Welcome to Litsy!

This novella was on a book list of books that feel like a hug and part of a big library hold list I registered. I usually feel like November is a tough slog, between the time change and weather it kind of sucks the joy out of you. This is a bittersweet book about dementia, generations of family, and love.

Better late than never! Spring 2024 titles! June was a bit of a bust will all of my wedding prep, but I‘m ready to dive back into my stack!📚 #pantonespringchallenge

#NewYearNewBooks
#Grandparents
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

A novella by one of my favorite authors. Mr. Bachman has such a wonderful was of storytelling that captures your attention and plays on your emotions.

- A story of getting older and losing your memory.

I am reading the tagged novella and yesterday, I made biff à la Lindström, a fantastic dish I discovered a couple of years ago in a Swedish cookbook and have been making regularly (with a few tweaks) ever since. It's great for cutting down on meat... I served it with sautéed parsnips, gherkins and lamb's lettuce - no idea whether that would be acceptable to Swedes!

#FoodandLit #Sweden
@Catsandbooks @Texreader

#HumbleHarvest #Novella

I‘m just not cut out for listening to books with grandparents in them at work 🥹

I thought this was beautiful, if quietly devastating (but that‘s life)

I‘m not usually a fan of short stories, but I knew Backman would kill it, and me… and he did. This man‘s power with words is unmatched IMO. The fact that I was sobbing within two chapters (and this is only 5 chapters) is stunning. It‘s beautiful, and real.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“‘How did you fall in love with her?‘ the boy asks.”
“‘She got lost in my heart, I think. Couldn‘t find her way out. Your grandmother always had a terrible sense of direction She could get lost on an escalator.‘”
“‘Never in my life have I asked myself how I fell in love with her, . . . Only the other way around.‘”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Super short audio, under 2 hours. It was ok, as the author mentioned in the intro, this book was originally not meant to be read by other but as an expression for the author to get his thoughts out for himself. enjoyed other books by this author much more than this one.

This little novella really packed in the feels. A heartwarming and sad story about love and family. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First friends of the library sale since 2019 😭
$9 for all these beauties 😍 (plus one library loan)
#bookhaul #librarysale #mybookshelvesaregroaning

#librarybooksalehaul
All for $5.00
A few for me and some for my sister-in-law. I‘m so happy she is into Grafton. I ❤️ Kinsey.

"It's an awful thing to miss someone who's still here"

Knowing what it's like to watch one of the strongest people you know slowly slip away piece by piece...this almost killed me. Short but more than enough ?

1hr
15
Total Points: 75
#AVERYMERRYREADATHON @thespineview
#AVeryMerryBingo @jadams1776
#wintercozy @puddlejumper
#christmasmyway @dieareader @GHAB14ROSES
#LittenListen @aperfectmjk
#WinterGames2021 #MistletoeManiacs @clwojick

This novella is incredibly short, but for anyone who has watched a love one suffer through memory loss it‘s still packs a punch. At this point I will read absolutely anything he writes.

“That‘s why we get the chance to spoil our grandchildren, because by doing that we‘re apologizing to our children.”

Book 34 of 2021.

Listened to this book today and it was sad, it was amusing, and it was wonderful. How does Bachman have so much insight without actually being in that situation. His imagination certainly has not left him. For anyone who has a parent or loved one suffering the ravages of altzheimer‘s or dimentia, this book will make you look at it differently. I do. #108 #BookSpinBingo #20 #TAILSandTALESforADULTS #35 #BUZZWORDATHON #HSREADATHON

Check out my review here @: https://youtu.be/fG40nn8cPvk

#bookreview #books #reading #bookishview #contemporaryfiction #fredrikbackman
#5starreads

And Everyday the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer‘ is a novella about the love one man has for his son, grandson, and wife. The man is slowly slipping into a state of memory loss. His greatest fear is that he will soon not remember any of his most beloved memories.

#bookcover #novella

Absolutely lovely and heartwrenching. My granny has dementia and this really hit a chord with me. Love the relationship between the husband and wife. Beautiful bond between the grandpa and Noah too!

"And I don‘t think you need to be scared of forgetting me,” the boy says
“No?”
“No. Because if you forget me then you‘ll just get the chance to get to know me again. And you‘ll like that, because I‘m actually a pretty cool person to get to know." ❤❤

Sweet. Tender. Warm. A glimpse into what Backman can do. Looking forward to Sibling Book Club.

Such a moving novella about a man suffering from Alzheimer's and his relationships with his wife, son and grandson ❤️

Eh. I give up on Backman.

Book 73 of 2020
#audiobook #scribd

“She got lost in my heart, I think. Couldn‘t find her way out. Your grandma always had a terrible sense of direction.” 🥰

“It's an awful thing to miss someone who's still here.”

This is definitely a fear of mine 💔

#Aboutmentalillness
#MagnificentMarch

Stop everything to read or listen to this book. It‘s a quick read and one I‘d love to see everyone read, especially if you know someone with a memory issue. Keep tissues near and a journal to write down beautiful passages when you come across them, because I know you will. The author is one of the best writers I‘ve read. He knows things about the world and humanity that few people do and we‘re just lucky that he writes so we can know too.

So many emotions packed into so few pages. The messages came at a difficult time for me but that‘s sometimes what makes for great literature

Magonia ⭐️⭐️⭐️
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Made for the Journey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Afraid of All the Things ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first Backman. It was sweet and touching, and I definitely shed some tears. I do agree with some of the reviews that stated the novella felt fragmented. #authoramonth

Finished January 21.

Another read for #authoramonth2020 Another short book by Backman. Perhaps now I‘ll finally give A Man Called Ove a chance. I had a hard time following along with this audiobook, but for this book it‘s fitting.

Book #2 for #authoramonth and I agree with other reviewers- this was not for me. I would‘ve bailed too if it wasn‘t such a short book. I thought the writing was awkward 🤷🏼‍♀️

I am touched by this novella. A beautiful story with a message I treasure, touching on love, ageing, relationships, and saying goodbye before it was time. The relationship between Grandpa and Noah is so special. "Noahnoah, promise me something, one very last thing: once your good-bye is perfect, you have to leave me and not look back. Live your life. It's an awful thing to miss someone who's still here." ?
#AuthorAMonth2020

A heartbreaking and touching examination of the three generations of a family struggling with the realities of dementia/Alzheimer‘s disease. This one hit close to home, just having spent a week vacationing with my mother-in-law (who has Alzheimer‘s) and watching my children interact with her on a daily basis, and how this horrible disease has been changing her relationship with them. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #AuthorAMonth2020

This novella is beautiful and heartbreaking. In a fantastical space, Noah and his grandfather sit and discuss their joint love of mathematics, their mentors, and the hyacinths that the grandmother grew. Noah and his father are trying to hold on while also letting go as Grandpa is suffering from dementia/Alzheimer‘s. The novella also touches upon family, expectations, and inter-generational issues. #AuthorAMonth Nordic bingo #jennyis30

This hit close to home: now that I‘m old I harbor a fear of losing memory and stream of consciousness . But this quote is true and pragmatic. I love this book

#authoramonth2020
@Soubhiville

Such a beautiful, short read! As someone who lost her grandfather to very advanced dementia and who works in Alzheimer‘s and dementia research, this story touched me in so many ways. It goes through a man‘s struggle with dementia, as well as how it affects all three generations of his family. Definitely heartbreaking to read, but it shines a light on the tragic impact of the disease.

A beautiful, heartbreaking sketch of how 3 generations experience a man slipping into dementia. The characters and family dynamics portrayed here are stunningly realistic, and the emotional content is stirring, but I wasn‘t crazy about the novella format here. I think this would have worked better either as a short story or a longer novel. #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

What a touching novella dealing with the process of memory loss between three generations. #authoramonth2020

I know Backman‘s works are well-loved, & I‘ve tried him a few times but always DNF‘ed. This novella, which I found in a LFL, I was able to finish. It‘s heart-wrenching, especially because I‘ve experienced (as I think most of us have) loved ones with dementia. Backman states in intro “this is a story about memories and about letting go” —it‘s personal for him— and he does conveys all the emotions well.

#authoramonth2020
#ReadingEurope2020 #Sweden

I read these two already this month for #AuthoraMonth and enjoyed them. They were my first books by Backman, but I‘m sure I‘ll read more now. They are all about family relationships across generations.

“I didnt care why you said yes, Just that you stayed.“

A novella by one of the greatest modern author‘s, which examines the relationships between a man (with dementia) with his dead wife (who he adored), his son (who confused him), and his grandson (mutual adoration).
It handles the idea of “missing someone who is still here” with gravitas and humor.

“Your grandma always had a terrible sense of direction, She could get lost on an escalator.“

I was reading along and feeling fine until I got to this section and suddenly ... a flood of tears. My hubby and I recently found out that a dear friend has been diagnosed with frontotemporal lobe dementia at the age of 58. His mental faculties are deteriorating rapidly. This is the journey we are on with him now. Trust Fredrik Backman to have the words to express the heartbreak. 💔
#AuthorAMonth

I have a soft spot for stories about grandfathers and this one definitely sparked my icy, black heart.
#AuthorAMonth

#authoramonth
What a sad, beautiful and moving story😢
In the words of the author himself... “This is a story about memories and about letting go. It‘s a love letter and a slow farewell between a man and his grandson, and between a dad and his boy.”
It feels all so close to home for me right now, it completely broke my heart. The way Backman captures the fear, the loss and the desperate need to hold onto what will inevitably be lost, was perfect.