Book 29 My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry

 

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman fulfilled the prompt “Book Featuring Three Generations” for the PopSugar 2021 Reading Challenge. In this novel, we see a seven-year-old child, her mother, and a bit of the grandmother who passes at the beginning.

I work at a library, and I’ve seen this novel go out frequently. Just by the title, I wasn’t much interested in the book. I never like the most popular books, and this seemed to be written to sell books. Then I realized it was by the same author as A Man Called Ove. So I grabbed it.

Spoilers—Man, I cried a lot. God, this was a good book. It’s in the top 10 of my books for the year and absolutely in the top 100 of all my reads. Mr. Bakhman wove a story of love, generations, understanding, and healing. By the time I finished, I wanted to start again.

Elsa is dealing with the death of her grandmother. The two had a special bond. Granny created a magical world for her grandbaby called the Land of Almost Awake. Together, they enjoyed vibrant stories and beautiful tales from this sleepy land. Elsa loved this place and needed it as she dealt with the harsh realities of being a schoolgirl who doesn’t quite fit in. Once Granny passed, Elsa could no longer enter the fantasy world, and she’s forced to deal with reality. A reality where a large dog seems to occupy its own apartment. A world where her mother is about to get remarried and their building is filled with strange characters.

More Spoilers

Granny leaves a scavenger hunt for her granddaughter. Elsa has to deliver apology letters to various tenants in the building. She begins to interact with the interesting group. She discovers that perhaps Granny’s stories were not completely fiction. The large dog she befriends is the Wurst from the fairy tales and more spoilers. The story unfolds in such a wondrous way; I can’t say more without spoiling the tale.

The book brought up many interesting topics. To go with the prompt, the idea of generational knowledge arose. Granny knew a great deal and had an amazing life. She passed her stories on to her granddaughter through play. Elsa didn’t realize she was learning family history as she played the game. I love that. We forget to ask our parents and grandparents about their history, their lives, what they’ve lived through. My father-in-law passed, and we’ve lost all his history, his family stories, as well as the man himself. Elsa learned so much about her grandmother without knowing it. And even though the woman is gone, Elsa still has those stories.

Many reviewers disliked the book because of the narrator only being seven. I’ve read so many young adult and children’s books that it was a non-issue for me. Children know far more than we give them credit for. As a former teacher, I can tell you with sincere honesty that there are children like Elsa—wise beyond their years, but still young and vulnerable.

It’s always hard to write about a book I love without being too spoilery or gushy. But I loved this story, and I think you will too.

I give My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman Five Giant Guard Dogs.

 

 

Book 28 A Dangerous Recipe for Love

 

A Dangerous Recipe for Love by J.M. Davies fulfilled the category “Book Published in 2021” for the PopSugar 2021 Reading Challenge. The novel came out in May 2021. It’s the second book in the Sandy Bay Series. The third installment comes out in August. Expect two more in the series before my novel comes out in January. (Okay, enough self-promo. LOL)

This story takes place before and after the first book. We finally find out about the father of Tessa’s baby, witness the birth, and all the angst and heart-crushing complications of this doomed loved story. But since it’s a romance, we get our happily-ever-after after so much handwringing. I’ve never worried so much about a couple finding a way to get together. And I’ve read some crazy romances! But with a first lieutenant in the mob and a humble baker from our Sunflower Farm, I never thought Ms. Davies would get our kids together. Not only do we get the happy, but we also have some wonderfully racy fun along the way.

Book One of the series, An Unexpected Christmas, is a sweeter story of homecoming, second chance love, and soul searching. Book Two was so different. The series is purposely testing out various heat levels in the books to appeal to many readers. And Book Two is sensual, spicy, and toe-tinglingly sexy. Tessa and Carter burn up the page. That heat is totally part of their conflict. When it’s always so hot, how can they have a genuine relationship? Especially when important truths are being hidden. I love that the author wrote the stories the characters needed in terms of heat level. I’m telling you, characters in my books can be sweet, hot, or in between, sometimes in the same novel. But A Dangerous Recipe for Love kept me on the edge of my seat whether it was a suspenseful or sexy scene.

Another point I loved about the novel was the redemption element. Tessa is not a sympathetic character in Book One because she does not care for that story’s heroine. In Book Two, we see her point of view and why she behaves this way. That’s why I love series! We form love/hate/anger/passion for characters and then get to read their stories or witness them from another point of view. Ms. Davies has promised at least one more in the series with the staff and friends of Sunflower Farm. I hope there will be tons more.

I give A Dangerous Recipe for Love by J.M. Davies Five Hot Nights Out in Boston.