Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Audio Review: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman


Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Publication Date: September 8th by Simon & Schuster Audio
Audio Book Length: 9 hrs 53 min
Narrator: Marin Ireland
Source: Publisher & Libro.fm
Pages: 336
Rating: 
Links: Libro.fm | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:
Can you believe Anxious People was my first experience with Fredrik Backman? I’ve heard so many good things about his writing and this story didn’t disappoint. It brought out all the feels. 

I will say that at first, I was a bit confused about the story and where it was going. The police interviews and the cadence drove me a bit nuts, so I warn if you pick this up, hang on and have a bit of patience because it all comes together beautifully! It’s a story about an attempted bank robbery, an accidental hostage situation, but at the core it’s about love and how our actions impact others. The story is quirky, fun, and inspirational. I did shed a few tears by the end!

I listened to the audio and while Marin Ireland’s performance was good, I was a little disappointed that she didn’t have a Swedish accent. The story was set in Sweden after all. Other than that, I enjoyed the audio.

4 Suns




Goodreads Description:
This is a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.

Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers slowly begin opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths.

As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people.

11 comments:

  1. Interesting way that this one is told. Glad it came together. I still haven' read anything by Backman despite seeing so many raves.

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  2. I also had to get used to his style, but his characters are pure gold. So complex and beautiful. I am looking forward to reading this book, but now I am going in order, because I heard he likes to call up characters from previous books.

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  3. I've seen good reviews for this one.

    Anne - Books of My Heart

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  4. I’ve not read Backman either, I do like a Scandinavian setting, I shall check it out!

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  5. Everyone seems to love this author so much; I should really give him a try.

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  6. I've been remiss in trying his books, too. This one with the failed bank robber does sound good. Ha, I've had books make me scratch my head about where they are going in the beginning.

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  7. I haven't read any of his books either, though I have been curious. This one sounds particularly good. Glad you liked it!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  8. Sounds like an interesting book! Sometimes books where you just need to hang in there and wait for it all to come together can end up being great.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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  9. It's good to know you need to have a little bit of patience with this one at first. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  10. I recently found A Man Called Ove at a used bookstore, but haven't had a chance to read it yet! I've heard this one is just as good, so I should probably make room for them sooner rather than later. :)

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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