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grapefruitjuice's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Classism
micaelamariem's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve always been a fan of the sentimental so this book struck a chord with me. It evokes all the feelings, from laughter to tears. While the book is about a bank robbery gone wrong, it’s really about the people involved in this hostage scene and about people in general. Looking into each person’s mind and heart, Backman makes a point on how messy life is and how idiotic we all can be, and calls us as readers to have empathy for our fellow humans.
I also enjoyed the drama of it all, though. For two thirds of the book I really wasn’t sure who the bank robber was and if they’d catch them or what was going to happen. I liked the plot twists told through a nonlinear timeline that kept me reading beyond the sentimental parts and the idiotic humorous parts.
Overall, a fantastic beautiful read and a reminder that we’re all going through something, but it gets a little better if we have each other’s backs.
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism
scmiller's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Lesbophobia
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
juicelessjamie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Classism
fantaiil's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love his words, his characters and how he makes me cry while talking about humans and their inability of saying, what they want to say.
This book is about love, despair, kids, dumb choices, pizza, love, marriage, kids and their parents, money, capitalism, love and a bridge. It's about the connection between people and the irrational things we do, when we feel emotions that are to big to describe.
Backman is a magician. A magician of words and sentences and making one feel and cry and laugh and feel once again.
I wish, I could buy this book a thousand times and gift it to everyone I know.
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
chasingpages1's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Blood, Dementia, Gaslighting, and Classism
aliyachaudhry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction and Lesbophobia
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Xenophobia
kato_dg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Classism
sierrabowers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I would compare this book to “Normal People” but more funny. Still depressing though.
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism