Book Review: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Book Review:
Soon after its release, Fredrik Backman’s latest novel, Anxious People, became a literary darling, and it is easy to see why. An innovative plot, Backman’s trademark humour, and a motley crew of misfits make up for an absolutely unputdownable read. Neil Smith, who translates Backman’s original work in Swedish, provides a crisp translation that feels so natural that at times a reader forgets that the work they are reading is a translation, and not in the author’s native language. Anxious People, with its heartwarming story and accessible storytelling, is one of those rare books that appeals to seasoned readers, bibliophiles and newbies trying to dip their toe into the world of reading.
The book starts with an inexperienced robber having a bad day, as would be the case when one realises that the bank you are trying to rob is a cashless bank, and upon fleeing from said bank, the robber accidentally ends up at an apartment viewing and resorts to taking the people at the viewing as hostages. The chaos and realisations in the light of this hostage-situation form the base of the story.
Anxious People include an assortment of characters – the robber-turned-hostage-taker, a father-son police duo trying to rescues the hostages, and the hostages themselves, often described humorously in the novel as “the worst hostages ever”, which include a couple expecting their first child, an old retired couple, a bank manager, an old woman, the real-estate agent, and a man in a rabbit suit. The story starts off with levity and includes some real laugh-out-loud moments. However, as the story progresses, it sheds light on how each of the characters comes with their own emotional baggage of heartbreak, anxiety, grief and regret. And as the story progresses, through their interactions with each other, the characters achieve emotional catharsis, with each of them forgiving themselves for their past mistakes and being filled with a sense of hope for their future. The characters also come to discover that the people can surprise them, and sometimes maybe that ends up being for the best.
Anxious People does not follow a linear narrative; it jumps back and forth in timelines to provide each of the characters with a backstory that makes the reader appreciate them in a new light. What makes this book truly stand out is how seamlessly Backman manages to weave in humour, heartbreak and hope; he is one of those rare writers who can make a reader cry one minute, and laugh the next, or sometimes both together at the same time. Backman’s writing seems easy and effortless, but let that not fool you, for he knows how to tug at one’s emotional strings; very few contemporary authors can write a comforting and heartwarming story like Backman can. More importantly, the author also knows how to throw a good plot-twist you way—when the reader is well-engrossed in the story, Backman throws a curveball of a plot-twist, the kind that has the reader gobsmacked for a minute, and then going through all the previous pages frantically in search of a single clue that could’ve alluded to this plot-twist, but alas, Backman has his bases covered.
Anxious Book is a book that emphasises on the need for human connection, and how despite making mistakes, one can forgive themselves for their past and aspire for a hopeful future. This is beautifully captured in the quote of the book –
“They say that a person’s personality is the sum of their experiences. But that isn’t true, at least not entirely, because if our past was all that defined us, we’d never be able to put up with ourselves. We need to be allowed to convince ourselves that we’re more than the mistakes we made yesterday. That we are all of our next choices, too, all of our tomorrows.”
Overall, Anxious People is a wonderful book about love, forgiveness, and kindness. It serves as a reminder that we all carry our own anxieties and regrets, experiencing moments of loneliness, being misunderstood, and struggling to express our true feelings. Sometimes, all we can do is show kindness to each other and take things one step at a time, doing our best along the way, and that people will always surprise us in ways we least expect them to. Anxious People is a delightful, funny and wise read that readers ought not to miss.