My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, by Fredrik Backman is a sweet (emotional) coming-of-age story about a seven-year-old girl (Elsa) coming to terms with her grandmother’s passing. Elsa’s grandmother used to tell her all these fantastic stories about a make-believe land. Elsa discovers the letters to people her grandmother left for her when she passes, taking her on a treasure hunt throughout her apartment building. She encounters intriguing neighbors and creatures from her grandmother’s fairytales during the adventure. Several years ago, I purchased this novel at a bookstore in Portland, Oregon from some famous bookstore that all the tourists visit. I did not read it at the time. But I returned to the novel recently. As someone who lost a close family member during the covid pandemic (my maternal aunt, “tata Virginie,” who was like a mother to me), this book reminds me of the transformative role that stories, and creativity, play in grieving and healing.
–Jacqueline-Bethel Tchouta Mougoué Resident Fellow (2022-2023)