Book Review : Anxious People
Book Name: Anxious People
Author: Fredrik Backman
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Mystery & Crime Fiction
Format: Paperback
Print length: 416 pages
Rating: 4/5
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman is a humorous, mystery and crime fiction work, that will take readers through the journey of multiple characters and unfolding of their struggles.
Blurb on Amazon
The funny, touching and unpredictable No. 1 New York Times bestseller, now a major Netflix TV series
It's New Year's Eve and House Tricks estate agents are hosting an open viewing in an up-market apartment when an incompetent bank robber rushes in and politely takes everyone hostage.
For Anna-Lena and Roger, busy buying-up apartments to fill the hole in their marriage, it's something else to talk about.
For Julia and Ro, panicky parents-to-be, it's yet another worry.
Lonely bank manager Zara only came here for the view.
While 87-year-old grandmother Estelle seems rather pleased by the company . . .
As the police gather outside, the anxious strangers huddled within try to make the best of a very sticky situation - but could it be that they have a whole lot more in common than meets the eye?
Review
The plot is a blend of comedy, mystery, and a crime scene, unlike a typical crime setting where people are in pain, crying for help, or getting hurt. But, it is an amusing set where a bank robber reluctantly takes hostage to strangers who visited an apartment for viewing. Initially, the author creates tension among the hostages, which later turns out amusing when readers explore the reality of the hostage situation being a mistake of the bank robber who rushed to the apartment to save herself holding a pistol in her hand. The overall setting is inside an apartment in a building surrounded by police officers looking to negotiate to rescue the hostages and the sessions of interviews of the witnesses present at the crime scene.
Readers would notice that the book is character-driven, where they would explore the vulnerabilities and struggles of each character. No specific character is in the spotlight, but all the characters receive equal importance in this book, allowing readers to relate with them. The bank robber depicts the helplessness of a mother who did not wish to lose her daughters, though her action is not justifiable because of her obligation. Ro and Julia, a couple who were going to be parents soon, resemble new parents in their state of anxiety about whether they would be good parents or not. Jack was a young officer who became a police officer because he wanted to save people who could not help themselves in trouble. Readers would explore the anxieties and vulnerabilities of different characters, sympathizing with them.
The writing style of the author is simple and concise. Due to the dual narrative of a hostage situation and character backstory, the pace may appear slow, and readers might feel bored and have unnecessary information in the context. But the author's element of humor and mystery to unveil the culprit will keep them with the story until they find out who was the wrongdoer. In a tense situation, adding a pinch of comedy is the best thing about this book, making readers laugh. Also, it would allow readers to put them in the character's situation and wonder what they would do in such circumstances.
The overall experience of reading this book will let readers explore various themes, including humanity, anxiety, struggles, love, introspection, and kindness. Also, the author's efforts to unveil each character and provide closure to their stories would allow readers to absorb the satisfying conclusion.
Buy it from Amazon - Anxious People
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