Heather D. (icantswim) -
Helpful Score: 9
If you're like me, you've somewhat run out of patience for bad books, or for books that just don't do it for you. You pay close attention to the quality and tone of the book from the very beginning and you can usually tell if a book is going to be worthwhile pretty early in the process. I knew this book would be worth it from the very beginning. This is one of the books that is completely worth the read. It's one to savor, to think about as you read it. It will touch you in unexpected ways. It is full of charm and heart. It's not complex, but it is very insightful. It's one to make you think about life. Very well done.
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 1440 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
Sometimes a book mirrors life. So it is with this one. I found it a magical book and if you like magic just a little perhaps this one is for you. So many quotes seemed meaningful to me that I marked eight as I went. (I'm not usually one to do that but I used eight bookmarks so I could find them again.) I love Elsa, the key character, and her grandmother is a kick. You can't help laughing about and with her. There is so much in this read. Grandmother is forever telling fantasy tales to Elsa about a magical land and its residents. When she dies Elsa finds herself on a quest to deliver letters to many of her grandmother's friends and she discovers that they are the characters in those wonderful stories. A few quotes from this read:
Elsa asks her mother, "Don't people get married because they're full of love and then divorced when they run out of it?"
And, talking to a neighbor who lost her husband and two sons, the woman gives her a book that she once read to her boys. Elsa has read it but lies "because she's polite enough to know that if someone gives you a book, you owe that person the pretense that you haven't read it."
Finally, about her grandmother as Elsa talks to a man who attends her funeral, she asks it he was in love with Grandmother. He answers, "She was the love of my life, Elsa. She was the love of many men's lives. Women as well, actually." Elsa asks if he was hers. His response, "No, that was you. It was always you, dear Elsa."
Elsa asks her mother, "Don't people get married because they're full of love and then divorced when they run out of it?"
And, talking to a neighbor who lost her husband and two sons, the woman gives her a book that she once read to her boys. Elsa has read it but lies "because she's polite enough to know that if someone gives you a book, you owe that person the pretense that you haven't read it."
Finally, about her grandmother as Elsa talks to a man who attends her funeral, she asks it he was in love with Grandmother. He answers, "She was the love of my life, Elsa. She was the love of many men's lives. Women as well, actually." Elsa asks if he was hers. His response, "No, that was you. It was always you, dear Elsa."
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 4
Now that some time has elapsed since I read this book, I'm able to look upon it more charitably. I loved A Man Called Ove, and I think that made my expectations of this book much too high.
The two main characters-- Elsa and her grandmother-- are characters who can tug at your heartstrings. Elsa is scary smart for a seven-year-old, and at times she's very funny. Her grandmother is known for speaking her mind and doing crazy things like standing on the balcony and shooting paintball guns at passing strangers. Even though she could be very funny, I never lost sight of the fact that the old lady would be a real pain in the neck to deal with. If I represented the middle generation between these two, I'd probably be escorted briskly (and gently) to the nearest rest home. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
What I never expected was the fact that this book very quickly became a chore to read. It needed editing and tightening (beginning with the unwieldy title) because the gradual unfolding of key elements of the plot was much, much too gradual. I almost abandoned the book several times, but I just couldn't. I had to know if life was going to be happier for Elsa. So... I found Backman's book to have a great idea that was poorly executed-- and this has made me leary of reading his next book.
The two main characters-- Elsa and her grandmother-- are characters who can tug at your heartstrings. Elsa is scary smart for a seven-year-old, and at times she's very funny. Her grandmother is known for speaking her mind and doing crazy things like standing on the balcony and shooting paintball guns at passing strangers. Even though she could be very funny, I never lost sight of the fact that the old lady would be a real pain in the neck to deal with. If I represented the middle generation between these two, I'd probably be escorted briskly (and gently) to the nearest rest home. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
What I never expected was the fact that this book very quickly became a chore to read. It needed editing and tightening (beginning with the unwieldy title) because the gradual unfolding of key elements of the plot was much, much too gradual. I almost abandoned the book several times, but I just couldn't. I had to know if life was going to be happier for Elsa. So... I found Backman's book to have a great idea that was poorly executed-- and this has made me leary of reading his next book.
I read A Man Called Ove and enjoyed so I thought I would like this one as well. But honestly, I could barely finish it. It was predicable yet convoluted and unrealistic. There is no way a 7 year old would be running around they way she does nor would her vocabulary and understanding of the human condition be as sophisticated. And the whole premise of the fairytale back story was just plain annoying. If I wanted to read a Harry Potter book I would read one.
T.E. W. (terez93) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 273 more book reviews
As one of the other reviewers said, there were elements of things I both love and hate about modern fiction in this book: it's a charming modern fairy tale of Elsa, a very precocious seven-but-almost-eight-year-old and her delightfully nutty surgeon-grandmother, her tireless advocate and defender, who dies of cancer, leaving Elsa a trail to follow in the form of letters to all the people in her life to whom she would like to apologize. Perhaps my favorite aspect of this book is that it's creative: it draws on folklore in the style of Pan's Labyrinth, which likewise weaves a colorful tapestry of eccentric characters, but I think the former is darker. Here, there's some light at the end of the tunnel, although there's birth and death, and everything in between. It was a bit difficult for me to get into the land of make-believe here, but the bulk of the story is endearing. It's a bit of a tear-jerker at the end, so be forewarned, but well worth a read.
I enjoyed this book. The story was engaging.
I like this author's books. The first one I read was A Man Called Ove. Loved it. I loved this story too. It was very entertaining and has lots of charisma.
Recommended by a book club menber. The characters and plot line were confusing to me. I gave it my usual 50 pages, then returned the book with a "Thanks, but no thanks. "
Lynda C. (Readnmachine) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 1443 more book reviews
When Elsa's beloved grandmother died, she left a very special task to the precocious about-to-be-eight-year-old.
Nadine (23dollars) -
I thought the story started out witty and engaging, but it quickly became more like My Grandmother Asked Me to Put You to Sleep!
7-year-old Elsa was an extremely unrealistic and forced character, the grandmother was just plain annoying, and I didn't enjoy the elaborate fairytale aspect of the plot to boot.
This one just wasn't my cuppa book. Disappointing.
7-year-old Elsa was an extremely unrealistic and forced character, the grandmother was just plain annoying, and I didn't enjoy the elaborate fairytale aspect of the plot to boot.
This one just wasn't my cuppa book. Disappointing.
Cameron-Ashley H. (BigGreenChair) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 454 more book reviews
Way too schmaltzy for me, but I loved the WURSE!
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 1440 more book reviews
Sometimes a book mirrors life. So it is with this one. I found it a magical book and if you like magic just a little perhaps this one is for you. So many quotes seemed meaningful to me that I marked eight as I went. (I'm not usually one to do that but I used eight bookmarks so I could find them again.) I love Elsa, the key character, and her grandmother is a kick. You can't help laughing about and with her. There is so much in this read. Grandmother is forever telling fantasy tales to Elsa about a magical land and its residents. When she dies Elsa finds herself on a quest to deliver letters to many of her grandmother's friends and she discovers that they are the characters in those wonderful stories. A few quotes from this read:
Elsa asks her mother, "Don't people get married because they're full of love and then divorced when they run out of it?"
And, talking to a neighbor who lost her husband and two sons, the woman gives her a book that she once read to her boys. Elsa has read it but lies "because she's polite enough to know that if someone gives you a book, you owe that person the pretense that you haven't read it."
Finally, about her grandmother as Elsa talks to a man who attends her funeral, she asks it he was in love with Grandmother. He answers, "She was the love of my life, Elsa. She was the love of many men's lives. Women as well, actually." Elsa asks if he was hers. His response, "No, that was you. It was always you, dear Elsa."
Elsa asks her mother, "Don't people get married because they're full of love and then divorced when they run out of it?"
And, talking to a neighbor who lost her husband and two sons, the woman gives her a book that she once read to her boys. Elsa has read it but lies "because she's polite enough to know that if someone gives you a book, you owe that person the pretense that you haven't read it."
Finally, about her grandmother as Elsa talks to a man who attends her funeral, she asks it he was in love with Grandmother. He answers, "She was the love of my life, Elsa. She was the love of many men's lives. Women as well, actually." Elsa asks if he was hers. His response, "No, that was you. It was always you, dear Elsa."
K B R. (hipposlovebooks2) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 50 more book reviews
Really enjoyed this book. It is one that you cannot put down and yet do not want to end. A great book for book discussions. I was reflecting backon it days after I finished.
June E. (junie) -
Truly a magical book. I adored Elsa and her crazy whacked out, adorable grandma. Loved Wolfhart the Monster and of course Wurse was my favorite!
Some of Grandma's fairy tales annoyed me because I really dislike fairy tales, but since they help Elsa cope with being different and relate to the wonderful characters, they are insightful and meaningful.
Can't wait to read the author's next book, Britt-Marie Was Here!
Some of Grandma's fairy tales annoyed me because I really dislike fairy tales, but since they help Elsa cope with being different and relate to the wonderful characters, they are insightful and meaningful.
Can't wait to read the author's next book, Britt-Marie Was Here!
Cori R. (babyjanie) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 6 more book reviews
I loved this book, in fact it's become one of my all time favorites. Hope you love it too!
Pamela C. (pj-s-bookcorner) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 866 more book reviews
Definitely different from anything I normally read; at first I wasn't sure I would continue. However, the story line, although fantasy-based, drew me in and I grew to really appreciate and love the relationship between Elsa and her oh-so-eccentric Granny, as well as all the occupants of the apartment house. Hidden in among the storylines are some really good quotes and life lessons. Such as: "Because if a sufficient number of people are different, no one has to be normal" and
(Elsa asks her mother) "Don't people get married because they're full of love and then divorced when they run out of it?".
(Elsa asks her mother) "Don't people get married because they're full of love and then divorced when they run out of it?".
Carol F. (cactusflowerwomen) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 628 more book reviews
Way too Harry Potterish for me, though the writing was witty and funny.
John O. (buzzby) -
I probably didn't read far enough, but I didn't think the grandmother as an ex-doctor was very realistic.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 1713 more book reviews
This is one of those wonderful stories that you don't want to end.
The lively entertaining characters make each page a great read. You will come to love each and everyone of them.
A very bright little girl has a very strange grandma and is put to a quest to make sure each person who has had contact with her grandma is given a letter after she has died and how on that quest she understands and loves her grandma even more.
Wonderful story telling. Loved it.
The lively entertaining characters make each page a great read. You will come to love each and everyone of them.
A very bright little girl has a very strange grandma and is put to a quest to make sure each person who has had contact with her grandma is given a letter after she has died and how on that quest she understands and loves her grandma even more.
Wonderful story telling. Loved it.
Julie G. (renegadespiritcat) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 198 more book reviews
A little disjoined at first until you acclimate to the characters and the fairy tale names but after that it was a very enjoyable read about a little girls life and her love of her granny
Jeneen B. (jrburk) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 26 more book reviews
This book kept me reading. very enjoyable.. Gave it a 3 1/2 only because I only rate those I read a second time with more stars.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
What a charming story! Little 7 year old Elsa's best (only) friend is her grandmother. While she is a very eccentric and daring grandmother, she is so loving and she is an amazingly creative storyteller. Her influence on her young granddaughter is inspiring. There are some sad things, but it is a heart warming tale filled with quirky characters that are more than they seem.
Nancy S. (hollyhockgirl) reviewed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on + 9 more book reviews
My book group read this after voting A Man Called Ove our favorite book of 2016. I have to tell you we all disliked this book intensely. We did not like the characters at all and could not relate to Elsa, the main character. She seemed unreal. It takes about 1/3 of the way through to finally begin to make sense of where the author was heading. I will be interested to read other reviews to see what other readers think.
