Chapter 34 - Fredrik Backman

I just finished reading The Winners, Backman's latest book in the Beartown series. It has all the components of Backman that I love - a good story, characters that you care about, universal truths, and a satisfactory ending. If you haven't read the Beartown series yet, I highly recommend it but it is necessary to start at the beginning of the series.

Fredrik Backman captured my interest with his first English language book, A Man Called Ove. My understanding is that Tom Hanks will be in the English language version of the film. It will be released on Christmas Day and will be called A Man Called Otto. If your book club has read this, it might be a great field trip for after the holidays. It will be interesting to see how they address Ove's/Otto's backstory.

Fredrik Backman recently went on a limited city book tour for The Winners and apparently he was humorous and self-effacing, characteristics a reader gets from his books and his Facebook posts. He announced this week that he will be doing a podcast about writing Ove, how he structured it, where he got ideas, and perhaps some writing tips. He hasn't given a date yet, but as soon as I find out I'll let you know.

In the meantime, pick up a copy of any of Fredrik Backman's books. His writing is solid, his translator does a wonderful job, his stories are interesting, and his books are worthy of book club discussions. I would be hard pressed to tell you my favorite because I've enjoyed them all. Below is a brief synopsis

of each.

A Man Called Ove - An elderly curmudgeon feels life is not worth living until he gets involved with the foreign family who lives next door.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry - Seven year old Elsa is enchanted every night by her grandmother's fantastical stories. After her grandmother dies Elsa discovers the people in the story really exist.

Britt-Marie Was Here - Britt-Marie, a socially awkward fussbudget, walks out on her cheating husband and starts a new life with new dreams and new hope.

The Beartown Trilogy (Beartown, Us Against You, The Winners) - These books contain all things hockey and all things human as they tell the story of Beartown, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Anxious People - A bank failed bank robber, a real estate open house, and two policemen who just want to do the right thing are the key components of this heartwarming story.

The Deal of a Lifetime - This is a novella about a father's legacy and what he will do to share his gift with his son and others.

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer - Another novella, in this an elderly man’s struggles to hold on to his most precious memories as his family struggles to let him go.

Things My Son Needs To Know About the World - Backman has given us a series of essays, both funny and poignant, about being a father, husband, and man in today's world,

Have you read Fredrik Backman? What did you think?