Anxious People in DMPL Book Chat

Oct 30, 2020 Kyra rated it really liked it

Shelves: mother-daughter-book-club

Ya know, I would probably like Fredrik Backman's description of the phone book. I don't think this was as good as Beartown, but of course it's a Fredrik Backman, so it was going to be good regardless. Some parts of this book were as compelling as Beartown, and other parts were really slow and just trudging along. Some of the characters were really compelling, other characters I wished the bank robber would release from the apartment so that I could just overall hear less from them (*cough* Roger ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Courtney rated it really liked it

We're just strangers passing each other, your anxieties briefly brushing against mine as the fibers of our coats touch momentarily on a crowded sidewalk somewhere. We never really know what we do to each other, with each other, for each other.

This book is full of Backman's trademark wit and charm, nestled against a frank conversation about mental health and the struggles of living in this world. It's charming and a delight, but also surprisingly heavy, in ways that I don't feel his other books h ...more

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Jun 22, 2021 Karna Converse rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Storyline with laugh-out-loud moments on one page and somber introspective reflections on another

There's much to love about how Backman mixes light-hearted (and almost flippant, throwaway) thoughts with serious commentary about family relationships, male relationships, youth and the Internet, death, financial and housing markets, and marriage. He begins his witty word choices in the dedication—"to the voices in my head, the most remarkable of my friends. And to my wife, who lives with us."—and c Storyline with laugh-out-loud moments on one page and somber introspective reflections on another

There's much to love about how Backman mixes light-hearted (and almost flippant, throwaway) thoughts with serious commentary about family relationships, male relationships, youth and the Internet, death, financial and housing markets, and marriage. He begins his witty word choices in the dedication—"to the voices in my head, the most remarkable of my friends. And to my wife, who lives with us."—and carries this fun-loving tone through a weaving narrative that exposes new details slowly, subtly, and only when they're vital to how the storyline is unfolding.

Backman shows us characters who are truly anxious—not just worried—and offers a glimpse of the many ways people cope with the challenges and problems that come their way. I appreciated how Backman shows that such a diverse group of people can randomly come into contact and get to know each other in such a way that each of their individual anxieties are lessened. The world would be a better place if we all took this advice shared by one of the characters: "Plant an apple tree today, even if you know the world is going to be destroyed tomorrow."

Other lines I highlighted:

Pg 57: Anyone can nurture a myth about their life if they have enough manure, so if the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, that’s probably because it’s full of shit.

Unsure of page number, about 70% into novel: “You’re talking like I’d be happy if people got divorced. No one can go to two thousand apartment viewings and not realize that there’s more love in the world than the opposite.” . . . “What do you base that on?” The rabbit’s ears quivered. “All the apartments that aren’t for sale.”

Pg 324: If our past was all that defined us, we'd never be able to put up with ourselves. We need to be allowed to convince ourselves that we're more than the mistakes we made yesterday. That we are all of our next choices, too, all of our tomorrows. ...more

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Apr 25, 2021 Emily rated it liked it · review of another edition

Conflicted

3.5 stars. Ugh! This book was a struggle! Once I got to the end, I cried, I was amazed by the message and how everything got tied up...but it was tough to get through. I found myself annoyed by some of the characters, even though they were quite funny. I even stopped reading for a while because I was kind of bored. But the ending redeemed it for me.

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Jan 19, 2021 Andy rated it really liked it

[3.5 stars rounded-up] While I enjoyed “Anxious People,” it wasn’t Backman’s strongest work, primarily because the plot was a little too slap-sticky, and many in the cast of characters (about 10) were initially more annoying than anxious.

As bits and pieces of their inner fears and disappointments bubble to the surface – a truism that sometimes it’s easier to bare your feelings to a stranger rather than those you hold close – they each will get the Big Lesson™ needed to move forward.

Let’s be ho ...more

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May 01, 2021 Lauren rated it liked it

Shelves: peo-book-club

What a complicated story. I was incredibly confused for a while and had to go back and read through sections again. Then I felt like the story had resolved and the book ought to be over but it just kept going. I guess to look on the bright side, there wasn’t anything left unresolved.

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Sep 22, 2020 Shannon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: botm, netgalley, 2020

“This is a story about idiots.”

Who can’t love a book with this sentence?

I had no idea what this book was about. I just knew that I loved Fredrik Backman books. From this beginning this book had me laughing out loud, saying WTCrap, and wanting to hug everyone…except the rabbit.

At the crux of it, this book is about being human. We all have insecurities with the people we love the most, and we all fumble with these insecurities. We want to be the best for people. There are times in our lives tha ...more

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Mar 02, 2021 Lisa rated it really liked it

I am a Backman fan. I just enjoy his writing style. In this book, he takes a closer look at the ups and downs of life. The people all end up connected to each other - I love that, but I did have some trouble keeping track of the connections. His humor keeps the subject light, even when dealing with real issues like suicide.

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