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A review by kelly_e
The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories by Fredrik Backman
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Title: The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories
Author: Fredrik Backman
Genre: Short Stories
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: June 18, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Enlightening • Poignant • Profound
📖 S Y N O P S I S
The Deal of a Lifetime is a profound and moving novella set on Christmas Eve. It tells the story of the intertwining destinies of a man who has built a global business empire but lost his family in the process and a courageous little girl fighting for her life, and it asks the question: if you had the chance to change your legacy, would you take it?
In the touching novella And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, an elderly man sits on a bench with his son and grandson, reminiscing and telling jokes. As he recalls his most precious memories and faces his regrets, the man discovers there is one last thing he must do: help his family learn to say goodbye without fear.
Finally, Sebastian and the Troll is Fredrik Backman’s newest work—an eloquent short story about a young boy struggling with depression and how he finds the courage to discover the person he might become.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Backman does it again!
He is one of my absolute favourite authors, so I've slowly been making my way through everything he has written. Honestly, he could write a haiku on a restaurant napkin and I would read it! I didn't know what to expect going into The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories, yet I knew it was going to be something that would move me in the way only Backman can. And that's certainly what I got.
This short book (180 pages) brings together three different stories Backman himself never intended to publish. While each story is unique, all three have the common thread of life being a gift. It drives home the importance of reflecting on the truly important aspects of life. They view death from an entirely different perspective. The stories are heavy, yet hopeful. Backman has the unique ability of finding the perfect words for feelings of loneliness and regret. Sprinkled with illustrations that really bring the stories to life, there is so much depth and emotion despite each story being so brief.
Backman certainly has the gift of phenomenal characterization, as well as instilling the virtues of humanity into his storytelling. The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories will be finding a spot on my forever shelf, and I am sure I will come back to it time and time again when I am in need of a pick-me-up.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Backman fans
• young readers
• anyone in need of a pick-me-up
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"All the in-between. you get to choose that. The best and the worst in life just happens to us, but the in-between... that's what keeps us going."
Author: Fredrik Backman
Genre: Short Stories
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: June 18, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Enlightening • Poignant • Profound
📖 S Y N O P S I S
The Deal of a Lifetime is a profound and moving novella set on Christmas Eve. It tells the story of the intertwining destinies of a man who has built a global business empire but lost his family in the process and a courageous little girl fighting for her life, and it asks the question: if you had the chance to change your legacy, would you take it?
In the touching novella And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, an elderly man sits on a bench with his son and grandson, reminiscing and telling jokes. As he recalls his most precious memories and faces his regrets, the man discovers there is one last thing he must do: help his family learn to say goodbye without fear.
Finally, Sebastian and the Troll is Fredrik Backman’s newest work—an eloquent short story about a young boy struggling with depression and how he finds the courage to discover the person he might become.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Backman does it again!
He is one of my absolute favourite authors, so I've slowly been making my way through everything he has written. Honestly, he could write a haiku on a restaurant napkin and I would read it! I didn't know what to expect going into The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories, yet I knew it was going to be something that would move me in the way only Backman can. And that's certainly what I got.
This short book (180 pages) brings together three different stories Backman himself never intended to publish. While each story is unique, all three have the common thread of life being a gift. It drives home the importance of reflecting on the truly important aspects of life. They view death from an entirely different perspective. The stories are heavy, yet hopeful. Backman has the unique ability of finding the perfect words for feelings of loneliness and regret. Sprinkled with illustrations that really bring the stories to life, there is so much depth and emotion despite each story being so brief.
Backman certainly has the gift of phenomenal characterization, as well as instilling the virtues of humanity into his storytelling. The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories will be finding a spot on my forever shelf, and I am sure I will come back to it time and time again when I am in need of a pick-me-up.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Backman fans
• young readers
• anyone in need of a pick-me-up
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"All the in-between. you get to choose that. The best and the worst in life just happens to us, but the in-between... that's what keeps us going."
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, and Abandonment
Minor: Car accident
depression