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Mark Porton's Reviews > Anxious People
Anxious People
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Anxious People by Fredrik Backman was a breath of fresh air, it was funny, interesting, meaningful and wonderfully paced. I really enjoyed this book about a Bank Robber who isn’t really that good at bank robbing and ends up taking a group of strangers hostage. To say anymore would be to commit a gross act of spoilage.
The humour, as all good funny stuff should be, came when unexpected and was genuinely funny, not laugh out loud funny, but amusing. Chuckle-worthy.
The author makes the point we, us punters, are a bunch of ‘idiots� making our way through this world. We are all negotiating our dramas (big and small) and mostly seem to make it to the end of the day. This is our common thread � the thing that binds us. We walk past each other in the shopping mall, sit next to each other at the traffic lights and are blissfully unaware of the similar difficulties our fellow humans are experiencing. I must say though, whenever I fly into a city, I always look at the rooves of the houses I fly over and reflect on what may be happening in each of those little boxes � good and bad.
Sometimes, we need an event to throw us into the company of strangers, to learn about the lives of others.
This story really makes one realise how we all seem to just keep going (mostly) no matter what is thrown at us, or when it’s thrown at us and in whatever quantity. It really is quite sobering. The author covers all of this with a wonderful splash of funny stuff.
A really enjoyable read.
Also � it’s Christmas Day here in Australia at this moment. I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas � this GR community is a wonderful thing and I feel really privileged to have become acquainted with quite a few of you. Much love to you and yours 😊
4 Stars
The humour, as all good funny stuff should be, came when unexpected and was genuinely funny, not laugh out loud funny, but amusing. Chuckle-worthy.
The author makes the point we, us punters, are a bunch of ‘idiots� making our way through this world. We are all negotiating our dramas (big and small) and mostly seem to make it to the end of the day. This is our common thread � the thing that binds us. We walk past each other in the shopping mall, sit next to each other at the traffic lights and are blissfully unaware of the similar difficulties our fellow humans are experiencing. I must say though, whenever I fly into a city, I always look at the rooves of the houses I fly over and reflect on what may be happening in each of those little boxes � good and bad.
Sometimes, we need an event to throw us into the company of strangers, to learn about the lives of others.
This story really makes one realise how we all seem to just keep going (mostly) no matter what is thrown at us, or when it’s thrown at us and in whatever quantity. It really is quite sobering. The author covers all of this with a wonderful splash of funny stuff.
A really enjoyable read.
Also � it’s Christmas Day here in Australia at this moment. I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas � this GR community is a wonderful thing and I feel really privileged to have become acquainted with quite a few of you. Much love to you and yours 😊
4 Stars
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Reading Progress
May 13, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 13, 2020
– Shelved
December 20, 2020
–
Started Reading
December 24, 2020
– Shelved as:
funny
December 24, 2020
– Shelved as:
modern-fiction
December 24, 2020
– Shelved as:
mystery
December 24, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-36 of 36 (36 new)
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NILTON
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rated it 4 stars
Dec 24, 2020 05:16PM
Great review!
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This IS a great review, and I'm afraid you're going to make me move this one up in the queue, just like Meet Me at the Museum, which I loved. You have a way of making a book sound so appealing, it's hard to resist. It's just Christmas Eve here in the southern U.S., but close enough. Merry Christmas to you too, and happy reading! 🎄🎁🎅
"This story really makes one realise how we all seem to just keep going (mostly) no matter what is thrown at us, or when it’s thrown at us and in whatever quantity."I think this past year has really proved that point, Mark! A marvelous review. I'm a Backman fan and this sounds like another winner. Merry Christmas!!
Nicely said! Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, Mark. The humour, as all good funny stuff should be, came when unexpected and was genuinely funny, not laugh out loud funny, but amusing. Chuckle-worthy." Love that. Who doesn't need to chuckle these days? Great review.
Added it.
� When I fly into a city I look at the roofs of the houses ...�. so coincidental that you too felt this way. I too when I travel on work ( or used to until March of this year before the pandemic) often used to day dream / surmise about how lives would be in the flashy buildings or the hovels in the slums in each city. Great review thanks
Terrific review, Mark.
My feelings exactly Mark. And may this Christmas usher in happiness to you and your family
Wonderful review, Mark. I love Backman's books and want to read this some day. Merry Christmas to you. I second what you said about the GR community. :-)
NILTON wrote: "Great review!"Thanks very much Nilton!!
Diane wrote: "This IS a great review, and I'm afraid you're going to make me move this one up in the queue, just like Meet Me at the Museum, which I loved. You have a way of making a book sound so appealing, it'..."Thanks Diane, hope you have a nice day - thanks for the kind words, some books make it very easy to write an enticing review - this is one of them, hope you enjoy it!!
Candi wrote: ""This story really makes one realise how we all seem to just keep going (mostly) no matter what is thrown at us, or when it’s thrown at us and in whatever quantity."I think this past year has rea..."
This one is certainly a winner Candi :)) This was a really nice one to finish this difficult year on for the message and time to reflect but also the humour - stay safe!!
Hilal wrote: "Nicely said! Merry Christmas"Thanks so much Hilal :)
Anne wrote: "Merry Christmas, Mark. The humour, as all good funny stuff should be, came when unexpected and was genuinely funny, not laugh out loud funny, but amusing. Chuckle-worthy." Love that. Who doesn't n..."
Yes we all need a good chuckle Anne, hope you're having a nice time - I hope you enjoy the book!!
Shankar wrote: "� When I fly into a city I look at the roofs of the houses ...�. so coincidental that you too felt this way. I too when I travel on work ( or used to until March of this year before the pandemic) o..."Thanks for that Shankar, I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one - there's two of us!! Yes, very rarely we get a view like that and it's a shame to waste it
Swaroop Kanti wrote: "Mark,Beautiful review of a wonderful book - thank you!"
The book is wonderful isn't it Swaroop? Thank you!
Diane S � wrote: "Terrific review, Mark."Cheers Diane!!
Vandana wrote: "My feelings exactly Mark. And may this Christmas usher in happiness to you and your family"Same to you Vandana and thank you :)
Laysee wrote: "Wonderful review, Mark. I love Backman's books and want to read this some day. Merry Christmas to you. I second what you said about the GR community. :-)"Cheers Laysee, he is a good to be sure, yes - this community is a nice one to be part of, a 'good feeling' group - Merry Xmas to you too!!
Wonderful review, Mark! Hope you and your family had a lovely Christmas! Love the GR family we all get to be part of:)
Antoinette wrote: "Wonderful review, Mark! Hope you and your family had a lovely Christmas! Love the GR family we all get to be part of:)"Thanks Antoinette and I hope you and yours have had a great Xmas too - the GR is community is a nice place to be, always fun :)
Wonderful review, Mark. I don't think I'll forget this book. 😊
Fab review Mark. Glad you gave it the thumbs up, it's the next Bookclub pick. Hope you had a nice Xmas 🎄
Merry Christmas to you, too, Mark. I hope you were able to relax. I struck out with one novel by Mr. Backman, but I'm hoping this one will be a winner for me.
MarilynW wrote: "Wonderful review, Mark. I don't think I'll forget this book. 😊"Thanks Marilyn, yes it was one of those books!!
Nat wrote: "Fab review Mark. Glad you gave it the thumbs up, it's the next Bookclub pick. Hope you had a nice Xmas 🎄"Thanks Nat, hopefully you'll love it - I'll look out for your review & I hope the Northern Beaches cluster isn't getting to you - Merry Xmas :)
Julie wrote: "Merry Christmas to you, too, Mark. I hope you were able to relax. I struck out with one novel by Mr. Backman, but I'm hoping this one will be a winner for me."Thanks Julie and back at you!! A nice 5 days off for me, but still need to check in to see how many swabs we're doing :( ......all good though, take care over there and I really hope you like this one. I'll look out for your review :))
Mark wrote: "Nat wrote: "Fab review Mark. Glad you gave it the thumbs up, it's the next Bookclub pick. Hope you had a nice Xmas 🎄"Thanks Nat, hopefully you'll love it - I'll look out for your review & I hope ..."
All good Mark, I'm Eastern beaches...though the impact is still being felt across Sydney with restrictions. Still, we're super lucky here in Oz in comparison to other countries 🌞
Nat wrote: "Mark wrote: "Nat wrote: "Fab review Mark. Glad you gave it the thumbs up, it's the next Bookclub pick. Hope you had a nice Xmas 🎄"Thanks Nat, hopefully you'll love it - I'll look out for your rev..."
Indeed we are Nat, very lucky - but we need to keep up the good work, this new strain is sniffing around and we're not out of the woods yet!! :))
Mark wrote: "Nat wrote: "Mark wrote: "Nat wrote: "Fab review Mark. Glad you gave it the thumbs up, it's the next Bookclub pick. Hope you had a nice Xmas 🎄"Thanks Nat, hopefully you'll love it - I'll look out ..."
I know Mark, the Northern beaches no.s are growing. Have to try to nip it in the bud. Look after yourself & stay safe �
Enjoyed your thoughtful review a lot Mark - I read A Man Called Ove and loved it so will definitely get to this one.Hope you’ve had a fine, chilled out Christmas and let’s hope next year is a bit more uneventful!
PS I’ve enjoyed our chats :)
Richard wrote: "Enjoyed your thoughtful review a lot Mark - I read A Man Called Ove and loved it so will definitely get to this one.Hope you’ve had a fine, chilled out Christmas and let’s hope next year is a bit ..."
Yes me too my friend, thanks for checking out my review - this one is better than Ove I reckon - hope you enjoy it!! See your lot had a great result against Chelsea - nice one!! Hope your Xmas was good too Richard and here's to a chilled 2021 :))
I didn't read your review until finishing the book, so I didn't see your Christmas wish. It's been a privilege to get to know you as well, sir, and I like your takeaways from this book.
Fabulous review, Mark! I love reading your thoughts about this treasure of a book. It is a "breath of fresh air" as you say and the funny mixed in with the drama was perfection for me.
@Justin thanks so much mate!
@Lori I'm with you 100% on this one Lori, glad you enjoyed it too - thanks heaps!
