this last quote which I feel perfectly illustrates the beauty of a Backman novel:
Some people accept that they will never be free of their anxiety, they just learn to carry it. She tried to be one of them. She told herself that was why you should always be nice to other people, even idiots, because you never know how heavy their burden is.
No comments:
Post a Comment