“Written with love, told with joy. Very easy to enjoy.”–Fredrik Backman, author of A Man Called Ove For fans of The Little Paris Bookshop and The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared comes a heartwarming debut about 96-year-old Doris, who writes down the memories of her eventful life as she pages through her decades-old address book. But the most profound moment of her … address book. But the most profound moment of her life is still to come . . .
Meet Doris, a 96-year-old woman living alone in her Stockholm apartment. She has few visitors, but her weekly Skype calls with Jenny–her American grandniece, and her only relative–give her great joy and remind her of her own youth.
When Doris was a girl, she was given an address book by her father, and ever since she has carefully documented everyone she met and loved throughout the years. Looking through the little book now, Doris sees the many crossed-out names of people long gone and is struck by the urge to put pen to paper. In writing down the stories of her colorful past–working as a maid in Sweden, modelling in Paris during the 30s, fleeing to Manhattan at the dawn of the Second World War–can she help Jenny, haunted by a difficult childhood, unlock the secrets of their family and finally look to the future? And whatever became of Allan, the love of Doris’s life?
A charming novel that prompts reflection on the stories we all should carry to the next generation, and the surprises in life that can await even the oldest among us, The Red Address Book introduces Sofia Lundberg as a wise–and irresistible–storyteller.
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A very heartwarming story about a 96 year old woman looking back on her life and writing down her story for her grandniece her only relative. Highly recommended.
I loved the concept for this book, weaving the story of a 96-year old woman around the entries in her address book, most of which are no longer living. It took me some time to become invested, but the further I read, the more enjoyable it became and the more I got to know Doris and her grand niece, the more I liked them. The last third of the book had my complete attention, and the ending, though predictable, was beautifully executed. After finishing the book and discovering the inspiration was based on the author’s beloved great aunt and her address book, I thought of my mother’s birthday book and the important dates she associates with each name. She’s not much of a storyteller, but I must ask her about some of her memories. What a lovely tribute this book was. A true labor of love.
Lovely, quick read that’s very relevant as you get older, remembering your first love.
A story of love, of loss and the journey through memories that brings our main character to the writing of her memoir for one purpose.
Sofia Lundberg has written an endearing story of 96 year old Doris, a woman who now considers her own mortality as she travels through the successes and sacrifices of her life.
The loss of friends, family and her one true love throughout the years are more than she can bear but the the address book that taunts her, a long ago gift from her father, with its worn red cover and yellowed, tattered pages, gives her the strength she needs to tell her story. A story that needs to be brought forth due to her own motivations so she may leave it with someone, a special someone, who will cherish it and hold it dear, her only surviving family member, her grand-neice, Jenny.
This debut novel is believable, descriptive and heartwarming. A story that will pull you in and have you feeling as if you’re a part of the family in no time at all.
The characters are written as real with diverse personalities that bring strength yet tenderness too the story as secrets are uncovered and a life of long ago, revealed .
A narrative that glides through a generational, bittersweet journey that has you traveling to and from many geographical areas that lend to its interest is nothing short of enjoyable and meaningful.
I thank Goodreads for the gift of this story so I may read, review and enjoy.
5 Stars
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This book was so moving. I’ve recommended to all my book. Buddies
Since I am half Swedish this book main characters was a refreshing welcome and how she recalls her life during trying times. The story made me wish there was a sequel.
This was a fun novel to read, as it is told to us through the people who Doris knew and had in her address book, which was given to her by her father when she was a child. Doris is now 96 years old and living in Sweden, almost house bound at this point and has just her memories to keep her company.
Jenny, Doris’s grandniece and only living relative, lives in San Francisco, but they talk once a week on Skype, which is the highlight of her week.
Doris has lived a full and very interesting life, and so she starts writing her stories addressed to Jenny. She goes through her address book and tells us about the people, places and what was happening in her life when she knew them. When Doris ends up in the hospital, Jenny comes over to visit her and they are able to have a wonderful time as Jenny discovers, a lot of things she never knew, and tries to right something from Doris’s past.
Well written and a fascinating look at what her life was like, the loves, tragedies, hardships, privileges and not.
I definitely recommend this story for those who love a good tale.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the ARC of this book.
Sofia Lundberg has written a wonderful debut. The story of the life of Doris is told with a whole lot of love. It is full of warmth and compassion.
What a beautiful book. The story centers on the address book of Doris, a 96yo woman at end of life. Her niece, Jenny, learns about the stories that surround the many people in the address book. Beautiful ending.
I enjoyed the book albeit it moved along a bit slow for me. I enjoyed the characters and the story but I can’t say it’s a favorite of mine.
Loved this book. It was a bit confusing until you realized it was all written from the same viewpoint, that of Doris. Very touching story of so many people who had meant a lot to her in her life. We have all had address books with names crossed out as people either were no longer a part of our lives due to various circumstances, including death, as was in the case of Doris’s address book.
Lovely story. A page turner. Inspirational
I received this as an ARC. I can truthfully say I have never read a more touching, beautiful book in all of my 69 years. I don’t know if it’s because we are experiencing this with a dear relative or what but I would highly recommend this book to anyone no matter your age. It will certainly enlighten your heart whether you are 20 years old or 90 years old! To see Doris go back and tell her story through the years the people she has met and all those involved in her life couldn’t be more touching. You’ll cry and you’ll have such a warm spot in your heart after you have read this book. I hated to see it come to an end, but again it was absolutely the best book I have ever read! I hope you all come away with a true appreciation for those who have passed your way!
I would start with a confession, it was the first book I had taken out of the bookshelf, so I read it. The beginning of the book didn’t benefit it, and it didn’t appeal to me, but I tried to move on and read more. So the more I read, the more Doris’s sad story fascinated me until I was completely drawn into her world – memories of childhood from the beginning of the century until her later days. This is a touching story written in a beautiful and pleasant language. While the book is melancholy and a bit slow inflow, it can easily make any reader (patient enough) to understand the life that once was, those that are no longer and what’s in between – that is our world.
The premise of The Red Address Book intrigued me from the start. We learn about this 96 year-old woman’s life through the old address book she has kept for years. So many of the people she has known and loved in the past are gone now but she still has her memories of them and the time they had together. I loved Doris and her spunkiness—what an interesting life she led. And the relationship she had with her grandniece, Jenny, was very special and heartwarming to witness.
This was a beautifully written story and I found myself totally wrapped up in the lives of Doris and Jenny. This is Sofia’s debut novel and I’m excited to see what else she has in store for us as readers. What an amazing, wonderful story!
This was such a heartwarming read! If you like stories that go back and forth between past and present to see how the characters’ lives were and how they grew, you will enjoy this. I felt the characters were relatable and seeing their lives from different points of views along with the sad and happy moments they’ve had was great. I was happy with the ending as it provided a sense of closure. It’s not the ending that maybe people would want but I thought it was more realistic. You really get to understand Doris and get a sense of who she is. I have always enjoyed stories like these because of the feel of nostalgia as in how thing were different in the past. I like that this is based off an address book with all these old numbers and addresses and that is how she recalls her memories. I loved it.
4.3/5
This book ran the gamut of emotions…heart wrenching, despairing but ultimately triumphant.
The life of a 96-year-old Swedish woman is told through letters she writes to her great-niece as she nears the end of her life. It’s unique, as she centers her narrative around those folks she’s met in her life who made it into her red address book…some she knew well, some not but almost all ended up with a strike through their name and DEAD written in the margins of the book. It’s a story of loss, love, and desperately trying to survive during the tumultuous years of WW2 in Europe and the US. It was a bit depressing but also absorbing and yes, there were a few tears while reading. There was an uplifting ending however. Trigger: There was a rape scene, not overly graphic.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #HoughtonMifflinHarcourt for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.