
The Deal of a Lifetime–a play on words–is Backman’s most recent novella. I’ve read all of his books, and as quickly as he writes, it’s still not quick enough for me. There’s just something about his tone, his wry humor, his sentimentality without sappiness, that I find incredibly endearing. (His new novel isn’t scheduled to be released until June–far too long to wait.)
I don’t want to say too much about this story because it will spoil the details for you. It is a Christmas story of sorts, and in a sense it has a feeling similar to the classic movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. And it also deals with some of the same big questions: What is a life worth? What are you willing to sacrifice for someone else?
It’s very short, and you’ll undoubtedly read it in a single sitting (perhaps in under an hour), but take your time. It’s puzzling at first, then intriguing, and ultimately touching and satisfying. And the illustrations are wonderful.
I don’t want to say too much about this story because it will spoil the details for you. It is a Christmas story of sorts, and in a sense it has a feeling similar to the classic movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. And it also deals with some of the same big questions: What is a life worth? What are you willing to sacrifice for someone else?
It’s very short, and you’ll undoubtedly read it in a single sitting (perhaps in under an hour), but take your time. It’s puzzling at first, then intriguing, and ultimately touching and satisfying. And the illustrations are wonderful.