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A review by saareman
The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman
3.0
Condo Horror
Review of the Amazon First Reads Kindle eBook edition (November 1, 2024), translated from the original Swedish by [a:Elizabeth DeNoma|22476518|Elizabeth DeNoma|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and released in advance of the official publication by Amazon Original Stories in eBook format & by Audible Originals in audio format (December 1, 2024)
Yes, I know this is supposed to be a comedy short about condo boards and garbage, but it brought back the memory of the time I had dealings with a condominium board. Guess what one of the major ongoing issues was about? Yes, garbage! There were 2 condo boards involved in the complex which shared the garbage and recycling bins. The garbage container was a huge dumpster which resulted in people throwing out furniture in it. For large items you were expected to take them to the dump or recycling yourself. An investigation suspected that maybe residents from nearby homes were also dumping in the containers. Of course there were also the mix-ups of recycling papers with plastics with glass etc. It was a weekly issue with emails documenting the week's escapades and threatening increased fees etc. if the situation didn't improve. The idea of video monitoring came up as well. A nightmare...
Anyway, if you haven't had similar experiences with condominium boards and issues with neighbours and garbage, this short might be pretty funny and cute. But otherwise be prepared to relive your horror.
Trivia and Links
Curiously, although presumably written in Swedish by the author, his note on Instagram (see link above) says that the official publication will only be in English and German. For the German edition see Die Antwort lautet NEIN.
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here (link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
Review of the Amazon First Reads Kindle eBook edition (November 1, 2024), translated from the original Swedish by [a:Elizabeth DeNoma|22476518|Elizabeth DeNoma|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and released in advance of the official publication by Amazon Original Stories in eBook format & by Audible Originals in audio format (December 1, 2024)
So, here's the thing: My next novel (called "[b:My Friends|217163697|My Friends|Fredrik Backman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1725199336l/217163697._SY75_.jpg|223642719]") is coming out next summer, in all the traditional formats. However, before that, Amazon asked me if i wanted to write a short story. And I quite enjoy writing short stories, so I asked "can it be a little stupid?" And Amazon said "what?" And I said "what?" And they said "wait, what?" And I said "Nothing, I didn't say nothing." - from the author's Instagram.
Yes, I know this is supposed to be a comedy short about condo boards and garbage, but it brought back the memory of the time I had dealings with a condominium board. Guess what one of the major ongoing issues was about? Yes, garbage! There were 2 condo boards involved in the complex which shared the garbage and recycling bins. The garbage container was a huge dumpster which resulted in people throwing out furniture in it. For large items you were expected to take them to the dump or recycling yourself. An investigation suspected that maybe residents from nearby homes were also dumping in the containers. Of course there were also the mix-ups of recycling papers with plastics with glass etc. It was a weekly issue with emails documenting the week's escapades and threatening increased fees etc. if the situation didn't improve. The idea of video monitoring came up as well. A nightmare...
Anyway, if you haven't had similar experiences with condominium boards and issues with neighbours and garbage, this short might be pretty funny and cute. But otherwise be prepared to relive your horror.
They decide to call together all the other neighbors in the building for a vote. This is, of course, a grave mistake. If you want to see normal people turn into power-hungry dictators in five minutes, all you have to do is say the magic words: “We’d love to hear your suggestions!”
Trivia and Links
Curiously, although presumably written in Swedish by the author, his note on Instagram (see link above) says that the official publication will only be in English and German. For the German edition see Die Antwort lautet NEIN.
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here (link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).