Fredrik Backman has a way of connecting with the souls of his characters. Even though this is a novella, he still manages to get at the core of something painful and heart-wrenching. There is something so true and raw about his words and the way he can conjure a scene.

Nearly the entirety of this short story takes place in the mind of an elderly gentleman with dementia. Backman captures the fear and confusion of living with the disease as well as the odd movements of time. This short read is nearly as powerful as his full-length works, moving in a swift and effective way within its short 97 pages.