Anxious People

Synopsis: This is a comic novel about a failed bank robbery, and the aftermath. A real estate Open House is interrupted when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes the eight would-be buyers hostage. As the afternoon unfolds, the eight strangers begin to slowly open up to each other and reveal long hidden truths. As police surround the premises, the tension mounts, and before the long the bank robber must decide which is more terrifying: going out to face the police or staying in the apartment with “the worst hostages ever.”

Review: I have read several books by Fredrik Backman, so was eager to read this novel. He has a great ear for dialogue, and has an ability to develop great characters of all ages, genders and backgrounds. So with that said, I have to say that while this grew on me, it wasn’t my favorite by Backman. It was a slow starter for me, and I had trouble finding characters to root for. As it developed, I developed more enthusiasm for it. The father-son duo on the police force were great, and the dialogue was actually hilarious at times. In the end, it was a story about parents and the lengths they will go to for their children. It’s a story about trying to understand each other’s difficulties in life and perhaps hold a bit more compassion for them. It was heart warming and charming, and a feel-good, funny story. The second half of the book was more engaging and I just wish it didn’t take so long to get to that point.

Rating: 3/5

Recipe: At one point in the story, the hostages decide to request pizza. Naturally there was difficulty in getting people to agree on what kind of pizza! They ordered Pizza Capricciosa, which includes ham, mushrooms, and artichokes. According to one of the hostages, “everyone” likes that. My pizza isn’t identical, but we still liked it—working on our wood-fired pizza game with the Ooni pizza oven, and I think we’ll be eating a lot of pizza this summer!