5 stars
An absolutely gorgeous novella packed with heart.
There are sad books that are written solely to make the reader sad and that’s fine. This is not one of those books. This book is so much more. Despite its length, it contains a lifetime of experiences. Each page resonates with the desire to work to understand life, to cope with its pain and setbacks, to grieve the things we lose, and celebrate the wonders we’ve experienced.
Backman takes the reader on a journey using a variety of senses to immerse them into the lives of the people he has created on the page. Even in this short book, the reader feels for the characters, sees their struggles, experiences what they feel. This is done not to experience pain for its own sake but for the understanding and acceptance that such pain brings, for the full enjoyment of the time left.
Beautifully written, wonderfully crafted. Backman has a talent for pulling the reader into whatever story he has to tell and making them live each word.