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    Britt-Marie Was Here: A Novel
    Britt-Marie Was Here: A Novel
    Britt-Marie Was Here: A Novel
    Audiobook9 hours

    Britt-Marie Was Here: A Novel

    Written by Fredrik Backman

    Narrated by Joan Walker

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    The New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Anxious People captivates readers with this “warm and satisfying” (People) story “about a woman rediscovering herself after a personal crisis…fans of Backman will find another winner in these pages” (Publishers Weekly).

    Britt-Marie can’t stand mess. A disorganized cutlery drawer ranks high on her list of unforgivable sins. She is not one to judge others—no matter how ill-mannered, unkempt, or morally suspect they might be. It’s just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention.

    But hidden inside the socially awkward, fussy busybody is a woman who has more imagination, bigger dreams, and a warmer heart that anyone around her realizes.

    When Britt-Marie walks out on her cheating husband and has to fend for herself in the miserable backwater town of Borg—of which the kindest thing one can say is that it has a road going through it—she finds work as the caretaker of a soon-to-be demolished recreation center. The fastidious Britt-Marie soon finds herself being drawn into the daily doings of her fellow citizens, an odd assortment of miscreants, drunkards, layabouts. Most alarming of all, she’s given the impossible task of leading the supremely untalented children’s soccer team to victory. In this small town of misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs?

    Funny and moving, sweet and inspiring, Britt-Marie Was Here celebrates the importance of community and connection in a world that can feel isolating.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateMay 3, 2016
    ISBN9781508216667
    Author

    Fredrik Backman

    Fredrik Backman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, Us Against You, and Anxious People, as well as two novellas and one work of nonfiction. His books are published in more than forty countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter @BackmanLand and on Instagram @Backmansk.

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    Reviews for Britt-Marie Was Here

    4.5/5

    1,566 ratings115 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Originally published in 2014 in Swedish as Britt-Marie var här by Partners in Stories, Stockholm Sweden.My very favorite book of 2014 was Man Called Ove by the same author. I pushed aside every other book on my next-to-read list when given an advanced reading copy of Britt-Marie Was Here.I have to admit that at first glance, I was disappointed. The opening salvos over cutlery and the repetitive assurance from Britt-Marie that she doesn’t judge anyone but… then she is off and running about missing coasters for beverages and to quote her, “incredibly incredibly successful husband, Kent”. It was obvious that Britt-Marie was upset about something but it was getting tough to stay around and decipher her distress.But read on I did, because Backman’s characters are just that…true characters and take some getting used to. As the chapters flowed along, more facts were revealed, more residents of Borg entered her life and the story took shape, I grew to like the book very much. There is sadness, humor, despair, grief, love, sacrifice, and character growth throughout.When it became apparent that soccer was a central element to the story I wasn’t sure how it would all work out. But it does. I repeat Peter Borland’s words. I would like readers to remember them as they first meet Britt-Marie,“What should you know about Britt-Marie? She is difficult, demanding, socially awkward, and set in her ways – but also loyal, honest, brave and carrying a heavy burden in her heart.” All very true.Revealing anything more would ruin your time spent with Britt-Marie. I promise, by the end of the book, you will learn to like and to love her.Recommended reading.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Britt-Marie, whom Backman fans might remember from My Grandmother Sends Her Regards And Apologises, is the most nagging, intolerant woman you've ever met. She judges people by the cleanliness of their homes, the way they arrange their cutlery drawers, by their reserve during emotional times. She is an unhappily married housewife, and has no friends. One day Britt-Marie can't take it anymore. She leaves her cheating husband and goes out to find a job for the first time in forty years. The job takes her out of the city and into the tiny community of Borg, if community is what this collection of empty buildings on a country road could properly be called. Her job is to clean the rec centre, and she does so with vigour and with all the sodium bicarbonate she can find. It is to her great surprise that she accidentally ends up coaching a soccer team. She is also surprised by friendship, and by the attentions of a man, and by love for a young man raising his siblings on his own. Britt-Marie's biggest fear is dying alone and having no one know that she is dead because there is no one to miss her, and her body not being discovered until the neighbours complain about the smell. Britt-Marie, however, is unforgettable, whether you are one of the other characters of the book, or whether you are lucky enough to have read 'Britt-Marie Was Here' as I did. I loved this book, almost as much as I loved A Man Called Ove, and I love Britt-Marie too.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Loved it. Read it because I also loved a previous book by Fredrik Backman: A Man Called Ove. I kept referring to the book as Mrs. Ove because the premise is similar but the stories are quite different. A terrific story about a woman who leaves her husband out of sheer desperation, she has no self-worth, and is a lost soul. Britt-Marie finds a menial job in a "loser" sort of town and finds herself. And the town finds her. They all came to know "Britt-Marie was Here". A middle-aged woman learns who she really is and what she is capable of and her capacity for love.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Fredrik Backman creates such wonderful, flawed, yet unbelievably lovable characters. A Man Called Ove was one of my favorite reads last year, so I was very excited to receive an advanced reader's copy of Britt-Marie (through NetGalley). I'll admit that for the first few chapters, I thought I was reading the same book, albeit with a female protagonist - not that this was a bad thing (see above re: a favorite of 2015) - but this was definitely not the case. Britt-Marie is a 60-something, newly separated woman with a penchant for cleanliness and orderliness. She likes her cutlery in a certain order and uses baking soda as frequently as many people drink water. She has never worked but takes a job running a recreation center for a small village (the fictional Borg). There, she meets a group of children (and adults) that soften her orderly heart and remind her what it is like to feel a passion for something. Once again, Backman's characterization is second-to-none, although this time, the secondary characters feel even more fleshed out, and the writing is, while easy to read, beautiful and illustrative in a way that isn't overbearing or boring. And now I want to move to Borg...

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      3.5 stars

      Solid book all the way through with a great ending.
    • 5/5
      Amazing!! One of those books you don’t want to end. It was funny, sweet, inspiring, heart warming amd beautifully written and narrated.
    • 5/5
      I loved the story, hated Britt-Marie’s final decision, but considering her personality it makes sense, but I was so totally rooting for the other guy.

      Anyway— I’m a sucker for Ferick Backman’s books. They’re always quirky and have fun characters and protagonists that happen to have implied mental issue that brings about anti-social behavior.

      I loved how Britt-Marie slowly became invested in the town, but as I said at the beginning of this “review” I hated her last decision ?.
    • 5/5
      Enjoyable story. Ending was different than expected but actually was better.
    • 5/5
      I loved it. In a time when people are so wrapped up in argument and fear....this book is a nice picture of how it could be again. So touching.
    • 3/5
      I liked the prose in this book as it was quite funny at times and had a poetic quality. I think the narrator did a lovely job as well. It unfortunately kind of meanders in its plot. I also think that while the main character becomes more sympathetic it’s still hard to care about the outcome of their story. Not terrible, just a bit dull.
    • 5/5
      I am on a Backman kick and I just can’t stop it. I loved everything about Britt Marie. This is the first book by Backman that didn’t make me cry my eyes out and it was still heartwarming. Please read this book and when you are done ☑️ Recommend this to a friend.
    • 5/5
      A sweet and lovely story as all Mr Backmans books end up!
    • 5/5
      Backman has heart, and humor and insight offered to readers willing to listen and learn. I am grateful for each book in which he has used his literary talent to encourage humanity toward understanding and acceptance.
    • 5/5
      Cannot go wrong with any of Backman's works. Poignant and hilarious throughout
    • 5/5
      I loved this book so much !! It was such a pleasant surprise . I didn't know anything about the author , I just took a chance and was so glad I did . I highly recommend it !
    • 5/5
      I laughed, I cried and fell completely in love with Brit Marie and the town. Wow!
    • 5/5
      Very simple but heartwarming story. Makes you really fall in love with the characters and empathize with them
    • 5/5
      Again such a heartwarming story. I am so glad to have stumbled on this author!
    • 3/5
      Didn't like this one as much as othe works of the author. But still worth the read.
    • 5/5
      Such a good story. I love this narrator too. Bravo!
    • 5/5
      Super fun book— I love Blackman and his grasp of unique characters
    • 5/5
      A beautiful story about an older woman who is looking to find herself after she leaves her husband. It was great to see Britt-Marie's character change and grow over time. A large part of the story is really about who her new friends become to her, and who she becomes to them. All in all it was just a beautiful story.
    • 5/5
      Another Backman winner . Brit Marie is a true heroine.
    • 5/5
      Britt-Marie was here by Fredrik Backman
      (Scribd)
      Another charming tale by the author, this one about a codependent woman who has to have everything just so in her life. However when her marriage is threatened, she takes a job in a small town and her life completely changed. Very heartwarming story. I’m off to the next book by the author.
    • 5/5
      I love the characters, the soccer, the hope. It was heartwarming and charming.
    • 5/5
      I absolutely loved this book! I loved Britt Marie and Borg! I laughed out loud, I cried I looked into my own soul and at those I have loved. I highly recommend Britt-Marie Was Here!
    • 5/5
      It was an interesting read. Made me laugh, but not as much as The Man Called Ove.
    • 3/5
      I love Backman’s writing and this book is no exception. That being said, I found myself wanting a different ending to the book. It left me feeling a little blah at the end, and defeated.
    • 5/5
      As a big fan of Backman's book, A Man Called Ove, I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read a galley of Britt-Marie Was Here. I thoroughly enjoyed it, finding it well-written and entertaining. The characters were quirky and the story was original. Although it may not have been realistic, it still was a delightful read. My only criticism is the ambiguous ending; I would have liked a definitive conclusion. I think the book could inspire interesting book discussions about love, friendship, community and marriage. I highly recommend it.
    • 4/5
      It took me a bit to get into this book, but I loved it after it got started and I could start to fall in love with Britt Marie. How can you not fall hard for these characters?