Fredrik Backman Books – Your Reading Guide
Wondering where to get started reading Fredrik Backman books? Here’s a quick guide to what each of his novels, short story collections, and nonfiction books are about.
I’ve personally read only a couple of these so far but have been very impressed and will continue to add full reviews as I read more.
Who is Fredrik Backman?
It appears to be difficult to uncover many details about who Fredrik Backman is. Obviously, he’s a bestselling author. It’s easy to discover that he is Swedish, married, and has children. Details outside of this are a little more sparse.
His own website only provides those details and information about his books. His Wikipedia page essentially says the same just providing a couple more details about his books being adapted into movies. Even The New York times, who published this piece on Backman, can only say that his books were not immediately successful and that he kept writing until a publisher finally saw the potential.
So is he some mysterious reclusive author? No, not by design at least. He is just a normal guy who writes books. Grant him some privacy!
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A Man Called Ove
Backman’s first novel was not an immediate success. Years after he wrote it it finally became a bestseller and has since been adapted into two movies. The US adaptation stars none other than Tom Hanks so clearly it’s now the definition of success.
The book is about a cranky old widower with a secret heart of gold. Yes that sounds cheesy but it’s super heartwarming and will please even the most jaded readers.
full review of A Man Called Ove
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry
Following the theme of eccentric old people and the people who love them this novel explores the relationship between Elsa and her wacky grandmother. When the grandmother dies Elsa is left with letters of apology to everyone the grandmother had wronged.
Elsa explores her grief through those that were affected by her much older best friend. She journeys through the real world as well as her imagination to discover who her grandmother really was and who she herself is becoming.
Britt-Marie Was Here
It would appear that many of Fredrik Backman’s books involve an odd protagonist who is at first off putting but becomes loveable when you get to know them. Britt-Marie is a fastidious and fussy woman who finds herself starting a new life in a very small town after leaving her cheating husband.
Although she doesn’t immediately fit in she finds herself completely entwined with the town’s residents and becomes an important fixture in her own right.
Beartown
Beartown is the first in a trilogy about a small town that values hockey above all else. A tragedy occurs when a high school girl is assaulted by one of the star hockey players. Residents turn against her in favor of winning a championship.
The novel explores the lengths to which people will go to blame a victim, serve their own needs, and become a member of a mob. However, it also shows the strength of family, standing by what you believe in, and doing what’s right even when it’s the hardest thing in the world.
Us Against You
Book 2 of the Beartown series continues following the town after their beloved hockey team is unable to withstand the previous hardships. Now two small towns will be pitted against each other as former hockey stars abandon their hometowns to play for a winning team instead.
It’s a battle of tradition vs modernity with the same themes of the extremism people will go to in order to win.
The Winners
The final book in the trilogy continues with the same themes as it reaches a conclusion for the residents of Beartown. Will they continue to choose hockey and winning over their loved ones and everything that should matter most in life? Who will win and who will lose or will there only be losers in this misguided fight?
How much can a home town actually matter if no one in can tolerate each other?
Anxious People
This Fredrik Backman novel could be described as a high stakes comedy. A bank robber on the run from his most recent crime disrupts an apartment open house and takes 8 strangers hostage. Revelations about all of these characters come to light during this tense situation and the robber is left to decide if he would rather face the police or more time with these anxious people.
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
This shorter novella of 97 pages focuses on another one of Backman’s elderly characters. This old man is losing his memory and his family is both trying to take care of him but also come to terms with this being the end stage of his life.
This kind of story really gets to me, anything to do with dementia or Alzheimer’s. I have to imagine that when I summon the courage to read this book I will definitely cry. Author Backman just has a way with emotions and deep character studies.
The Deal of a Lifetime
Another Backman novella, this time 65 pages, covers another intimate family story. This short book takes place at Christmas and is the classic emotionally traumatic but ultimately life affirming tale that we expect for that time of year.
A man has the chance to help a dying girl but he first must decide what his life has added up to. He explores his memories and hopes for the future with his son who he regrets never being closer to. Yet another book that is sure to tug on your heartstrings.
Things My Son Needs to Know About the World
This is Fredrik Backman’s nonfiction book based on his personal experiences with becoming a father. He provides advice to his son and to other first time parents through both sad and humorous stories and essays. If you enjoy the emotional and intimate aspects of Backman’s writing then you are sure to like this glimpse into who the author is as a person.
I hope you enjoy reading all the books of Fredrik Backman, let me know in the comments which are your favorites!