As a lover of books, I want to share some of the ones I’ve been moved by, been scared by, learned from, and/or enjoyed. Some grab my attention immediately, others make me nibble a bit before I take the bait, but once captivated, I often find it hard to leave the story at the end.
Fredrik Backman’s book, A Man Called Ove, had an interesting premise but I just wasn’t all too sure it was the type of book I’d care to read so when my book group chose it, I felt ambivalent but obligated to read it. Reluctantly I began to read and more reluctant was I to let go when I closed the book. I wanted to stay in the lives of the people who created the story. Far from characters, these were people I wanted to dislike, like, change and push and pull into the roles I thought they were to play. But this mish-mash of characters who didn’t appear to have anything in common, took on roles that I could not have foreseen. Good they weren’t guided by my hand.
I had to have another Backman fix, so picked up another of his books: Britt Marie Was Here.
Britt Marie is not always the most lovable character, but knowingly or not shares tidbits of wisdom that make me take note. One such tidbit had me grab a pencil (I hadn’t figured out taking pictures of things with my cell phone…maybe because at the time I didn’t have a cell phone) and jot down the insight shared by Britt Marie:
Sometimes it’s easier to go on living, not even knowing who you are, when at least you know precisely where you are while you go on not knowing.
Thanks Britt Marie and Fredrik Backman for reminding me that I can go on living without knowing who I am no matter where I am. Hey? Where is I be?