Do you think the different reactions to Granny, and opinions of her, are justified? What did you think of Granny? Do you know anyone like her?

Granny is a polarizing figure in My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry, do you think the different reactions to her, and opinions of her, are justified? What did you think of Granny? Do you know anyone like her?

Granny made me laugh out loud. Her cantankerous nature reminded me a tiny bit of the moments of being overly argumentative about the most obscure or random things (even advertisements on television) that my elderly mother had in her final year or two. Of course the different reactions are (mostly) justified. Sometimes people just can not help being frustrated with elderly relatives even though we know (a) we shouldn't be and that (b) we might regret it when that elderly person is no longer around.

They are not only justified, I think it's exactly how she wanted to be seen!

Wondered if the tasks that Granny set for Elsa after her death reminded anyone else of the search by the boy in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer with the key after his father dies on 9/11. Both seemed to me to be vehicles to allow the young people to come to terms with the deaths.

Granny was a straight shooter. That is always going to rub people the wrong way. Her solutions to problems were not always politically correct. We know that telling a kid to use physical violence when bullied does not go well with the current climate. But she truly loved her granddaughter and only wanted the best for her. So the reactions to her are going to be mixed. Yes, I've known people like her. I usually am able to extract the intent from the way she message is expressed and I always value the former over the latter. I So I find people like Granny refreshing.

Yes, the different reactions are justified - in the minds of those who have the reactions. As Backman makes crystal clear, each of the other characters is a distinct, somewhat quirky personality who reacts to Granny based on his/her own history with her. Some are secure in themselves, which enables them to love Granny for who she is. Not many are, though, and are only able to reconcile themselves to Granny and her past behavior once they have read and absorbed Granny's "I'm sorry" letters.

I think people's opinions of anyone differ based on their experience with the person and the individual's own character. Anyone who is a bit conservative would not feel comfortable with some of Granny's actions. She made me smile though. She was really "there" for Elsa as well, which is just what that little girl needed.

I really liked granny, she reminded me a lot of my eccentric grandmother. I guess some who are uptight would not consider her an appropriate role model but she was always there for Elsa and I believe she will be a stronger perso because of Granny's uniqueness.

Of course people have different reactions toward people they meet, and in their minds their opinions are justified until something comes along to change their minds. I found an awfully lot to like in granny; I would loved to have known her. I admired her independence, tenacity, and her deep love for Elsa. She taught her granddaughter how to live in a complicated sometimes unfriendly world. Because of Granny, Elsa was provided the tools to maintain the strength to be different and to succeed.

Granny was an amazing woman. It seems that she did so much but without allowing people to actually know her or what she was doing. Everyone whose life she touched reacted differently. So loved her, or were afraid of her and some were just puzzled by her. I don't think I know anyone like her, but then how can I be sure.

Granny was my favorite part of the book. Her stories and how she understood Elsa made her a very special character. I think the different reactions to Granny is what set her apart and made her relationship to Elsa special. I think the reason she acted the way she did was so she could have something special with her granddaughter that no one else quite understood.

I think anyone like Granny is going to create different reactions from others. I found her a delight and Elsa became such a strong person because of her. The stories she told and the" letters " gave Elsa lots of strength and understanding after she died.

Granny knew what she was doing. To her, her purpose in life was to take care of and protect Elsa and that's exactly what she did. I loved her character and I was fortunate enough to have a blue haired motorcycle riding granny of my own!!