Review: My Friends (by Fredrik Backman)

My Rating: 5 stars

This year has been a chaotic one for me: in addition to being super busy at work, I’ve also had some family issues I had to take care of, plus my own health issues I had to attend to – on top of all that, I’m on the final stretch of my Master’s degree journey, taking several classes all at once so I can finish in time to graduate in September.  With so much going on, my “leisure” reading life has unfortunately taken a hit, resulting in me falling behind on my reading goals. While I have been able to squeeze in a few books here and there, I haven’t been able to read as much as I would like.  With that said however, I hope to be back in full force come September, as I will be done with school and everything else should be sorted out by then.

Now even though I’ve been so busy, that has not stopped me from making time to read the latest novel from one of my all-time favorite authors, Fredrik Backman.  Yes, Backman has another book out (released this month, in fact) called My Friends and it is SPECTACTULAR!  I honestly don’t have words to express how much I love this book (though I guess the fact that I got 4 different versions of this book – including a signed version!!! -- is proof enough?)

As is the case with all of Backman’s novels, this one is absolutely an emotional roller coaster where I found myself laughing hysterically one minute and bawling like a baby the next.  In his signature style, Backman takes us on a poignant, heartfelt journey of 4 teenaged friends who form an unbreakable bond so deep and powerful that it ends up changing the life of a complete stranger 25 years later.  In all of Backman’s novels, the emotional core of the story lies in the characters, all of whom are tremendously flawed, with lives that are messy and oftentimes dysfunctional, yet you can’t help falling in love with them and rooting for them regardless of what happens.  I don’t know how he does it, but with all his characters, Backman is always able to capture the essence of what it means to be human, and portray human relationships in a way that resonates deeply and emotionally.  To me, his characters are always so real and yes, always, always unforgettable!

Those who are familiar with Backman’s style already know that this will be a story that is at once heartwarming yet also heart-wrenching.  In this story, there is sadness and pain, violence and heartbreak, loss and suffering, yet there is also hope and healing, resilience and redemption, humor and warmth, and yes, loads of laughter and love.

If you believe in finding hope even in the face of loss and suffering, if you believe in finding humor in the most unexpected of places, if you believe in the transformative power of art to connect people across generations, but most of all, if you believe in the ability of deep and unwavering friendship to heal wounds and transcend the worst impulses of human behavior, then you need to pick up this book.  Read this one with an open heart, but also have a box of Kleenex by your side because you will definitely need it!

Received ARC from Atria Books via NetGalley.

Review: A Man Called Ove (by Fredrik Backman)

My Rating:  5 stars

I know I'm super late to the party with this book, but hey, better late than never, right? Actually, A Man Called Ove has been on my TBR for years and the paperback copy had been sitting on my bookshelf for just as long. I was originally "intending" to finally read this book last year, as I had read Anxious People (my first exposure to Fredrik Backman's work) the year before and loved it.  But then one of my book clubs decided to read Beartown, so I picked up that one next, and of course, like everyone else who read that book, I fell hard for the characters (and the story) — so much so, in fact, that as soon as I turned the last page, I immediately picked up the sequel Us Against You and flew through that. Then, just when I was experiencing major  Beartown withdrawal, I miraculously scored an advance copy of The Winners (the third and final book in the trilogy) and devoured that 688 page tome in one sitting (and even though I cried through much of that book, I still loved every minute I spent reading it).  After that, I spent the last couple months of the year fighting the urge to re-read the entire trilogy all over again (mostly because I had a boatload of other books that I knew I had to get to). Anyway, I've digressed…so I decided to finally pick up A Man Called Ove because I knew the American movie remake starring Tom Hanks would be out this month and since I MIGHT go watch it (I'm still on the fence technically), I figured now would be as good a time as any to read the book.  Also, in another stroke of perfect timing, I attended the Livestream interview that Fredrik Backman did with the Center for Fiction last week where he talked about Ove as well as the movie adaptation, among other things (the entire interview was absolutely fantastic — I came out of that interview loving Backman even more than I already did, lol).  

So yes, I finally read Ove and it was as amazing as I expected it to be.  From the story to the characters, I loved every aspect of the book, which had me laughing one minute and crying the next minute.  Backman is one of those rare writers who is so adept at striking that perfect balance between sad and serious in his stories (which are my absolutely favorite type of stories to read!).  Just like with his other novels, in A Man Called Ove, Backman explores the many nuances of the human condition that are resonant and relatable — themes such as loneliness, community, society ills, prejudice, grief and loss, parenthood, friendship, etc. — and ties everything together into a masterful story that is heartwarming and poignant, sad and somber, yet also funny and ultimately hopeful, all at the same time.  

Now after having read 5 of Backman's novels (I intend to be a completist and read all of his works at some point), one of the things I've noticed about his writing is that it is always so earnest and full of heart.  After watching his most recent interview, I realize now how much of his own vulnerabilities he both knowingly and unknowingly incorporates into his stories — for example, with the character of Ove, he reflects his own awkwardness in social situations, his difficulty communicating with people, his wife being his main connection to the world and other people, etc.  The way Backman is able to be so "spot on" when writing about the various aspects of the human condition — our feelings, emotions, relationships — it imbues his stories with an honesty and sincerity that makes his works especially accessible and endearing.

It's probably obvious already that Backman is one of my favorite authors — I will pretty much read anything he writes at this point.  With that said, I haven't actually read all of his backlist works yet, but as I mentioned earlier, I very much intend to be a Backman completist, so it's just a matter of time before I get to the rest of his books.  I am absolutely looking forward to it!

Review: The Winners (by Fredrik Backman)

My Rating:  5 stars



A couple days ago, I received a surprise in my email box that made me squeal with delight.  An advance copy of a book that I've been dying to read since January but didn't think I would get the chance to until October, landed unexpectedly in my inbox and my first reaction was to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming (I wasn't). My second reaction (after I stopped screaming of course, lol), was trying to decide whether to forego all upcoming reads that I had lined up (including anything I was currently reading) so I could jump on this one right away — which is exactly what I ended up doing.  The book I'm referring to is Fredrik Backman's The Winners, which is the third (and final) book in the Beartown series.  I read Beartown and its sequel Us Against You for the first time back in January and fell absolutely head over heels in love with the story as well as the characters.  I loved both books and when I heard that the last book in the series would come out in the fall of this year, I was agonizingly counting down the days until I could get my hands on a copy (given this context, it probably makes sense now why I was so delighted to have received an ARC so many months in advance of publication)!  As is usually the case when I pick up one of Backman's novels (not to mention this one being Beartown-related), I knew I would be so absorbed in the story that I wouldn't be able to tear myself away, so I decided to start this on a Saturday, which would give me the entire weekend to read non-stop if it came down to that (a sensible decision, especially when I saw that this book clocks in at nearly 700 pages!).   In the end, I finished this one in a matter of hours, which is nothing short of a miracle for me (though worth every single minute I spent on it). 

The story opens 2 years after the last events in Us Against You where, in addition to being reunited with all the beloved characters from the first 2 books, we are also introduced to a few new ones who, by the end of the book, still managed to find a place in my heart despite their relatively brief appearances.  Going into this third book, I was already expecting it to be an emotionally charged read for me, just like the previous 2 books were, but what I wasn't expecting was the extent of the emotional impact — perhaps because, not long after the story opens, it hits me that this will actually be my last opportunity to spend time with these characters that I had grown to love so much, or perhaps because I already had an idea of the tragedy that would occur at the conclusion of the story (even though the previous 2 books had already dropped hints as to what the fates would be of certain characters and so I had time to brace for impact, it didn't make the moment, when it occurred, any less heart wrenching). Perhaps it was also my mindset going into this, knowing it was going to be the final chapter to a beloved series, it made each moment — whether happy, sad, sweet, upsetting — feel much more pronounced and poignant.  I was actually quite conflicted while reading this because on the one hand, I didn't want to let these characters go, so part of me wanted to read slowly and prolong my time with them, but then on the other hand, I was eager to find out what was going to happen and whether they would be okay in the end.

I am going to keep this review deliberately short, as it is incredibly difficult to talk about any of the plot points that occur without giving away too much of the story (especially if you haven't yet read the previous 2 books in the series).  To be honest, I feel that the blurb describing the book already reveals too much — if you decide to pick this one up, especially if you've already read the first 2 books and are as big a fan of the series as I am, I would recommend not even reading the blurb and going straight into the book itself (I know for me, the mere fact of this being "Beartown #3" was enough for me to dive right in, lol).  And if it so happens that you haven't read the first 2 books yet (I only just read them earlier this year myself, even though both books have been out for quite some time already), definitely read those 2 first before attempting his one, as being able to see all the characters grow and evolve throughout all 3 books makes the reading experience so much more special.  Also, if you do decide to pick this one up, just make sure you have some tissues handy because while the events that happened in this one were a fitting conclusion to the entire series (I loved how Backman brilliantly and masterfully  brought the story arc full circle), it was also sad and bittersweet.  

It's not often that I rate all the books in a series 5 stars, but this one absolutely deserves it!  I'm not much of a re-reader nowadays, as I already don't have a whole lot of time to read in general due to work and family priorities, so I prefer to spend that time chipping away at my ridiculously huge TBR of first time reads, but this is a series that I can totally see myself re-reading at some point, which says a lot about how much I loved the entire series.  

Received ARC from Atria Books via NetGalley.

Review: Us Against You (by Fredrik Backman)

My Rating: 5 stars

I read Beartown for the first time this weekend (I know, I’m late to the party, as usual) and was absolutely blown away by it.  I loved everything about that book — from the writing to the story to the realistically-rendered characters — to the point that I didn’t want it to end.  So of course, I was glad that I already had the sequel, Us Against You, on my shelf ready to pick up. 

I will be honest and say that, in general, I’m not a fan of sequels, especially when it comes to a work (be it a book, movie, or TV series) that I absolutely adored.  This is because, from past experience, many sequels I’ve encountered often end up falling short of the original work, with a few extreme instances where the sequel actually ruined the original for me (this is also a reason why I’m not a fan of retellings either, but I digress…).  This is why, despite how much I LOVED the characters in Beartown and wanted nothing more than to keep remaining in their company for as long as possible, a small part of me was apprehensive going into this sequel. For me, Beartown was too wonderful, magical, and beyond exceptional to the point that I couldn’t help wondering:  will the sequel live up to the original?  Or am I setting myself up to be disappointed?

Well, I shouldn’t have worried because the sequel was absolutely fantastic!!!  Without a doubt, the sequel not only lived up to the original, it actually surpassed it in some aspects (specifically with the characters).  I rated Beartown a solid 5 stars…for Us Against You, let’s just say definitely more than 5 stars if I could!!

The story in this second book picks up pretty much where the first one left off, with the same beloved characters — Benji, Amat, Bobo, Ramona, Sune, Maya, Ana, Kira, etc. — who stole my heart the first time around now embedding themselves permanently into my soul.   In fact, I loved these characters so much and resonated with them so deeply that, once again, I found myself on a roller coaster ride of emotions (from laughter to sadness to anger and everything in between).  I cared about what happened to these characters so much that, when Fredrik Backman wrote in the first few pages of the book that “someone we love” will die by the end of the story, I felt an immediate ache in my heart (and even though, in the end, the person who died wasn’t who I thought it would be, I still couldn’t help bawling like a baby when the scene happened). Even the new characters introduced in the sequel — despite the fact that we didn’t get to spend as much time with them as those from the first book — managed to still find a place in my heart by the end of the story.  

It’s rare for me to be so emotionally invested in a story and it’s characters to this degree, but so far, with each of Backman’s novels that I’ve read, this has been my experience.  No one writes about the human condition as realistically as Backman is able to do in his fiction.  He also has the unique ability to write his characters as real people, human beings who look and feel and experience the way you and I do — flawed creatures who make mistakes, who have good days and bad, who say things we don’t mean and mean things we don’t say, who can be cruel and lash out when we’re scared or hurting, but yet also be compassionate and kind in moments when it’s needed most (I’m just scratching the surface, as there’s no way to relay the wide range of themes and emotions that this story explores).

I actually read this book all in one sitting, which is definitely a first for me (especially considering this book is 400+ pages)!  Without a doubt, this was worth every minute of my time and if I didn’t already have a boatload of books that I still need to get to, I would happily re-read both Beartownand this one in a heartbeat.  The third (and last) book in the series is supposed to come out later this year and needless to say, I can’t wait to read it (though I’m praying that the publication date for the English version doesn’t get pushed back because if it does, so help me God, I will find a way to read the Swedish version if I have to!).

Review: Beartown (by Fredrik Backman)

My Rating: 5 stars

Once again, I am rendered speechless by a Fredrik Backman book!  The man definitely has a way of telling a story that is so utterly compelling that, every time I read one of his books, I find it nearly impossible to tear myself away (which is why I'm glad I started this on a weekend so I could spend all day reading if I needed to).  

Before I go further, I need to make a confession: I've never been into sports and under normal circumstances, I probably would not have gravitated toward a book about hockey.  But as nearly everyone who has read and reviewed this book mentioned, this is more than just a novel about hockey (or, more accurately, about a small town in the forest that is obsessed with hockey). In fact, this book blew me away with the wide range of themes it explored, which ran the gamut from parent/child relationships, to identity, belonging, class conflict, society bias, love, friendship, loyalty, the difference between right and wrong, etc.  

Beyond all that though, this is also a richly rendered character study about ordinary people living their lives and struggling with real life issues such as loneliness, abandonment, death, abuse, bullying, financial hardship, circumstances outside our control, etc.  These are characters that we can absolutely relate to because they are flawed and realistic — characters that make us feel the entire spectrum of human emotion and then some.  

Backman is a masterful storyteller with a unique writing style that I absolutely love — a combination of serious and slightly humorous, yet also gut-wrenching and emotional.  I've been told that it's nearly impossible to come away from a Backman novel without feeling something (whether positive, negative, or indifferent) for the characters and I have to say that I absolutely agree!  That was definitely the case with every single character in this story.  In fact, by the end of the book, I was so emotionally invested in these characters that I didn't want to leave them — which is why I intend to pick up the sequel, Us Against You, right after this one so I can stay with the characters longer (and yes, I am eagerly looking forward to the final book in this series, which is scheduled to be published here in the U.S. in September).

Review: Anxious People (by Fredrik Backman)

My Rating: 5 stars

I've been wanting to read a Fredrik Backman book for a while now (I have pretty much all of his previous works on my TBR), but hadn't found the time to do so until recently when I was approved for an ARC of his latest novel Anxious People (which is scheduled for publication next month).  Of course, I had high expectations going into this one given the reputation of the author — well, after I finished reading, my first reaction was:  Wow!  Now I know why Backman is such a beloved author to so many (my second reaction was:  I need to go back and read all his previous books, like asap!).

 

This book was so unlike anything I've read before.  On the one hand, this was a sad story where each character had at least one (in some cases more) issue they were trying to deal with -- issues "serious" enough so as to make their lives seem utterly miserable and hopeless: be it a painful memory from their past that they were trying to suppress, worries over an uncertain future after entering a new stage in life, fear of losing loved ones due to circumstances beyond one's control, feeling helpless in the face of life's many injustices, etc.  There were also some "heavy" topics explored in the story, such as death, suicide, divorce, betrayal, emotional and psychological distress, etc.  But yet, this was not a "heavy" read at all – in fact, truth be told, this was actually one of the funniest books I've ever read!   Yes, I know it sounds odd – after all, how can a story be so sad and heartrending one minute, to the point that I'm tearing up, yet so witty and hilarious the next minute that I found myself laughing until my insides hurt?   Therein lies the brilliance in the way Backman crafted the story – the topics were heavy, yet the light-hearted tone in which this was written didn't diminish the issues in any way...in fact, it did the opposite in that it actually made me pay more attention to the circumstances that caused the characters to be in the predicaments they ended up in. 

 

Speaking of the characters, they were another reason why I loved this book so much.  All the characters were so brilliantly written – every behavior, emotion, quirk, personality flaw, etc was so spot-on!  Also, each character had distinctive personalities, yet their experiences and behaviors were so relatable and resonant on a personal level that with every single character, I actually found something in common either with myself or with someone in my life (in fact, I was nodding my head so often when I came across some familiar trait / habit / circumstance with the characters that I ended up with a neck cramp after I finished reading, lol).  If I had to sum up this book, I would say that, in essence, this is an ingeniously-told, character-driven story that, at its heart, explores the trials and tribulations of what it means to be human. 

 

Another thing I loved about this book was its cleverness in terms of structure.  On the surface, it sounded like a really simple story – so simple in fact that, after the first 10 pages or so, I thought for sure the story was over, as what else was there to tell?  A lot, it turned out!  The "simple" story turned into multiple seemingly unrelated threads, with various tidbits of information added here and there as the story progressed that seemed to alter the narrative slightly -- just when I thought I had things figured out, well, it turns out I had nothing figured out at all!  The way all the variant threads came together so perfectly and flawlessly at the end, I only have FIVE WORDS* to describe my reaction:  Fredrik Backman is a genius! (*inside joke for those who read the book).

 

If this review sounds a bit vague, note that this was done on purpose, as nothing I say (or write) about this book will be able to do it justice.  You need to experience this wonderful book for yourself – and sooner rather than later!   Oh and if you're like me, who usually only skims the Acknowledgements section after finishing the book, you may want to actually read this one, as it was as much fun as reading the book itself!

 

Received ARC from Atria Books via NetGalley.