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Grandma's Apology by Fredrik Backman
This one's a real tear-jerker - and I mean that in the best possible way. Fredrik Backman's Grandma's Apology is a beautifully crafted novel that'll make you laugh, cry, and maybe even think twice about your own relationships. It's a story about family, love, and forgiveness, and how those three things can totally transform your life. With its relatable characters and heartfelt themes, this book is a must-read for anyone looking for a good story.
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What's All the Fuss About? My Honest Review of 'Grandma Inherited the Whole House and Three Bags of Flour'
summarizeEditor's Summary
I'm not usually one to write reviews about books, but the recent fuss around 'Grandma Inherited the Whole House and Three Bags of Flour' left me speechless. I bought the book mainly because of its awesome cover design, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The story is predictable, and the humor falls flat - it's not funny at all. The writing style is also quite simplistic, making it hard to get invested in the characters. I'm still trying to figure out what all the hype is about. The author's attempt to tackle themes of family and relationships is admirable, but the execution is lacking. The book's message about the importance of family is clear, but it's not particularly original or thought-provoking. Overall, I wouldn't recommend 'Grandma Inherited the Whole House and Three Bags of Flour' to fans of character-driven fiction.
settingsSpecifications
Dil4/10
KararKötü
Grafik6/10
Hikaye2/10
KitapKapağı9/10
İçSayfaResimleri8/10
"Quot homines, tot sententiae" - as the saying goes, "as many people, so many opinions"
I'm not usually one to write reviews about books, even though I read a lot. I consider myself a bit of a novice when it comes to writing about literature.
But something recently happened that made me want to share my thoughts on this book.
It all started when I bought the super-hyped series of books by Fredrik Backman, mainly because of the awesome cover designs featuring Valentin Gubarev's artwork.
I have to say, I regret buying it, though.
Because the book left me speechless and utterly disappointed - what's all the fuss about, I ask?
Where I bought it - Chayka bookstore (my review about this store is here)
Price - 466 rubles
I bought it for 354 rubles, considering the discount and my loyalty points.
Publisher - Sindbad
Book weight - 510 grams
The book seamlessly blends two worlds:
- reality
- fantasy
REALITY
Grandma and her granddaughter are incredibly close and imaginative.
But when grandma passes away, she leaves her granddaughter a series of tasks - delivering letters to various people.
And the granddaughter, donning her best outfit, sets out to complete these mysterious tasks.
FANTASY
I'll be upfront - the fantasy part of the book is a complete disaster and a manifestation of the consequences of taking LSD: weird creatures, clouds, and six kingdoms with unpronounceable names.
I read the book with a great deal of reluctance, frequently and with pleasure getting sidetracked by other, more interesting books.
For me, the experience was excruciating - long, tedious, and predictable.
The book is quite heavy.
Here's the publisher's blurb, which is quite enticing:
I'll start with the good things, so I can later go on a rant about how much I disliked the book.
WHAT I LIKED:
The book cover is absolutely stunning - Valentin Gubarev's artwork is a must-see.
The illustrations on the endpapers - adorable little prints, each one unique to the book in the series.
- Uwe's workshop - tools, keys, and cars
- Elsa's fantasy world - dragons, letters, and knights
- Britt-Mari's garden - flowers, bags, and whatnot
The paper is thick and dense – not pure white, but a slightly beige-gray color, and it's got a nice texture to it.
At the end of the book, we're treated to a photo of the author, Fredrik Backman – a young Swedish blogger whose Facebook posts have clearly grown into something bigger.
But the real content...
Here's my list of main complaints:
The main character starts off being a total weirdo – for any reason, she'll just whip out her tablet and start researching on Wikipedia like it's some kind of sacred text (naive people, that's you).
She's got a handle on some pretty advanced concepts for a seven-year-old – ambi-valence, infantilism, and all that jazz.
She's somehow got the lowdown on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (at seven years old, no less).
She's a vegetarian and refuses to eat at fast food chains – big deal.
She's obsessed with Harry Potter and has read the entire series over a dozen times – I mean, okay.
Writing Style
- The writing is clumsy and sparse – if you're a fan of classical literature or a classic writing style, this book isn't for you.
- The profanity is rampant and often unnecessary – "asshole," "jerk," "dick" – in some contexts, these words might be funny, but not in this book.
- The author has a habit of repeating the same word over and over – if he calls a car an "Audi," he'll mention it in every single paragraph, no matter what.
The author is clearly not familiar with the concept of synonyms – if he says "Audi," he could just as easily say "car," "vehicle," "automobile," or any number of other words.
He keeps repeating that Elise is "almost eight" – get it together, dude.
- The author's got a thing for repeating actions in a single paragraph – let me give you an example: "Elise looked at her mom. Her mom looked at Elise. Elise held her gaze. Her mom did too." And so on.
- The book's got a lot of low-brow humor – and it's not even funny.
"Brandism"
- If you were to remove all the brand names from this book (470 pages worth), it'd be about a third thinner.
Perpetual Name-Dropping of "Modern Issues"
- Almond milk, protein bars – good stuff. Regular milk and sugar – bad, bad stuff.
- The author feels the need to mention a kid with a non-traditional sexual orientation – and it's handled about as delicately as a sledgehammer to the face (contrast that with Stephen Chbosky's handling of the same issue in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" – now that's how you do it).
I've gotta say, I'd much rather read books on my iPad than deal with physical ones. If you've still got a stash of paperbacks, you're either a bit old-fashioned or you're not too concerned about the environmental impact.
And then there's the issue of feminism, which I'm pretty sure a seven-year-old (okay, almost eight) could ask some pretty valid questions about.
But I'm not going to get into the specifics of what's bugging me, or I'd be giving away spoilers.
So, for me, this book is:
- average at best
- predictable
- cheesy (lowbrow, lacking in style)
- uninteresting
- wildly overhyped
Which is why I'm saying this: just because someone's a successful blogger or influencer doesn't mean they're automatically a talented writer.
This book might be okay for younger readers or those who don't get through much reading, but if you're someone who devours books, reads a wide range of genres, and enjoys rich, engaging writing, then trust me, you don't need this one.
So, if you do want to read it, I'd recommend borrowing it or downloading it – don't waste your money on the physical copy!
live_helpFeatured FAQ
What's the book about?
The book follows the story of a family and their relationships, exploring themes of love, loss, and family dynamics. While the book's message is clear, the execution falls short, making it a disappointing read.
Is the book funny?
Unfortunately, no. The book's attempt at humor is forced and falls flat, making it hard to enjoy the book.
Is the book easy to read?
Yes, the book's writing style is engaging, if a bit simplistic, making it a quick read. However, the story is incredibly predictable, making it feel like a chore to read.
Is the book worth reading?
I wouldn't recommend it. While the book's theme of family and relationships is relatable, the execution falls short, making it a disappointing read.
What's the book's message?
The book's message about the importance of family is clear, even if it's not particularly original. However, the execution falls short, making it hard to get invested in the characters.
Is the book a good choice for fans of Fredrik Backman?
No, I wouldn't recommend it. While the book's cover design is similar to Backman's style, the writing and storytelling are not up to par.
Is the book a quick read?
Yes, the book is a quick read, thanks to its simplistic writing style. However, the story is incredibly predictable, making it feel like a chore to read.
What's the book's tone?
The book's tone is inconsistent, veering between casual and formal. While the book's attempt at humor is admirable, it falls flat, making it hard to enjoy the book.
Is the book well-written?
The book's writing style is engaging, if a bit simplistic. However, the story is predictable, and the characters are underdeveloped, making it hard to get invested in the story.
check_circlePros
- •The cover design is indeed eye-catching, with beautiful artwork by Valentin Gubarev.
- •The book's theme of family and relationships is relatable, even if the execution falls short.
- •The author's attempt to be humorous is admirable, even if it doesn't quite land.
- •The story is easy to follow, making it a quick read.
- •The book's message about the importance of family is clear, even if it's not particularly original.
- •The author's writing style is engaging, if a bit simplistic.
- •The book's tone is consistent, if a bit inconsistent.
- •The author's attempt to tackle complex themes is commendable, even if it's not entirely successful.
- •The book's length is manageable, making it a decent choice for a quick read.
cancelCons
- •The humor is forced and falls flat, making it hard to enjoy the book.
- •The story is incredibly predictable, making it feel like a chore to read.
- •The writing style is too simplistic, lacking depth and complexity.
- •The characters are underdeveloped and lack any real depth or nuance.
- •The book's themes are not particularly original or thought-provoking.
- •The author's attempt to be humorous is grating, making it hard to enjoy the book.
- •The book's pacing is slow, making it hard to stay engaged.
- •The author's use of clichés is overbearing, making the story feel stale.
- •The book's ending is unsatisfying, leaving the reader feeling unfulfilled.
