Simply put, Backman has produced a work of exceptional storytelling. First, there is a famous painting that shows three friends at the end of a pier, a work of art that illustrates friendship and laughter. And 25 years later, a 17-year-old young woman Louisa learns the backstory during a trip with Ted, one of the friends on the pier. The magic reality of relationships is paramount, especially the reckless exuberance of 4 young 14-15-year-olds. Full disclosure: the unfolding story cannot be read without tears; there is fear and profound sadness with cruelty. But there is also great love, both explicit and unspoken. Backman’s prose is evocative and poignant, so the importance of the translator, Neil Smith, must be acknowledged and celebrated. One of my best reads this year – highly recommended.
Tag: Fredrik Backman
Britt-Marie Was Here – Fredrik Backman
Britt-Amarie is a 63-year-old who leaves her husband to take a temporary job in a small town, in an attempt to (re)gain some self-esteem. She is a somewhat odd character (think of A Man Called Ove, also by Backman), told that she is passive-aggressive and socially incompetent. What kind of impact can she make in a town of fellow misfits? Backman’s insight into human nature is profound, making this such an enjoyable read. Thans Amy, for giving me this book.
The Winners – Fredrik Backman
This fabulous and long (670 pages) book concludes a trilogy: previous books were Beartown and Us Against You. Backman’s writing is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. Two remote forest towns (in Sweden but could be Canada) are intense rivals in hockey and politics. There are two funerals, impending violence and intimidation, and a ferocious summer storm. Backman’s writing is often philosophical: what it means to experience fear, for example. Be warned, the story is very emotional with complicated relationships, especially within families; expect to experience extreme sadness (and tears) when confronting loyalty, friendship and loss.
My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry – Fredrik Backman
Elsa is a precocious almost 8-year-old who is perceived as different and thus bullied at school. Thankfully, she has a very close relationship with her 77-year-old grandmother who tells her mythical stories about the Land-of-Almost-Awake. When Elsa’s grandmother dies, Elsa receives a series of apology letters that she is directed to deliver, and so Elsa learns about her grandmother’s incredible back story. This is a brilliant book about life and death, with inspired comic moments and deeply sentimental sad situations, so both laughs and tears abound.
Anxious People – Fredrik Backman
Backman is a terrific storyteller (Beartown, A Man Called Ove). His new book starts with a failed bank robbery in Sweden which progresses to a hostage situation. What follows is a comic masterpiece with poignant moments. There are laugh-out loud passages, mostly describing idiotic behaviour (not just the hapless bank robber but also by the anxious hostages). There are philosophical chapters with comic insights like “swans can be passive-aggressive bastards”, followed by musings on fear and failure so both humorous and compassionate writing. Highly recommended.
Beartown – Fredrik Backman
Simply put, this is a superb book. The setting is universal, a small forest town in decline, where all the town’s hopes and aspirations are placed on the 17-year old shoulders of the boy’s hockey team. Importantly, the story is so much more than sports competition, the emotions of winning and losing. In fact, winning in hockey is the benchmark for success of the entire town; in essence, the future of the town depends on winning at hockey so the stakes are incredibly high. And then a sexual assault tears the town apart. The book explores with great insight many key relationships: coach and team, teammates pledging unwavering loyalty, husbands and wives and their children. It is unexpected to have a discussion on sorrow and longing but the book is rich in philosophical musings. Backman also uses foreshadowing very effectively. Highly highly recommended.
What David Read 