It's interesting to see a book touted as a #1 NYT Bestseller - one million copies sold. It was okay for me. I hadn't realized going in (I went in blind without reading the blurb or anything about it) that this was "based on a true story" ... as it's labeled as historical fiction I'll have to go with it being loosely based. The epilogue and Author's Notes (in audio, NOT in the text copies) and the Afterward by Gary (Lale and Gita's son) further confuses the lines between fact and fiction. I would have appreciated a detailed listing of what was fact (or at least based on Lale's recollections, and without corroboration, who knows if they are accurately remembered) and what was completely invented by the author.

I'm not sure why Fredrick Backman can get away with 3rd person/Present tense (I love his books), but it's so awkward by most other authors. It feels like I'm reading a stage play ... which IS how this author originally envisioned this? Then it turned into "nature documentary" feel (for me) ... with Richard Armitage's narration, and writing in (when there wasn't dialog) coming from a detached observer it might as well have been David Attenborough telling us about the mating and life and death situations.

I was confused at the "prologue" - then repeated word for word so quickly, just in chapter 3. I  understand it reveals that first moment, when their eyes met ... but for me, the prologue was unnecessary and repetitive. Like an excerpt/blurb attempting to grab a reader's interest. But that belongs on the back of the book, not PART of the book. 

With all historical fiction, I hope to learn something real, even within a fictionalized setting. I do think I picked up a few things. There wasn't really anything in the writing that made me want to stop and highlight, take notes though.

I had this in all three formats - audio, Kindle and text. I went primarily with audio, and was a bit confused as I turned to the text to re-read portions, that there were some Author's notes(interview) and Additional Information (lots of details and what happened afterward to others) that weren't included in the text copies. I'm used to the audio getting the short end of the stick, but here, it had items NOT in print. I can't comprehend that! It's definitely important information that readers should have access to.  

Going into this blind - I thought the author was a man. When the author's note (also told in first person/present tense) was the same narrator. How much more personal it would have been if the author had deigned to voice it herself. Even if she isn't a talented voice actor, it would mean SO much more if she voiced that small portion. 

So overall - I came away from this with more negative feelings than positive ones. 

ProFanity (x13) and some sex (although it was not detailed).