From the Bookshelf of Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge…

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

Fredrik Backman

Discussion: 2016 Challenge prompts

Why we're reading this: from Swedish
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2016 Challenge prompts

A book with a protagonist who has your occupation...
By Danah · 8 posts · 184 views

last updated Jan 27, 2017 08:22AM

The first book you see in a bookstore
By Juanita · 64 posts · 492 views

last updated Dec 29, 2016 04:24PM

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What Members Thought

Jun 15, 2017 Celeste rated it it was amazing

Shelves: betterworld-books-challenge-2017

This is the second book I have read by Backman and I loved it. It was laughing and crying and I loved all the characters-major and minor. The fairy tale part of the story was a bit distracting at first but I'm glad I persevered because I loved how it all came together. (Betterworld challenge: a book translated from another language) Friend book club: Diana ...more

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Sep 02, 2017 Sara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club-reads, 2017-reads

This book reminded me a lot of "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close". Perhaps because both have children who lost a close family member, go on a quest for answers, and meet lots of interesting people along the way. I really loved "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close", I just liked this book. I think had I not read "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close", I think I'd have enjoyed this one more. Also, the story in a story with the fantasy land wasn't for me. I felt it was too forced in terms of brin ...more

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Apr 03, 2019 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

I wish that I'd known to read this book before "Britt-Marie Was Here"! ...more

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Mar 29, 2025 Megan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: international-reads, tea-and-tomes-book-club-books, scandinavia, europe, contemporary, translated-into-english, kindle-titles, popsugar-reading-challenge-2025, p-and-p-2025-reading-challenge

While I enjoyed this one (and everything I've read by this author to date), I found it to be a harder read than I was expecting. Given the fairy tale aspect of the story, I think I was expecting something more whimsical. There are definitely humorous moments and wry commentary along the way, but this story felt tinged with melancholy and was more of a bittersweet read to me. Maybe it was just the timing of when I read it and it would have landed differently if I'd been able to focus on it more. ...more

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Aug 01, 2017 katy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book-club

I was honestly surprised by how good A Man Named Ove was, which left me more than ready for this one. As before I was skeptical, but just like before Blackman weaves this world and people that you can't help but love. Combined with a vivacious almost-eight-year-old that reminds me of myself and a creative bit of sweet words, the cathartic cry I had at they end was inevitable.

I love that idea that people are shits sometimes but there's always a reason for it. And most people can avoid being shit ...more

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Feb 23, 2021 Kath rated it really liked it

Shelves: kathy

I started this book a long time ago but got bored in the first chapter and set it aside for a loooong time...until a friend said she loved it. So I picked it up again with a resolution to finish it and I’m so glad I did. The fairy tales that were a little boring at the beginning of the book came to have meaning and tied into the real life characters in a clever way. The relationship between Elsa and her wurse had me in tears. I should’ve known this was going to be good because I loved the author ...more

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