Fredrik Backman

"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. First is Zara, a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else until tragedy changed her life. Now, she's obsessed with visiting open houses to see how ordinary people live--and, perhaps, to set an old wrong to right. Then there's Roger and Anna-Lena, an Ikea-addicted retired couple who are on a never-ending hunt for fixer-uppers to hide the fact that they don't know how to fix their own failing marriage. Julia and Ro are a young lesbian couple and soon-to-be parents who are nervous about their chances for a successful life together since they can't agree on anything. And there's Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who has lived long enough to be unimpressed by a masked bank robber waving a gun in her face. And despite the story she tells them all, Estelle hasn't really come to the apartment to view it for her daughter, and her husband really isn't outside parking the car. 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." -- Barnes & Noble website.

A Novel

Anxious People

Cara 🤍

That’s the power of literature, you know, it can act like little love letters between people who can only explain their feelings by pointing at other people’s. 

Her body was never really the same after that, she curled up and never quite unfurled again. 

‘He was my echo. Everything I do is quieter now’ 

Anyone can nurture a myth about their life if they have enough manure, so if the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, that’s probably because it’s full of shit. 

Laura Dobie

…he added: 'But it'll be quite nice to get a bit of peace and quiet. You can put that on the headstone.' Estelle laughed hard at that. When he left her she wept so hard that she couldn't breathe. Her body was never really the same after that, she curled up and never quite unfurled again. 

‘He was my echo. Everything I do is quieter now,' she said to the other women in the closet.

It struck Jim that today's youngsters had far too much choice, that was the whole problem - if all those modern dating apps had existed when Jim's wife first met him, she would never have ended up becoming his wife. If you're constantly presented with alternatives, you can never make up your mind, Jim thought.

This nicely sums up why I don’t check Instagram or post on it all that often now.

The truth, of course, is that if people really were as happy as they look on the Internet, they wouldn't spend so much damn time on the Internet, because no one who's having a really good day spends half of it taking pictures of themselves.

Tari Rosario

When you’re a child you long to be an adult and decide everything for yourself, but when you’re an adult you realize that’s the worst part of it.

Emiley Jones

Our hearts are bars of soap that we keep losing hold of; the moment we relax, they drift off and fall in love and get broken, all in the wink of an eye. 

Gemma McCarthy

the hardest thing about death is the grammar, the tense

and she said: “You can't live long with the ones who are only beautiful, Jules. But the funny ones, oh, they last a lifetime!”

“he was my echo .everything i do is quieter now”

When Knut touched Estelle, right up to the end, it made her feel like climbing trees and jumping from jetties.

Otherwise, after a certain age, no phone call ever seemed to be about life, only the other. Estelle could understand that point of view these days.

sometimes it’s easier to live with your own anxieties of you know that no else is happy either

you mustn't steal, you mustn't kill, and you mustn't throw stones at birds. We all agree on that.

Except maybe swans, because swans can actually be passive-aggressive little bastards.

but children notice peoples proportions differently from adults, possible because they see us from below and that’s our worst angle. that’s why they make such good bullies, the quick witted little monsters

roger has many faults and failings… but anna lena is always reminded that he loves her in IKEA… because he understood that it was an important day for her and because it was important to get it was important to him

“you don’t fall in love with a gender…you fall in love with an idiot”

surtified™

"He was my echo. Everything I do is quieter now," she said to the other women in the closet.

That they'd wake up in the mornings and not find it hard to breathe. 

"love one another until death do us part," isn't that what we said? Isn't that what we promised eachother? Or am I remembering wrong? "Or at least until one of us gets bored" Maybe that was it?

When you're infatued, you can't think about anything else, you forget about your friends, your work your lunch. 

What I really loved about this book was that the story is simple but at the same time random and complicated, where the characters are so different from each other but somehow I could relate to each of them. 

Deserves the five stars because it left me feeling.

Ani Velasquez

Cried with the last chapter. 🥲

What I really loved about this book was that the story is simple but at the same time random and complicated, where the characters are so different from each other but somehow I could relate to each of them. 

Deserves the five stars because it left me feeling.

Felt like a bunch of stories all in one and they all connected. Didn't see that ending though. This book was very well written and thought out. Touches a lot of real world stuff people go through. Definitely adding more Backman novels to my tbr.  

Lauren R

a book that reminds us that a lot of life is doing something for the first time. and that includes being a human and learning how to live. mistakes are bound to happen when you do not know what to do, right? just now, i accidentally discovered that you can type here like 

. life is a never-ending tale of first times, mistakes, the living and the dead, laughter, love, and everything else in between. and when you feel defeated by life, remind yourself that 

開花

a book that reminds us that a lot of life is doing something for the first time. and that includes being a human and learning how to live. mistakes are bound to happen when you do not know what to do, right? just now, i accidentally discovered that you can type here like this or like this. life is a never-ending tale of first times, mistakes, the living and the dead, laughter, love, and everything else in between. and when you feel defeated by life, remind yourself that you are doing the best you can because it is our first time living, is it not? 

Kiran Aftab

aw i really enjoyed this. the audiobook was really good

I laughed, I cried, and I felt seen. Frederick Backman gets what it means to be human—just doing the best that we can. I love his books.

Cheri McElroy

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and “writer of astonishing depth” (The Washington Times) comes 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 begin slowly opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths. First is Zara, a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else until tragedy changed her life. Now, she’s obsessed with visiting open houses to see how ordinary people live—and, perhaps, to set an old wrong to right. Then there’s Roger and Anna-Lena, an Ikea-addicted retired couple who are on a never-ending hunt for fixer-uppers to hide the fact that they don’t know how to fix their own failing marriage. Julia and Ro are a young lesbian couple and soon-to-be parents who are nervous about their chances for a successful life together since they can’t agree on anything. And there’s Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who has lived long enough to be unimpressed by a masked bank robber waving a gun in her face. And despite the story she tells them all, Estelle hasn’t really come to the apartment to view it for her daughter, and her husband really isn’t outside parking the car. 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. Rich with Fredrik Backman’s “pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People’s whimsical plot serves up unforgettable insights into the human condition and a gentle reminder to be compassionate to all the anxious people we encounter every day.

Gelaine Trinidad

Anxious People is my first Fredrik Backman book, and I'm already itching to read another book by him (A Man Called Ove sounds particularly enticing). His writing is enriched with life lessons. It can be cheesy, silly, and romantic at times. This book is a mix of mystery, comedy, and drama. Characters were nameless in the first half of the book (i.e. the bank robber, the policeman). As the mystery starts to unravel, so do the characters. This locked-room mystery is fun because readers learn about the characters' backstories while also figuring out what happened with the missing bank robber. Backman distracts us with smoke and mirrors, so when something happens, it's not quite what you expected.

There are many complicated emotions and tones in this book. At one point, a character talks about the economic system, banks, the financial crisis in 2008, the housing bubble, and capitalism. Then, the story will discuss grief, the anxiety that comes with growing up, raising children, and becoming a parent. I think this book is honest about mental health, particularly depression and everyday anxieties.

This book is lighthearted even if it talks about heavy topics. It's about ordinary people who are doing their best everyday and who continue to try again next time even if it feels like the end of the world. Backman's book is a reminder that we all feel and act like idiots at times, and we should give ourselves second chances. We’re all going through some version of anxiety: "we’re looking for something to cling on to, something to fight for, something to look forward to... [w]e all have this in common yet most of us remain strangers."

I recommend this to anyone that's looking for a feel good, hopeful, and inspiring read. It has a wintry atmosphere, so it's the perfect book to read for the upcoming holidays.

Angelyn Francis

Favourite book in a while. Fredrik Backman's writing has a delightfully unserious tone. The twist caught me and amazed me that I didn't pick up on it (there's an obvious tell, but I won't spoil the twist). I'm impressed at the humor especially being a translated text and will make my way around to reading more of his work.

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller A People Book of the Week, Book of the Month Club selection, and Best of Fall in Good Housekeeping, PopSugar, The Washington Post, New York Post, Shondaland, CNN, and more! “[A] quirky, big-hearted novel…Wry, wise, and often laugh-out-loud funny, it’s a wholly original story that delivers pure pleasure.” —People From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove comes a charming, poignant novel 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. Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix their own marriage. There’s a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can’t seem to agree on anything, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment’s only bathroom, and you’ve got the worst group of hostages in the world. Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next. Rich with Fredrik Backman’s “pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People is an ingeniously constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope—the things that save us, even in the most anxious times.

Kaitlin Simpson

a book that encapsulates what it means to be human. i love how uniquely crafted each character is, yet they all share the common thread of human experience. i think the best thing about this book is how it reminds us that we are all human, living life for the first time.

A quirky, endearing, and heart melting story about how humans are really quite wonderful after all - that life can be hard but it’s a good life to live.

Daphne Li-Chen

A touching, humorous and heart-warming character study, which explores people’s hopes, desires and failings.

Tsamarah

Exceptional. Loved every second of it. 
My comfort book and possibly my favorite book of all time. I would definitely read this again.

SUCH a wholesome book. its funny, emotional, and you form such a strong connection to all the characters. the best part about this book is how the author dives deep into so many characters and provides their backstory, but it doesn't feel too complicated or long-winded. the book deals with some pretty heavy concepts but at the same time, its so simple. makes me really grateful for life :) ALSO ITS DAMN FUNNY i love the humour

sneha

Bria

Ditipriya Acharya

One thing that I’ve noticed about Backman’s writing is that he has a way of revealing information at just the right moment so that it has the maximum impact. This book, like the only other book by him that I’ve read (I need to rectify that) A Man Called Ove, has the ability to make you smile and make you sentimental with surprising speed. Also, it’s difficult to create memorable characters when there are so many of them and he manages to do just that.

This must be one of my favorites of all time. Highly recommended!

Igor

Jordan

lauren

did not finish
i wanted to love this but couldn’t get into it :(

When I started reading this, I didn't think I would like it as much as I did. 

The first half, plot-wise anyway, is a little slow and predictable. I've read 'A Man Called Ove' by Fredrik Backman, and both books have the same feel-good aspects with funny writing that admittedly made me laugh quite a few times, but in terms of uniqueness, it was easy for me to tell how the book would likely end about 15% of the way end. 

However, that is not to say the book is bad. Fredrik Backman may rank low in the plot department, but he ranks exceedingly high in the character department. I don't know how else to describe it other than that he captures the humanity and the individuality of people maybe better than any other writer. Somehow the absurdity of the plot emphasizes the empathy and pure human-ness of his characters and their plights. 

This book made me cry pretty much non-stop the last 150 pages or so, and it skyrocketed from the 3.5 I was sitting at to a 5 star, because I just felt so connected to all the characters for very different reasons.

Emma Lechner

When I started reading this, I didn't think I would like it as much as I did. 

The first half, plot-wise anyway, is a little slow and predictable. I've read 'A Man Called Ove' by Fredrik Backman, and both books have the same feel-good aspects with funny writing that admittedly made me laugh quite a few times, but in terms of uniqueness, it was easy for me to tell how the book would likely end about 15% of the way end. 

However, that is not to say the book is bad. Fredrik Backman may rank low in the plot department, but he ranks exceedingly high in the character department. I don't know how else to describe it other than that he captures the humanity and the individuality of people maybe better than any other writer. Somehow the absurdity of the plot emphasizes the empathy and pure human-ness of his characters and their plights. 

This book made me cry pretty much non-stop the last 150 pages or so, and it skyrocketed from the 3.5 I was sitting at to a 5 star, because I just felt so connected to all the characters for very different reasons.

Fun writing, felt like I was in someone’s brain

Sebastien Bailouni

Rodrigo Figueiredo Severino

A cast of characters so dumb and so endearing at the same time. Heartwarming. Will read more from Backman, beautiful, witty and smart writing and storytelling.

madreadz⟢

“We’re doing the best we can, we really are..”
This book will always have a special place in my heart. The writing is whimsical but also very heartfelt—exquisite storytelling. I have a love-hate relationship with the characters but they’re all imperfectly perfect the way they are. A bunch of idiots—but truly endearing ones. Their anxieties rub off on me sometimes when I’m reading their dialogues but it was comforting to know that their projections mirror what I feel inside, say the words I don’t usually say aloud. I love this book!

Jason Lo

Borderline insufferable. Not just the characters (who are insufferable on purpose) but also the commentary in between (which I can’t imagine is meant to be this annoying). If you’re not a fan of the writing style but are sticking around for the “mystery”, believe me that it’s not worth it. If you find the writing humorous or relatable, then it’s well written, if a bit long and meandering (probably on purpose).

Danielle Annika

i really wish i had read what this book was gonna be about because i was so confused for like 70% of the book. at some point i got bored and just forced myself to finish it. but when things started getting clear for me and things made sense i was like ohhhhh!!!! this is nice. 

this isn’t a story driven book. it’s not about a hostage at all but it’s really just about mental health and how we’re all in some way connected (or at least that’s how i understand it). 

(my rating is very subjective and it doesn’t mean the book was bad.)

Anxious People A Novel

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