Anxious People

 I knew right away that Anxious People was going to be a good book when I saw it was written by Fredrik Backman who also wrote A Man Called Ove. The story is set is a small town in Sweden. There must be a river in the town because there is a bridge and the bridge is mentioned many times by most of the characters. The day is the day before New Year's Eve. Eight people are attending a real estate showing of an apartment. Suddenly a person wearing a ski mask over their face and holding a pistol comes into the apartment, essentially taking them hostage although that was not the intention. During the hostage session, the eight people get to know each other quickly. And when the person with the gun mutters, "Worst hostages ever," I agreed completely. During the story the town of Stockholm is mentioned. I guess if you say someone is "from Stockholm" you are implying they are a snob. But also, if you say someone is "from Stockholm" you could be implying the person is gay. This must be a Swedish thing. One of the hostages is unbelievably rude. There is also a bank teller in the story who is also rude but the teller is only 20 years old so I cut her more slack. The bank teller is the one who calls emergency services about the person in the ski mask with the gun. When the emergency person asks a question the teller mimics her and who does that? Who mimics a civil servant during an emergency. This book is very funny in spots but also poignant, sad, and heart warming. I loved reading this book very much.