Today I learned I've been confusing Frederick Buechner and Fredrik Backman.
I struggle with the same over analysis when rating books, wanting to be fair, kind, honest, informative... but ultimately the question I need to answer is "did I like it and would I read it again or pick up another book by this author?"
I have a much easier time recommending books to people I know, even if I don't know their precise literary tastes, rather than people who say "I liked this title and not this one, what should I read next?"
Mine too! I'm due for a re-read of Anxious People, actually. This is an older post from my first foray into book reviewing and its publication here is a revisit. I am currently reading his newest, My Friends, and I gotta say I don't like it as much. :/
I've never read anything by Backman (though this post makes me want to), but I came here to say that I will see your 1-10 scale and raise you half-points, because there's just something about 7.5 that I can't bear to round up or down! :)
If you want to read Backman, I highly recommend starting with A Man Called Ove and also watching the film adaptation with Tom Hanks! They Americanized it quite a bit, but kept the heart of the story. Britt-Marie Was Here and Anxious People are my other top two recommendations.
As a fellow anxious person, I enjoyed getting a glimpse into your review technique! I laughed out loud at your reference to "a bit too much sportsball", and felt seen by your paragraph about how the book made you "feel five stars". I love any book that helps me to love people in all their quirky, complex, and annoying glory! I have not yet read Anxious People, but am adding it to my Libby cart now because of your excellent and nuanced review. Thanks!
I shall have to give A Man Called Ove another try because I just couldn't get it into. It was recommended to me because I was looking for comps for my novel that I'm about to start querying and someone said this one was a possibility but I didn't see it.
This is how I felt when reviewing "Mona's Eyes" last weekend. I knew from online responses that a lot of people didn't like the book, but what can I say? I did! :-) It has its flaws, for sure, but I liked it anyway.
It's such an interesting premise! I just read your review and thoroughly enjoyed it (especially your frank discussion of the flaws) and might pick up the book itself now.
My favorite Fredrik Backman book is My Grandmother Wanted Me to Tell You. I have it on Kindle and a hard copy. Very few books I read rate that kind of investment, but it's worth it. Look it up! I hope you will enjoy it, too.
There’s a reason my husband writes the reviews and I just manage the social media. I’m far too much of an over thinker 🤣 - Mom (partner of Dad, Book Reviews by Dad)
Today I learned I've been confusing Frederick Buechner and Fredrik Backman.
I struggle with the same over analysis when rating books, wanting to be fair, kind, honest, informative... but ultimately the question I need to answer is "did I like it and would I read it again or pick up another book by this author?"
Today I learned who Frederick Buechner was!
I have a much easier time recommending books to people I know, even if I don't know their precise literary tastes, rather than people who say "I liked this title and not this one, what should I read next?"
Amen to all this. And Anxious People and Ove are some of my favorite books of all time. They're five stars from me too.
Mine too! I'm due for a re-read of Anxious People, actually. This is an older post from my first foray into book reviewing and its publication here is a revisit. I am currently reading his newest, My Friends, and I gotta say I don't like it as much. :/
I've never read anything by Backman (though this post makes me want to), but I came here to say that I will see your 1-10 scale and raise you half-points, because there's just something about 7.5 that I can't bear to round up or down! :)
If you want to read Backman, I highly recommend starting with A Man Called Ove and also watching the film adaptation with Tom Hanks! They Americanized it quite a bit, but kept the heart of the story. Britt-Marie Was Here and Anxious People are my other top two recommendations.
I will check them out!
As a fellow anxious person, I enjoyed getting a glimpse into your review technique! I laughed out loud at your reference to "a bit too much sportsball", and felt seen by your paragraph about how the book made you "feel five stars". I love any book that helps me to love people in all their quirky, complex, and annoying glory! I have not yet read Anxious People, but am adding it to my Libby cart now because of your excellent and nuanced review. Thanks!
I shall have to give A Man Called Ove another try because I just couldn't get it into. It was recommended to me because I was looking for comps for my novel that I'm about to start querying and someone said this one was a possibility but I didn't see it.
(I'm not a serious book reviewer either 😝)
It definitely has a slow start! Maybe if you see the film adaptation first it will give you a boost to return to it.
This is how I felt when reviewing "Mona's Eyes" last weekend. I knew from online responses that a lot of people didn't like the book, but what can I say? I did! :-) It has its flaws, for sure, but I liked it anyway.
It's such an interesting premise! I just read your review and thoroughly enjoyed it (especially your frank discussion of the flaws) and might pick up the book itself now.
Glad you enjoyed the review! 😃
My favorite Fredrik Backman book is My Grandmother Wanted Me to Tell You. I have it on Kindle and a hard copy. Very few books I read rate that kind of investment, but it's worth it. Look it up! I hope you will enjoy it, too.
For whatever reason I didn't really connect with that one, but maybe I should give it another try!
There’s a reason my husband writes the reviews and I just manage the social media. I’m far too much of an over thinker 🤣 - Mom (partner of Dad, Book Reviews by Dad)