Book details
Anxious People
by Fredrik Backman
2019 · Atria Publishing
About the book
A failed bank robber escapes into an open house apartment viewing, inadvertently taking a group of prospective buyers hostage. The captives include a wealthy retired couple, a cynical banker, a young couple expecting a baby, and an elderly woman who has seen too much of life. As two local police officers—a father and son—try to resolve the standoff from the outside, the people inside the apartment stop being strangers and begin sharing their private failures and fears. The narrative moves between the botched crime and the subsequent police interviews to reconstruct how these individuals ended up in the same room.
Readers who feel overwhelmed by the modern world find comfort here because it validates the messy reality of being an adult. It appeals to those who enjoy character studies where humor masks deep-seated grief and social anxiety. The story provides a sense of connection by showing that most people are just trying their best despite having no idea what they are doing. You walk away with a softer perspective on the strangers you pass every day, recognizing that everyone is carrying a private burden.
Details
- Published
- 2019
- Publisher
- Atria Publishing
- ISBN
- 9781982169633
- Language
- EN