The Answer is No

 

Author:  Fredrik Backman

Begun: Dec 16th 2024

Finished: Dec 16th 2024

Type: ebook on Libby

Rating: 8/10

A short, quick read.  Lucas is very happy and has a perfect life until...dun dun duuuunnnn...people.

Linda is my favourite and I wanted to read more about her. 

Absurd, amusing and irritating. 

Quotes I really liked:

"He would rather be hit by a truck than be in your group chat"

"Because happiness for Lucas is very easy, it's everything he already has minus humans."

"It's not that Lucas hates other people.  He just really enjoys being where other people aren't."

"Lucas may not be fond of people, but he very fond of the way they cook pad Thai."

"being someone's neighbour can be utterly challenging, as they might in a worst case scenario want to talk to you."

"Lucas is giving most of his thought to his pad Thai.  He ordered it through an app on his phone, it's been cooked and transported and delivered to his doorstep without him having to talk to a single person, and that's really the peak of how a civilization should work, if you ask Lucas."

"his doorbell rings.  it's the second time in two days, and that's actually something of a trauma.  What's wrong with people?  If one wants to contact other people, surely the civilized thing to do is to send an email?  Or even better: Not contact them at all?"

"Lucas doesn't answer because he is busy imagining the nightmare of strangers ringing your doorbell, wanting to buy your frying pan.  Lucas would rather set his entire apartment on fire."

"The board demands that Lucas come to a meeting and explain himself to all the neighbours.  This, of course, Lucas doesn't do.  Because Lucas is not completely insane.  Instead, he opens a nice bottle of wine and eats some pad Thai with extra peanuts and continues playing his video game.  Like a normal, happy person."

"Then his phone rings, and of course Lucas tries to decline the call, because what normal person answers their phone?"

"I'm...no expert.  But I think most people who want to be happy try to add things to their lives.  But really what maybe they should be doing is taking something away."

"You don't need that much appreciation as a mother...Just a little bit.  You don't need that much validation.  Just...a little."

"People should really just play more video games." Lucas sighs."

"One day you're a happy, whole person, and the next day you're forced into the most horrible thing on earth: making decisions."