sve100's review against another edition
3.0
Купих книгата с ясното съзнание, че ми се чете нещо лековато, което ще забравя на мига.
От тази гледна точка е ОК, иначе ми допадна по-малко от Стогодишния старец и Неграмотното момиче.
Очевидно обаче подобни книги (както и Уве и останалите на. Бакман) прекрасно се справят с разказването на захаросано-сълзливи истории, които докарват 90% от хората до екстаз.
Което е страхотно, стига всичките истории да не бяха като извадени от калъп.
От тази гледна точка е ОК, иначе ми допадна по-малко от Стогодишния старец и Неграмотното момиче.
Очевидно обаче подобни книги (както и Уве и останалите на. Бакман) прекрасно се справят с разказването на захаросано-сълзливи истории, които докарват 90% от хората до екстаз.
Което е страхотно, стига всичките истории да не бяха като извадени от калъп.
corporal_bookish's review against another edition
4.0
Hitman Anders is quite different from The Hundred Year Old Man. It has a different kind of humour, but it's still full of random mishaps and hilarious characters. It's also a really quick read.
thebookwormsfeast's review against another edition
4.0
I have read Jonas Jonasson’s previous books - The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared and The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden - and enjoyed them both thoroughly. When I found out about his latest book Hitman Anders and the Meaning of It All I couldn’t wait to read it. However upon reading it, although I enjoyed it, I feel a little let down.
Hitman Anders and the Meaning of It All follows much the same flow as the previous books, if not a little slower, and less absurd events happening. We begin by following the life of a receptionist, Per Persson, at 1-star hotel (formerly a brothel), and are promptly introduced to Hitman Anders, and then shortly after a former priest called Johanna Kjellerman. These three main characters are what the story revolves around.
Per, Johanna, and Anders come to a business arrangement which goes along swimmingly for a while, all until Anders finds God. From here to story properly starts to get into full swing, however I feel it doesn’t have the same flow as Jonasson’s previous books. The pace feels slower and the book is rather uneventful in comparison.
This being said, it is still an easy read and still made me chuckle in places. I may have just ‘bigged’ it up too much in my mind.
Hitman Anders and the Meaning of It All follows much the same flow as the previous books, if not a little slower, and less absurd events happening. We begin by following the life of a receptionist, Per Persson, at 1-star hotel (formerly a brothel), and are promptly introduced to Hitman Anders, and then shortly after a former priest called Johanna Kjellerman. These three main characters are what the story revolves around.
Per, Johanna, and Anders come to a business arrangement which goes along swimmingly for a while, all until Anders finds God. From here to story properly starts to get into full swing, however I feel it doesn’t have the same flow as Jonasson’s previous books. The pace feels slower and the book is rather uneventful in comparison.
This being said, it is still an easy read and still made me chuckle in places. I may have just ‘bigged’ it up too much in my mind.
shortstack48's review against another edition
4.0
Love me a good book about murder, conning the devoutly religious, and Bonnie and clyde-esque romances. I love how per persson ( hilariously meta name considering the author’s own) doesn’t speak out against the priest suggesting this crazy plan to the ex-killer and just kinda rolls with it. He didn’t even pull her aside and be like ‘what the heck!?’ or just fly the coop right away. Also the priest and him just getting together and collectively hating ppl plus fucking around and stealing money in a mutually beneficial way is goals I love them very much. I also loved their shack and the crazy dysfunctional family they built based on lies and thievery essentially. Would read again! Really glad I happened upon this book at a borrowing library before a big road trip.
rogier_vdw's review against another edition
4.0
Leuk boek, hardop om moeten lachen. Zeker een aanrader als je van licht absurdistische verhalen met een goede afloop houdt.
kartrick's review against another edition
5.0
A thoroughly enjoyable read with outrageous comedy and an intriguing plot. I really have nothing more to say about the book other than that I loved it and finished it in one sitting (ignoring the night's sleep I got in between).
I don't think I've read a book like this before, and I've certainly not read other books by the author, so I found everything unique and not repetitive. However, I must say that I did imagine, while on some of the early pages, a situation where this kind of writing with pervasive humour would finally get old and get to me and become perhaps even annoying. But like I said, I haven't read any of the author's other books, so all I can really say is that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. As The Times said, "an exuberant farce" with a cast of memorable and loveable characters.
One thing to point out: I did notice a few typos here and there in this edition.
I don't think I've read a book like this before, and I've certainly not read other books by the author, so I found everything unique and not repetitive. However, I must say that I did imagine, while on some of the early pages, a situation where this kind of writing with pervasive humour would finally get old and get to me and become perhaps even annoying. But like I said, I haven't read any of the author's other books, so all I can really say is that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. As The Times said, "an exuberant farce" with a cast of memorable and loveable characters.
One thing to point out: I did notice a few typos here and there in this edition.
giselav's review against another edition
1.0
I loved Jonasson's first book, The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, so I figured I would give this one a go in the hopes that it lived up to the charm of the first one.
Unfortunately, this book was a massive disappointment. It's not bad, per se, it's just boring. My main issue was with the characters, which weren't the least bit likable. Everyone is in this book is either a murderer, a thief, a drunkard or just a plain dumbass. I didn't root for anyone as I flipped page after page. I didn't care for their stories or ventures. As far as I was concerned, everyone could have died off mid-story and it wouldn't have made a difference.
The plot itself isn't anything remarkable either. Felt flimsy and overly reliant on tropes.
I give this book just one star because it was so plain that I didn't have the energy to finish it and I regret ever having started it.
Unfortunately, this book was a massive disappointment. It's not bad, per se, it's just boring. My main issue was with the characters, which weren't the least bit likable. Everyone is in this book is either a murderer, a thief, a drunkard or just a plain dumbass. I didn't root for anyone as I flipped page after page. I didn't care for their stories or ventures. As far as I was concerned, everyone could have died off mid-story and it wouldn't have made a difference.
The plot itself isn't anything remarkable either. Felt flimsy and overly reliant on tropes.
I give this book just one star because it was so plain that I didn't have the energy to finish it and I regret ever having started it.
ajpadley's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0