Monday, December 9, 2024

The Answer is No

Title: The Answer is No
Author: Fredrik Backman
Published: December 1, 2024 by Amazon Original Stories
Format: Kindle, 68 Pages
Genre: Short Story
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

First Sentence: It’s a frying pan that ruins Lucas’s life. We’ll get to that.

Blurb: Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

My Opinion: A rollercoaster that had me laughing from page to page. It’s a masterful blend of humor, thoughtfulness, and emotional depth that manages to hit all the right notes.

It all begins with a frying pan—a seemingly ordinary object that sets off an extraordinary chain of events. What follows is a whirlwind of head-shaking moments, perplexing board meetings, and a hilarious "how did I get into this mess" saga. The controversy over Pad Thai with and without peanuts adds an extra layer of absurdity to the mix, making every page a joy to read.

Backman skillfully explores the essence of friendship and the convoluted ways we sometimes try to escape the world for a bit. Amidst all the chaos, there's a tender examination of what it means to have friends and the lengths we go to for them.

The story comes full circle with another frying pan moment, bringing a satisfying and humorous conclusion to a tale filled with ridiculous yet endearing situations. I loved every word and found myself laughing out loud at the absurdity and charm of this short story.

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