“At a certain age almost all the questions a person asks him or herself are really just about one thing: how should you live your life?”
Britt-Marie has her peculiarities, but for the most part is oblivious to the fact that others might see them as peculiarities. Her life is straight-forward and organized until she discovers that her husband is having an affair. She takes her balcony boxes and leaves. While at a loss on how to make a hotel room a home, she decides to find a job. The young woman at the employment office finds her a job in the small town of Borg to run the recreation center. She is welcomed by the children accidentally hitting her in the head with a soccer ball, which sends her flat on her back. As she meets the people in Borg, she starts seeing peculiarities in everyone.
I really loved A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman so I eventually want to read all of his books. I have read Beartown and thought it was a heartbreaking, but good story. Britt-Marie Was Here is my latest Backman read and I’m glad I listened to it as an audiobook. The narrator’s accent really made the story come alive.
As Britt-Marie finds a way to live her own life without a husband, she learns to let other people depend on her. She then learns to depend on them. The local children need a soccer coach and Britt-Marie is asked. Her heart can’t let the children down, even though they all know she knows nothing about soccer. They teach her how to finally open up and let her past hurts be released so she can make her own decisions about her life.
Britt-Marie Was Here is a funny, yet deep, book about a woman finally listening to her own heart and learning that there is still life left to be lived. I laughed. I felt for Britt-Marie. There is tragedy, but the community works through it together. It’s also a book that gives small towns credit for being great places to live.
What would you say is a peculiarity about yourself? Share on the blog!