What a powerful and moving story. This short novella has all of the heart and emotion of Fredrik Backman’s full length stories. I found myself lost in this beautiful book.

My great grandmother had dementia. My grandmother had dementia. It is a terrible disease. I remember going to see her the last time and her not really knowing who I was. With Alzheimer’s and dementia, they call it “the long goodbye.” It is a very difficult thing to deal with for both those who have it and those they love.

Here is the Goodreads synopisis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here comes an exquisitely moving portrait of an elderly man’s struggle to hold on to his most precious memories, and his family’s efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.

With all the same charm of his bestselling full-length novels, here Fredrik Backman once again reveals his unrivaled understanding of human nature and deep compassion for people in difficult circumstances. This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

The “goodbye” and how to handle it is what drives this powerful story. I listened to the audio book, but want to go buy a physical copy just to highlight some of the content. For example:

“Almost all grown adults walk around full of regret over a good-bye they wish they’d been able to go back and say better.”

“Those who hasten to live are in a hurry to miss,”

“It’s about fear and love, and how they seem to go hand in hand most of the time.”

The relationship between this grandfather and Noah (Noahnoah), his grandson reminds me of my relationship with my grandfather. I didn’t want to lose him.

“Why are you holding my hand so tight, Grandpa?” the boy whispers
again.
“Because all of this is disappearing, Noahnoah. And I want to keep hold
of you longest of all.”

“Noahnoah, promise me something, one very last thing: once your good-bye is perfect, you have to leave me and not look back. Live your life. It’s an awful thing to miss someone who’s still here.”

One of the most amazing exchanges in the book:

“Our teacher made us write a story about what we want to be when we’re big,” Noah tells him.
“What did you write?”
“I wrote that I wanted to concentrate on being little first.”
“That’s a very good answer.”
“Isn’t it? I would rather be old than a grown-up. All grown-ups are angry, it’s just children and old people who laugh.”
“Did you write that?”
“Yes.”
“What did your teacher say?”
“She said I hadn’t understood the task.”
“And what did you say?”
“I said she hadn’t understood my answer.”

The audio book look just over and hour to listen to. I would imagine you could read the novella in just one sitting. It is truly an amazing story. I highly recommend it.