An almost-8-year-old has only one friend- her grandmother. Grandmother is quirky, but fiercely protective of her granddaughter Elsa. But when Grandmother dies, Elsa is given a huge undertaking to deliver letters to people her grandmother is apologizing to.
Ok, so here's my take on this story. I enjoyed it- and I wasn't in torture trying to read it, but there were elements in the story that I didn't particularly like. For instance, there is a fairy tale that is intermixed within reality, and it got a little confusing. Also, I wasn't sure what the "wurse" is. I may have to go back and reread to make sure that there a reason this animal is called a "worse". And finally, I don't care how special a 7 year old is, I honestly couldn't wrap my head over some of the things Elsa did and said.
However, I did enjoy the premise of the story, as well as the whole relationship between the family, and what truly defines a family. Also, knowing some of the stories of the people in the apartment building is amazing, and helps to empathize with even some of the most irascible characters. I really enjoyed A Man Called Ove, and this book has some of the same quaint qualities as Mr. Backman's previous book.