From the Bookshelf of The Perks Of Being A Book Addict…

Anxious People

Fredrik Backman,

Neil Smith (Translator)

Start date: July 1, 2021

Finish date: July 31, 2021

Discussion: Group Books of the Month (BotM)

Why we're reading this: Chosen by group members as our "intended to make us laugh" themed BotM for July 2021. …more
[close] Chosen by group members as our "intended to make us laugh" themed BotM for July 2021.

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What Members Thought

Oct 27, 2020 Cindy rated it liked it

Who could resist a book called Anxious People??? I mean aren't we all??? I enjoyed the characters, their depth. I loved how all the strings came together. I truly did enjoy it. However, it doesn't come close to his other works. I don't know what's missing. All I know is that I needed more. Still looking forward to the next one! 3.5 ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Apr 18, 2021 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, favorites

A bank robbery and an apartment viewing gone wrong. A young policeman trying to save the day and do what's right while working in a bumbling work relationship with his father. And the hostages/apartment viewers don't seem to be able to help solve the case. Grief, love, friendship, earnestness, and bravery. It was just as delightful the second time around. Backman really has a way of understanding and describing human nature in such beautiful and quirky ways, weaving them into his intricate stori ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 16, 2020 Debie Orrell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

Thank you Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. Once again Mr. Backman blows you out of the water. This is about a non-bank heist that turns into a non-hostage situation because we are humans that make choices like idiots and how our lives touch so many others without our knowledge.
A young boys sees a man getting ready to jump off the bridge and runs to stop it. A couple is getting a divorce and one is asked to leave the apartment, then tries to sue for sole custody of the two k Thank you Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. Once again Mr. Backman blows you out of the water. This is about a non-bank heist that turns into a non-hostage situation because we are humans that make choices like idiots and how our lives touch so many others without our knowledge.
A young boys sees a man getting ready to jump off the bridge and runs to stop it. A couple is getting a divorce and one is asked to leave the apartment, then tries to sue for sole custody of the two kids based on the inability to pay for rent on a new apartment. In desperation, idiotic choices are made and thus we have the book. I can't say it any better than Fredrik Backman himself, "This was a story about many different things, but most of all about idiots. Because we're doing the best we can, we really are. We're trying to be grown up and love each other and understand how the hell you're supposed to insert USB -leads. We're looking for something to cling onto, something to fight for, something to look forward to. We're doing all we can to teach our children how to swim.. We have all of this in common, yet most of us remain strangers, we never know what we do to each other, how your life is affected by mine. I think this has become my new best book along with all of this others. ...Because when you get home this evening, when this day is over and the night takes us, allow yourself a deep breath. Because we made it through this day as well....There'll be another one along tomorrow."
If this book doesn't show each of us the differences in each personality and that's what makes us wonderful. That we need to make each other laugh so hard we spit food onto the wall. That we need to care about what is happening to each person out there and whether it is the "system" that is causing it our ourselves, we need to make sure it changes.
What a perfect book to read right now during this time of unrest whether health, political or social unrest. You as an individual can make a difference.
@AnxiousPeople @ Netgalley @Netgallely @Goodreads ...more

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Dec 03, 2020 Karen D rated it it was amazing

Shelves: family, humor, friends, cried-ugly-tears, literary-fiction, 5-stars, cheesy, eccentric-characters, surprise-twist, domestic-problems

This is not my favorite Fredrik Backman, but it's still absolutely amazing and funny and heartwrenching and touching, and just all of the feels ...more

1 like · Like · see review