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sarahthegaymer 's review for:
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
by Fredrik Backman
I've waited awhile to write this review because I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to say. This was my book clubs book of choice for the month of November. I went into it without any expectations as I had tried to read Anxious People by the same author and couldn't get into it. I was quickly taken by full blown surprise!
In this story, you'll meet the main character, 7-year old Elsa. Elsa and her Grandmother have an incredibly special bond. Elsa's Grandmother's relationship with everyone else..especially those in the apartment building...well those are a little more complex. The bond between Elsa and her Grandmother even extends to a dream world and a secret language. When her Grandmother passes away; she leaves Elsa a special mission...only no one is really sure what that mission is and how it's going to play out.
Let me tell you. This book wrecked me. I cried for probably a good hour after finishing it. As someone who has a pretty close relationship with my Grandma & who is an older sibling that was just never truly understood..this book hit those heart strings freaking hard!!!
One of the things I enjoyed the most was getting to read the book from Elsa's point of view. There is something about being inside of the mind of a 7-year-old that really makes you slow down and appreciate things at a different level. I also enjoyed getting to meet each of the characters within the apartment complex & see how each of their stories intertwined or how their paths crossed. Each of them had such a special story and a meaningful part in the book. There wasn't a single a minor character that was actually 'minor'. In my opinion, anyways.
The way this portrays the relationship between a grandchild and grandparent is truly unique, as well. That unbreakable bond of unconditional love, getting away with things your parents never did, and having someone that just gets you for exactly who you are without any conditions..it's magical!
One downside to this book, though it was not enough to make me lower my rating; was the dream world chunks. The dream world that has been created by Elsa's Grandmother is mentioned A LOT and in GREAT GREAT DETAIL. It's very repetitive and sometimes I'd find my mind wandering when I was trying to read it. However; as the story wraps itself up; the dream world made much more sense and I feel that had I known that going into the book, I would have taken the time to pay a bit more attention to what I was reading. Again, this was just something personal but doesn't take away from the story in any way.
If you are looking for a book that will make you smile, laugh, be scared, and cry - this is it! I highly recommend it and I am looking forward to giving other titles by this Author a read (& a second chance).
In this story, you'll meet the main character, 7-year old Elsa. Elsa and her Grandmother have an incredibly special bond. Elsa's Grandmother's relationship with everyone else..especially those in the apartment building...well those are a little more complex. The bond between Elsa and her Grandmother even extends to a dream world and a secret language. When her Grandmother passes away; she leaves Elsa a special mission...only no one is really sure what that mission is and how it's going to play out.
Let me tell you. This book wrecked me. I cried for probably a good hour after finishing it. As someone who has a pretty close relationship with my Grandma & who is an older sibling that was just never truly understood..this book hit those heart strings freaking hard!!!
One of the things I enjoyed the most was getting to read the book from Elsa's point of view. There is something about being inside of the mind of a 7-year-old that really makes you slow down and appreciate things at a different level. I also enjoyed getting to meet each of the characters within the apartment complex & see how each of their stories intertwined or how their paths crossed. Each of them had such a special story and a meaningful part in the book. There wasn't a single a minor character that was actually 'minor'. In my opinion, anyways.
The way this portrays the relationship between a grandchild and grandparent is truly unique, as well. That unbreakable bond of unconditional love, getting away with things your parents never did, and having someone that just gets you for exactly who you are without any conditions..it's magical!
One downside to this book, though it was not enough to make me lower my rating; was the dream world chunks. The dream world that has been created by Elsa's Grandmother is mentioned A LOT and in GREAT GREAT DETAIL. It's very repetitive and sometimes I'd find my mind wandering when I was trying to read it. However; as the story wraps itself up; the dream world made much more sense and I feel that had I known that going into the book, I would have taken the time to pay a bit more attention to what I was reading. Again, this was just something personal but doesn't take away from the story in any way.
If you are looking for a book that will make you smile, laugh, be scared, and cry - this is it! I highly recommend it and I am looking forward to giving other titles by this Author a read (& a second chance).