Anxious People a novel by Fredrik Backman
The witty yet sad story of a bungled bank robbery, turned into a hostage situation, brings together a group of people. Each one vulnerable and anxious about aspects of their own life and the paths they are taking or have taken.
The characters find common bonds where they initially thought there were none and find that if you take the time to engage with one another it can be life-changing. On their personal journeys, told via their individual backstories, we see that through human connection, great personal strides can be made.
When reading this book, I can honestly say that some parts made me cry with sorrow and empathy for the plight of the characters and others laugh out loud and cry happy tears from the wit and humour it contains.
There are bits of Backman’s characters in us all and he has such skill at writing about the human experience without histrionics and hyperbole. He cuts to the quick and expresses how people live with fears and hardships and find the courage to face another day. ‘We don’t have a plan, we just do our best to get through the day, because there’ll be another one coming along tomorrow.’
