Britt-Marie Was Here

Britt-Marie Was Here

by Fredrik Backman

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis:  Britt-Marie can't stand mess.  A disorganized cutlery drawer ranks high on her list of unforgivable sins.  She begins her day at 6 a.m. because only lunatics wake up later than that.  And she is not passive-aggressive.  Not in the least  It's just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention.  She is not one to judge others-no matter how ill-mannered, unkempt, or morally suspect they might be.

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

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 is more than a little unprepared.  Employed as the caretaker of a soon-to-be demolished recreation center, the fastidious Britt-Marie has to cope with muddy floors, unruly children, and a (literal) rat for a roommate.  She finds her herself being drawn into the daily doings of her fellow citizens, an odd assortment of miscreants, drunkards, and layabouts-and a handsome local policeman whose romantic attentions to Britt-Marie are as unmistakable as they are unwanted.  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 bighearted misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs?

from the book jacket

Review:  I was hesitant to pick this book up but something drew me to checking it out from the library.  I started reading it and I found Britt-Marie to be very quirky but intriguing.  I started reading and found myself liking her character with all the eccentricities.  Once Britt-Marie got to Borg, I became much less interested in the book as I was really confused by the other characters in the story and the book became way to quirky for my taste.  For someone who appreciate the quirks in people, I'm sure this would be a much better fit for them.

Rating: abandonded