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David Putnam's Reviews > Anxious People
Anxious People
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This author has a great talent and I will read anything he writes.
I loved, loved A Man Called Ov so maybe my expectations were set a little too high on Anxious People. I did enjoy this book a great deal and would recommend it to anyone. The concept is unique, a bank robbery investigated by a father and son and their conflicts. This would’ve been five stars had the backstory of “The bank robber,� not been in second person. This structure not only stopped the forward motion of the story but for me it was like fingernails on a chalkboard. I have no problem with first person, third person and third person close, second person tossed me out of the story and held me at arm’s length.
In the first part of the book the author doesn’t stay with anyone character long enough for the reader to relate to them. For me this is critically important for establishing what I need most out of a book, The Fictive Dream, a state where I become immersed in the story. During the opening pages of most books authors are tasked with endearing the reader to the character, what I’ve heard described as, “Patting the head of the dog.�
The big reason this book works and is so popular is the author’s credibility, he is a wonderful talent who readers trust implicitly and are willing to give him a few pages to set up the story. The book really digs in on page 107 so hold out a little longer if tempted to put it down, you won’t regret it. Four out of five stars.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson Series
I loved, loved A Man Called Ov so maybe my expectations were set a little too high on Anxious People. I did enjoy this book a great deal and would recommend it to anyone. The concept is unique, a bank robbery investigated by a father and son and their conflicts. This would’ve been five stars had the backstory of “The bank robber,� not been in second person. This structure not only stopped the forward motion of the story but for me it was like fingernails on a chalkboard. I have no problem with first person, third person and third person close, second person tossed me out of the story and held me at arm’s length.
In the first part of the book the author doesn’t stay with anyone character long enough for the reader to relate to them. For me this is critically important for establishing what I need most out of a book, The Fictive Dream, a state where I become immersed in the story. During the opening pages of most books authors are tasked with endearing the reader to the character, what I’ve heard described as, “Patting the head of the dog.�
The big reason this book works and is so popular is the author’s credibility, he is a wonderful talent who readers trust implicitly and are willing to give him a few pages to set up the story. The book really digs in on page 107 so hold out a little longer if tempted to put it down, you won’t regret it. Four out of five stars.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson Series
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Reading Progress
July 5, 2020
– Shelved
July 5, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
December 24, 2020
–
Started Reading
January 16, 2021
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-38 of 38 (38 new)
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Kym
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rated it 2 stars
Jan 16, 2021 02:49AM
I loved Beartown
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Great review David! I had some of these same thoughts.
Great review, David! Glad you enjoyed it.
I had the same feeling about the part in second person. Great review!
Really good review, David. I also loved the "Ove" books.
Kym wrote: "I loved Beartown"Thanks its on my list. :-)
Beth wrote: "Great review David! I had some of these same thoughts."Thanks Beth. :-)
Michael wrote: "Great review, David! Glad you enjoyed it.":-)
Teodora wrote: "I had the same feeling about the part in second person. Great review!"Thank you Teodora. :-)
Carol wrote: "Really good review, David. I also loved the "Ove" books."Thank you Carol. :-)
Great review David. I too loved A Man Called Ove.
Laura wrote: "Great review David. I too loved A Man Called Ove."Thank you Laura. :-)
Great review David.
Maureen wrote: "Great review David."Thank you Maureen.
Good review David, especially as I just finished it so your comments were relevant to me.
John wrote: "Good review David, especially as I just finished it so your comments were relevant to me."Thank you John. :-)
David, but didn’t you also love the mystery, the irony and wit along with it?! Trying to figure out who was the bank robber was half the fun! I’m a huge Backman fan, and have read all his books, so naturally I’m a tiny bit biased. 😊 Glad you enjoyed it too!
Toni wrote: "David, but didn’t you also love the mystery, the irony and wit along with it?! Trying to figure out who was the bank robber was half the fun! I’m a huge Backman fan, and have read all his books, so..."Yes, definitely. :-)
Tuti wrote: "Wonderful review :-)"Thank you Tuti. :-)
We have to take in consideration that this book was translated from Swedish.
Galina wrote: "We have to take in consideration that this book was translated from Swedish."Very true. Its my personal thing I just don't get along with second person point of view. I still enjoyed it and gave it four stars. :-)
Glad you enjoyed it. Good book. Agree with you about Ove, it is my favourite from FB.
Galina wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it. Good book. Agree with you about Ove, it is my favourite from FB."I know it isn't fair but when I read a great book by and author its hard not to compare his other work against it. And Ov is one of those timeless books that will live forever and elevates the author up among a select few of authors. :-)
I like your review of the book more than I liked the book itself. It happens.
Love the review this one did drag a bit but it was worth it once the action started. I loved "My grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorry" I read this shortly after so I get you 😀.
Kemora wrote: "Love the review this one did drag a bit but it was worth it once the action started. I loved "My grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorry" I read this shortly after so I get you 😀."Thank you Kemora. :-)
Great review David, I enjoyed this one too!
Mark wrote: "Great review David, I enjoyed this one too!"Thanks Mark. :-)
This book was brutal bad gave up a little over a hundred pages in. There actually has to bad a story somewhere-yu r nain character I guess can't be written in 6th person. I did not want to hear about stupid cops any nore or how stuid this bank robber was-the secondary charatcers were horrible-this book was a waste of time. If you can not hook somewhat hook me in by a hundred pages your in trouble. I liked a man called ova but every book since went down Bear town dragged and this book wow. Your not in ove with this book but you gave it 4 stars you shocked me there.
Rich wrote: "This book was brutal bad gave up a little over a hundred pages in. There actually has to bad a story somewhere-yu r nain character I guess can't be written in 6th person. I did not want to hear abo..."Interesting structure. I think it was a 3 1/2 and rounded up. :-)
where the hell was the story in the first 100pages and how can the main character be 5th person should round down lol
I agree with you. There wasn't a cohesive story so it kept me from dropping into the Fictive Dream. I was curious about the voice (character) and structure but that might just be the author in me. :-)
That's an awesome review, David! It's in my TBR future!
Renee wrote: "That's an awesome review, David! It's in my TBR future!"Thank you Renee. :-)
Great review. I felt the same way.
Barb wrote: "Great review. I felt the same way."Thanks Barb. :-)
