Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman (2014)
A heartwarming story translated from the original Swedish into English in 2016.
Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Plot: Britt-Marie is an older woman who cares about perception and doing things the right way. She is afraid of change and adheres to a rigid schedule, that is, until she upends her life by walking out on her cheating husband and moving to the small town of Borg.
Opinion: It’s not often that I read a female character written by a male author that feels totally authentic, but Britt-Marie felt real and relatable. This book examines female agency in an approachable way that isn’t preachy or overly bitter. But really, this theme can be relatable for men or women.
I enjoyed some of the themes that go hand and hand with the character development. Initially, Britt-Marie gives up her own hopes and dreams while she cares for Kent, his children, and his home. In Borg, Britt-Marie has independence thrust upon her and she is challenged to stand up for her own needs and seek a purpose outside of others.
Britt-Marie struggles with her duty to her marriage as she makes new and unexpected connections in Borg. Yet one thing remains constant in her beliefs: “Because life is more than the shoes your feet are in. More than the person you are. It’s the togetherness.”
I have just a few critiques. The book started off a bit slow and it took me a while to get into it. I thought Britt-Marie was just an old lady with undiagnosed anxiety (once I was hooked though, I was deeply invested). My other issue is that one of the characters is called “Somebody” which is very confusing to read in a sentence. Not sure if this is a translation issue or simply a unique nickname choice, but I wasn’t a fan.
Those are relatively small complaints and other than that, Britt-Marie Was Here delivers the classic Backman-esque blend of heartwarming, funny, charming, and emotional. I highly recommend it.
Comments