Another Review at MyShelf.Com

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Fredrik Backman

Atria Books (Simon & Schuster)
June 16, 2015/ ISBN 978-1501115066
Fiction

Reviewed by Linda Morelli

 

A Man Called Ove, Backman’s first novel, sold more than 500,000 copies in its native country and has been published in more than twenty-five languages all over the world.

Elsa is a precocious seven year old girl whose mother has remarried and is expecting a baby – “Halfsie” as Elsa calls it. Elsa feels insecure about the new baby’s arrival. And because Elsa is smart and different, her peers at school constantly chase and tease Elsa. Although Elsa lies to her mother about her bruises, Granny knows the truth. Granny and Elsa are very much alike, since everyone considers Granny a little odd too.

Granny was a surgeon who traveled the world taking care of children, and she now cares for Elsa. She created a world of fairy tales, with many kingdoms and strange creatures, and even a secret language they share.

Before Granny dies of cancer, she charges Elsa with delivering letters bearing apologies. Each letter leads to a transformation in Elsa’s world. One is to a reclusive young man who saves Elsa from a beating by other children, but there are many other zany characters whose lives are intricately woven with Granny’s and Elsa’s. These characters all add depth to the story and lead to Elsa’s growing understanding that the real world is more than mere fairy tales. Slowly, Elsa develops a closer relationship to those people who live around her.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry is an amazing and touching novel about the pain and insecurities of youth and growing up. The author struck a deep emotional chord and I didn't want to set aside the book for very long. I loved the beautiful way Fredrik Backman slowly revealed the deep emotions and pasts of the various characters, and added wonderful comical elements that made me laugh outright. This is one of the most adorable, delightful and heart-warming novels that I have read in a very long time
Reviewer Linda Morelli is the award winning author of three published romance novels.
Reviewed 2015
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