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
I really loved “A Man Called Ove” and Britt-Marie was Here, so I was looking forward to another book by Fredrik Backman. However, I made myself stick with it to the very end. There were some positive aspects to the book, but the way Elsa was treated really bothered me. The fairy tale focus just didn’t click with me.
But even with that, I will still read more books by this author.
I really like the storyline of this book. It was so good! But it swears a lot. I didn’t like that.
One of the best in the world
Better than “good”!! I rarely cry at books but this book and the author’s other, A Man Called Ove both made me cry. Very imaginative and moving.
This is a story of a 7 year old girl named Elsa, who lives with her mom, step-dad, and her grandmother. Elsa doesn’t have any friends her age because she is considered different. She is bullied at school, and has nightmares, so her grandmother made up “The Land of Almost Awake” to help Elsa cope. She teaches Elsa a secret language and makes up story after story about the Land of Almost Awake.
Then Elsa’s grandmother gets sick and dies. She leaves Elsa a series of letters she needs to deliver to different people in their apartment building. Elsa is charged with giving all of these people her grandmother’s “sorry’s”. And in the process, she learns things she never do about the people around her who loved her grandmother as much as she did.
This is a fantastic story. I love Fredrik Backman, and I have no read all of his books. There is actually a character in this book “Britt-Marie” that got her own book following this one (Britt-Marie was here). His writing style, and character development is phenomenal.
The ONLY thing I would question is what he thinks a 7 year old could accomplish. I have three kids who all went through being 7 – and I know that Elsa is supposed to be special, but it seems almost a little too much to believe.
I read it quickly because it was hard to put down. The story flowed nicely and all the characters were likable. I highly recommend this book and anything you can get your hands on by Backman – you will not be disappointed.
Brilliant! Hard to describe in ten words or less, but one of a kind and one of the best novels I’ve read, ever.
I absolutely LOVED this book! While I thoroughly enjoyed “A Man Called Ove” by the same author, and it remains a favorite, and while I had no expectations about how this book would unfold, I hugged it to myself as I finished the last pages because it is a magical reading experience – literally as well as figuratively. “My Grandmother…” is a difficult book to review without spoilers, which I would never write. Suffice to say that if any readers/videophiles enjoyed “Big Fish,” then this is the book for you! What begins as a houseful of seemingly disjointed residents morphs magically (yes!) and satisfyingly into a living breathing community of connected folks whose strange and quirky and sometimes tragic lives are the richer for their very connectedness, and the reader makes the same important journey of discovery as the “almost eight-year old” heroine who has been tasked with delivering her grandmother’s letters of apology, she bring a precocious delight in her own right. The characters are wholly believable, and it is impossible not to care about them as their stories unfold and gradually come together. I was sorry to come to the end of this very special and very worthy book.
What a delight to read. If you want to smile and stretch your own sense of understanding others you will enjoy this book.
One of the best books I have ever read
I simply loved this book. I’m so sad it’s finished. I want to start it all over again. This book gets a coveted spot on my over-the-moon bookshelf! This is a book as comfortable to curl up in as your favorite covered.
Fredrik Backman did such a good job writing a seven-almost-eight year old girl. I’m impressed. I loved Granny, all the characters in the house the whole story. The fairytales were somehow comforting as fairytales should be and the goofy cast of broken people creates a family of people you choose. I won’t put in any spoilers but I loved the Wurse and I figured out who owned the building. (I’m kind of proud of myself). Mr. Blackman also gives a nod to Astrid Lindren a superhero in every sense!
I loved this story. 😀
Loved it! Fredrik Backman is an original and quirky yet very interesting and thought-provoking. His stories are different yet hold great truths. I love the characters. I really don’t know how to describe his books except to say, “Give them a try. You won’t be disappointed!”
I didn’t want it to end.
A fun read. The characters are crazy. The story line is unbelieveable, and I couldn’t put it down. If you liked A Man Called Ove, this will make you smile as well. Wait until you meet Elsa, and her wonderful Granny.
I loved the characters! The story will make you laugh and cry! It explains humans exceedingly well!
It can be hard to write a coherent and cohesive story all from the point of a child and be consistently in the child’s voice, but this story was wonderful. And then beautifully and seamlessly translated as well.
One of the best books I have read in afes. It translates to every country, every elder who wants to be remembered and how those left behind keep those memories cherished and part of their own life stories. Wonderful read!
This is my third Backman novel. Like A Man Called Ove and Beartown, there is a bullied underdog who is misunderstood by everyone. In this Backman story, a 7 year old girl, friendless and an outsider even within her family, has her Grandmother, who absolutely adores and loves her wise-beyond-her-years granddaughter, Elsa, more than just about anything. Unfortunately, Elsa learns some truths about her Granny that are difficult to handle, but with the neighbors in the building, whose own stories come to light throughout the story, Elsa comes to understand family dynamics, her neighbors, and learns how to cope with difficult life lessons that help Elsa and others.
I like Backman and think he can write well; however, his stories break my heart, this one especially. Backman stories also make me smile and think, but the sadness and bullying just hurt. I don’t know if Backman was himself targeted and bullied and singled for being different or if it has happened to someone close to him, either way, his stories I fear have some truth to them. I just cant handle the sadness. This will be my last Backman read. It has been most memorable. See you later!
A feel good read!
Love all of his books.