A charming, warmhearted novel from the author of the New York Times bestseller A Man Called Ove. Elsa is seven years old and different. Her grandmother is seventy-seven years old and crazy–as in standing-on-the-balcony-firing-paintball-guns-at-strangers crazy. She is also Elsa’s best, and only, friend. At night Elsa takes refuge in her grandmother’s stories, in the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the … Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas, where everybody is different and nobody needs to be normal.
When Elsa’s grandmother dies and leaves behind a series of letters apologizing to people she has wronged, Elsa’s greatest adventure begins. Her grandmother’s instructions lead her to an apartment building full of drunks, monsters, attack dogs, and old crones but also to the truth about fairy tales and kingdoms and a grandmother like no other.
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry is told with the same comic accuracy and beating heart as Fredrik Backman’s bestselling debut novel, A Man Called Ove. It is a story about life and death and one of the most important human rights: the right to be different.more
A bit confusing!
The story was a delight from the 1st page, a wonderful chronicle of a young girl dealing with the challenges of modern life in a series of difficult situations.
I was drawn in. I loved the characters. It’s so important to say you’re sorry.
Frederik Bachman has written another delightful story of intergenerational connections that bring a community of idiosyncratic outsiders through the actions a dying grandmother asked her almost-eight-year-old granddaughter to undertake after her grandmother’s death.
A very different take on death and grieving. Very funny but hard to follow at times
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It covered real life issues in a true but tender and witty way. It sometimes felt like I was Elsa getting to know her granny even better after losing her to cancer.
Very good writing. Held my interest in the way the characters were built.
I’m sure this is a lovely story, but I couldn’t read any more after Chapter 8. All the fantasy got to be too much!
I loved this book! It was hard to put it down. Loved the characters!
There have been enough reviews of this novel giving a synopsis of the story. This is just giving my reactions. I LOVED IT! I will re-read it regularly.
The author’s wit captivated me. Elsa was too smart for words, yet still an almost 8-year old. Each character was fully fleshed out and lovable in spite of their numerous flaws. I especially liked the descriptions of some characters which sufficed for a nam, like the lady in the black skirt.
Gramma is one in a billion. Wouldn’t we all love to have someone like that in our lives?
I am a voracious reader and this book is now on my all-time favorite top 10 list!
I didn’t like this book. I couldn’t finish it!
This is a beautifully written book by an author who understands the power of story. We all live our own stories, and all authentic stories include laughter and tears, despair and hope, joy and pain. But, oh, the power of love to soften the rough edges and heal our hearts.
Deleted book after 40 pages
Unexpected heart and inspiration! Proves that no one is too young or too old to make a difference in others lives.
Loved this book – the characters are so interesting and fun and the story is so well told. Very imaginitive.
The characters were original and fascinating. The book explores relationships through a fresh, captivating story.
Did not care for the bad language.
Very different. Really liked it. Stay with it.. seems odd at first.
I just couldn’t get into this book so quit.
Imaginative, unusual, story of relationship between grandmother and granddaughter. I did enjoy it.