Original Language: Swedish
Originally Published: 2019
Genre: Humorous Fiction
Introduction:
I came across "Anxious People" by Fredrik Backman when looking for a new book to read. The plot involved a failed robbery and a hostage situation. I wasn't sure if I should give it a shot or not. But I convinced myself somehow to get a copy of this book, and I'm pleased I did. It is a story that makes you think, and overall it has a positive, upbeat tone. It inspires us to be nice and consider what is truly important in life.
Plot:
Viewing an apartment is often not a life-or-death scenario, but this open house does turn into one when a failed bank robber storms in and kidnaps everyone inside. The eight strangers gradually start to open up to one another as the pressure builds and share long-kept secrets.
The first is Zara, a successful bank director who had been living a selfish life since she was always too busy to care about anyone else. Now, she is fixated on going to open houses to observe how common people live and perhaps fix an old wrong. Then there is Roger and Anna-Lena, a retired couple with an Ikea addiction who are constantly looking for fixer-uppers to conceal the fact that their own marriage is in trouble and they have no idea how to deal with it. Young lesbian soon-to-be parents Julia and Ro are worried about their chances of having a good relationship because they can't agree on anything. A masked bank robber holding a revolver in her face didn't impress Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who had lived a long enough life. Estelle hasn't really visited the apartment to see it for her daughter, and her husband isn't really outside parking the car, despite the tale she tells them all.
The tension grows as police encircle the location and television stations live-broadcast the hostage scenario, and secrets come to light slowly. Sooner or later, the thief must choose between facing the police outside or remaining in the flat with this absurd group of hostages.
Review:
In Fredrik Backman's "Anxious People", the vulnerability and fragility of human life stand out to me. It is a book that I wholeheartedly recommend. The book's main message is that we shouldn't pass judgment on others and that in order to truly understand them, we need to know their history.
You probably already know what kind of books you enjoy because this one is a "feel good" read. But even if you don't usually like those kinds of books, I think it's worth trying to put aside your cynicism and suspend your disbelief long enough to appreciate what this charming and occasionally absurd story has to say. Every time it looked like "Anxious People" was about to enter that cloying, ridiculous environment, Backman injects just the right amount of humour and wryness to brighten the mood without compromising its significance.
When it comes to more sentimental novels, I can be fairly judgmental (and at first, I was sure I wouldn't like this book), but once I got into it, I realized how much I was loving it. Backman masterfully blends humor, sincerity, and just the right amount of mystery and suspense to make this story meaningful, interesting, and a pleasure to read.
The ultimate outcome is a positive and enjoyable tale. Although the book admits that the plot is not very realistic, the key elements, such as the sentiments and the morals, are genuine and sincere. And on occasion, it's enjoyable to fantasize about a different reality and pass a few hours in a friendlier and more ridiculous place.
Our Rating: 8/10
