In this short story enhanced with beautiful illustrations, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown delivers an insightful and poignant tale about finding out what is truly important in life. It all begins with a father telling a story to his son on Christmas Eve. But this isn’t your typical Christmas story. The father admits to his son that he’s taken a life but … admits to his son that he’s taken a life but he won’t say whose–not yet.
One week earlier, in a hospital late at night, the man met a five-year-old girl with cancer. She’s a smart kid–smart enough to know that she won’t beat cancer by drawing with crayons all day, but it seems to make the adults happy, so she keeps doing it.
As the man tells his son about this plucky little girl, he slowly reveals more about himself: while he may be a successful businessman, idolized by the media and his peers, he knows he failed as a parent. Overwhelmed by the responsibility of fatherhood, he took the easy way out and left his wife and little boy twenty years ago to pursue professional success. Now he is left wondering if it’s too late to forge a relationship with his son, who seems to be his opposite in every way–prizing happiness over money, surrounded by loving friends in a cozy town where he feels right at home.
Face to face with the idea that something is missing, the man is given the unexpected chance to do something selfless that could change the destiny of the little girl in the hospital bed. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he needs to find out what his own life has actually been worth in the eyes of his son. And so, he seeks him out and tells him this story…
Written with Fredrik Backman’s signature humor, compassion, and “knack for weaving tales that are believable and fanciful” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), The Deal of a Lifetime reminds us that life is a fleeting gift, and our only legacy is how we share that gift with those we love.more
The Deal of a Lifetime is a short story written by Fredrik Backman in between his major novels. He wrote the piece for himself, possibly family, and hadn’t intended to publish it. In it, he tells us from the beginning, as his main character, that he’s killed someone. As the story progresses, we learn he has cancer and is in a ward with a young five-year-old who is also dying. Death visits, and it is time to make a deal over someone’s life. Which way does it go?
For the most part, this was a wonderful story. Set at the holidays, it tugs at your emotions in all the same ways his books typically do. You will be slightly confused a first, then it becomes clear, and in the end you can’t help but begin to tear up. In this one, we have less than 50 pages, and some are pictures. It almost got me there, but it didn’t quite make it. I really wish this one was double the page count so we could learn more about the main characters… then it would’ve been a gut punch like all his rest. Still… if you’re missing his works and you’ve devoured all the big novels, you should read this one.
A very quick but especially beautiful read.
The Deal of a Lifetime is written as a letter to the main character’s son before the man (who remains nameless) gives up his life in exchange for the life of a young girl also suffering from cancer. He considers his choices and regrets and offers some sage wisdom for his son, despite knowing that the son will never read his words.
On parenting, he reflects, “I failed with you. I tried to make you tough. You ended up kind.” He mentions a young girl whom he meets in the hospital where he’s being treated for cancer. She will die before the man, and he notes that “When five-year-old girls die, no one writes about that, there aren’t any memorials in the evening papers, their feet are still too small, they haven’t had time to make anyone care about their footsteps yet.”
The man’s thoughts are written in typical, gorgeous Backman style, and, though I wish this story was longer, it is definitely a memorable, contemplative holiday read that reminds us (in the style of It’s a Wonderful Life and The Bucket List) to be grateful for all that we have.
This is not your average Christmas story, it’s really something quite out-of-the-box. There’s no telling what you’ll make of it until you’ve read it.
One thing I know for sure is that this novella is meant to start worthwhile conversations about life, death, and legacy.
For my full review, please visit: https://www.krwardbookreview.com/2021/01/the-deal-of-lifetime-by-fredrik-backman.html
Read December 30, 2018
O M G.
I can barely see through my tears.
I had no idea it was a “dad” book.
My heart hurts so bad right now.
So. Much. Crying.
What an absolute heart tugger. This may be short but it packs a punch in the emotional department. Backman will forever be an auto-buy. He writes with such feeling and compassion…my heart is left swirling when the last word drops…
In this short novella, Frederik Backman paints an optimistic picture that even those who have made all the wrong choices in life can make the exact right one when it counts… even if it means never being remembered for all that was important during that person’s lifetime.
This book is only 65 pages. It was really good and very interesting. Heartfelt, sad and uplifting at the same time.
This sweet little novella starts with a father talking to his son on Christmas Eve. His son – who he hasn’t seen in many years, and hadn’t seen much as he was growing up because he was too busy being successful – has agreed to meet him to reconnect. A week before this meeting, the man met a 5 year old girl who is dying of cancer. She knows that she won’t be leaving the hospital – knows she will die soon.
Suddenly – the man is given an opportunity to do something good. Something that would change the little girl’s destiny. But before he can do that, he wants to see his son and wants to tell him his story.
this was a great, short book. I have read all of Fredrik Backman’s books and he never disappoints. This was a clever, small book (I read it in 30 minutes), and I highly recommend it. I wonder how many of us would chose to trade a life for a life.
Be aware that this is a SHORT story. A very good one.
Short read that is haunting and heartwarming. I was not expecting the road this story took, but was pleased with the view the author gave us in such a short piece.
This was such a wonderful read about redemption, it’s a really short novella about a man that is successful and selfish… Until he gets to chose if he will save someone else at a very high price or if he will continue with his old habits…