Latest news with #MyFriends
Winnipeg Free Press
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Depth of perspective
Tomorrow — it's a simple enough word meaning the day after today, at some future time. Unless you're one of a group of young teenagers, saying goodnight to each other as they head home to lives ranging from sadness to violent assault. Then, the word tomorrow is a symbol of hope, an affirmation from each one that they will be there the next day, that they will support each other and fill the day with the friendship, love and trust that they so desperately need. Swedish novelist Fredrik Backman's My Friends alternates between two time periods. The first is the summer before four friends turn 15; it's the last time they enjoy spending sunny days swimming off a pier, and one of them goes on to paint a picture of that idyllic time that makes him a world-famous artist. The second is 25 years later, when a troubled 18-year-old named Louisa comes into possession of the painting, which she has loved for years, and the friendship of one of the four, and embarks on an unusual cross-country trip back to the small town where it all started. Morgan Norman photo Fredrik Backman has a knack for warm-hearted but heartbreaking stories. Louisa fell in love with the painting The One of the Sea — depicting the sky, the pier and three teenagers in the water — when she was six or seven and living in one of her foster homes; she took a postcard version off the fridge door and carried it with her ever after. It means everything to her, 'a sort of happiness so overwhelming it's almost unbearable,' Backman writes. When she learns the painting will be on display at an art auction, she sneaks in to see the real thing and becomes angry at the rich art collectors and their misunderstanding of the painting, 'Because it isn't a painting of the sea. Only a damn adult would think that.' Louisa recognizes it as a painting of laughter, love and hope, the ephemeral qualities that made it and the painter famous. Backman enjoys a few sly digs at the so-called art lovers, such as how the old-money people don't like the new-money people: 'The only things that should be new are sports cars and hip joints.' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. The alternating chapters build on each other as the story unfolds in two sets of real time: the four teenagers' summer and the genesis of the painting, and the recollections of Ted, one of the four, as he recounts the story a quarter-century later under questioning by Louisa. Backman's 2012 debut novel A Man Called Ove spent 42 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and spawned two movie versions. His subsequent books such as Beartown, Us Against You and Anxious People confirm his role as a writer with a knack for tales that are warm-hearted and heartbreaking, with characters you can't help but root for (often against what seem to be insurmountable odds) and for a sly humour (even if it does sometimes include farting). My Friends A powerful storyteller, Backman has done it again, creating a tale of messy life that balances loss and grief with joy and hope, and especially the power of friendship, that tugs at your emotions and, somehow, makes sense despite it all. The tale's many twists and turns are worth the trip; suffice to say the painting is lost, recovered and… well, why spoil it? Chris Smith is a Winnipeg writer.
Los Angeles Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
The week's bestselling books, May 18
1. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (Berkley: $29) Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of an heiress. 2. My Friends by Fredrik Backman (Atria Books: $30) The bond between a group of teens 25 years earlier has a powerful effect on a budding artist. 3. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' 4. My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende (Ballantine Books: $30) A young writer in the late 1800s travels to South America to uncover the truth about her father. 5. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (Riverhead Books: $30) Worlds collide when a teenager vanishes from her Adirondacks summer camp. 6. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (Simon & Schuster: $29) A love triangle unearths dangerous secrets. 7. Audition by Katie Kitamura (Riverhead Books: $28) An accomplished actor grapples with the varied roles she plays in her personal life. 8. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (Flatiron Books: $29) As sea levels rise, a family on a remote island rescues a mysterious woman. 9. Silver Elite by Dani Francis (Del Rey: $33) Psychic gifts can get you killed in the first book of a dystopian romance series. 10. Strangers in Time by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing: $30) Two London teens scarred by World War II find an unexpected ally in a bereaved bookshop owner. … 1. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House: $30) How to stop wasting energy on things you can't control. 2. Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $30) A call to renew a politics of plenty and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life. 3. Life of Your Dreams by Mark Pentecost (Mission Driven Press: $28) The billionaire entrepreneur reveals the seven steps that took him from surviving to thriving. 4. The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad (Random House: $30) A guide to the art of journaling, with contributions from Jon Batiste, Salman Rushdie, Gloria Steinem and others. 5. We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle (The Dial Press: $34) The guidebook for being alive. 6. Notes to John by Joan Didion (Knopf: $32) Diary entries from the famed writer's journal. 7. Joy Prescriptions by Dr. Tiffany Moon (Legacy Lit: $29) The doctor and 'Real Housewives' alum on how to find happiness. 8. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (Pantheon: $27) A meditation on freedom, trust, loss and our relationship with the natural world. 9. Conquering Crisis by Adm. William H. McRaven (Grand Central Publishing: $26) The retired four-star admiral's personal stories illustrate the principles of effective leadership during times of crisis. 10. The Prism by Laura Day (Spiegel & Grau: $32) Seven steps to self-discovery and renewal. … 1. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Ecco: $20) 2. Table for Two by Amor Towles (Penguin Books: $19) 3. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (Berkley: $19) 4. The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl (Random House Trade Paperbacks: $19) 5. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Vintage: $18) 6. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (Grove Press: $22) 7. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (Transit Books: $17) 8. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper Perennial: $22) 9. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Grove Press: $17) 10. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (Anchor: $18) … 1. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Crown: $12) 2. The Wager by David Grann (Vintage: $21) 3. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (Knopf: $36) 4. Sociopath by Patric Gagne (Simon & Schuster: $20) 5. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (TarcherPerigee: $20) 6. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Vintage: $18) 7. All About Love by bell hooks (Morrow: $17) 8. The Last of His Kind by Andy McCullough (Grand Central Publishing: $22) 9. The Best of Me by David Sedaris (Back Bay: $22) 10. The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (Penguin: $19)
Gulf Weekly
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Bittersweet summer tale
Swedish author Fredrik Backman's new novel My Friends has hit the shelves. The tale is set in the summer, when a group of teenagers find refuge away from their difficult home, living in an abandoned pier, where they tell each other stories and joke around. A painting by one of the three friends emerges 25 years later and lands into the hands of 18-year-old Louisa, who embarks on a cross-country journey to learn the story behind it, which also inspires her to unleash her own artistic self. 'It's a little story my brain and I have argued about for a few years, about art and artists, about being young and desperately wanting to create something, anything,' Fredrik said in a social media post. 'It's also about growing up close to violence, outside and inside, and having friends who'd fight the whole universe for you. It's about those who saw greatness in you before you ever could. It's about being 17, and how a painting in a museum can knock you over so completely, it changes the whole trajectory of your life,' he added. The #1 New York Times bestselling author is known for many novels, most famously, A Man Called Ove, which was published in English in 2013, and later adapted into a namesake Swedish comedy drama film in 2015, as well as a 2022 American film titled A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks and his son Truman.
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Bestseller Fredrik Backman says 'My Friends' could be his last book in candid interview
Bestseller Fredrik Backman says 'My Friends' could be his last book in candid interview When I call Fredrik Backman from halfway across the world – he in his Stockholm apartment, me in my New York one – he says something I don't expect. The 'Anxious People' author is soft-spoken, even giving me a preemptive apology in case he needs to argue in Swedish with his barking dog, whose real name is kept secret but whom fans know as "The Donkey.' Backman is notoriously private, especially about his family, averse to the fame that comes with having several international bestsellers, including one that was made into a Tom Hanks movie ("A Man Called Otto"). Interviews and public appearances make him anxious. He expressed as much in a viral video from Simon & Schuster's Centennial last year. 'Maybe this is the last thing I'll ever publish,' he tells me when I ask about his inspiration for his latest novel, 'My Friends,' out now from Simon & Schuster. If that ends up being the case, he says, he wants to say something that leaves a mark and inspires young people. I think about objecting, placating, trying to convince him that the world needs more Backman books, now more than ever. But I stop, because Backman isn't saying this in search of any sort of praise or compliment. He's saying it because it's real – human – which is exactly how his books read anyway. Fredrik Backman struggles with 'the machine of the industry' When he showed the first draft of 'My Friends' to his close circle, the reaction was lukewarm. The story was dark, too dark, his wife told him. It reflected two years of confidence and writing troubles. 'I had a really long period where I thought 'I'm going to retire from writing,'' Backman says. 'But I'm not going to retire from writing. I'm going to retire from publishing books, because I just felt that this is taking a little bit too much out of me. I'm not handling the pressure of it.' I ask him if he still feels that way, now that 'My Friends' has turned into something deeper (and more hopeful) than he originally wrote. He says he grapples with it every day, struggles with being caught in 'the machine of the industry.' Backman isn't the only author who feels this way. After the worldwide success of 'Fourth Wing,' romantasy author Rebecca Yarros told Elle Magazine she was taking a break because writing, publishing and marketing the series 'drove (her) body to a place that was untenable.' Colleen Hoover, the author behind the BookTok bestseller 'It Ends With Us,' had to cancel her book tour because of stress-related health issues. In 2021, Backman inked a four-book deal with Simon & Schuster UK for his English-language books: his Beartown series closer 'The Winners' and three standalone novels, one of which presumably is 'My Friends.' 'I've always struggled with this part of it, the being interviewed, going on tour, being somewhat – in the smallest form of the word – a celebrity,' he says. 'I've always struggled with being a public figure and people having expectations of you and having preconceived notions of you. I've always struggled with that. I am not good with crowds; I'm not good with strangers. I don't give a good first impression to people. I'm comfortable with maybe seven people.' Backman knows he's privileged to write fulltime, telling me about 'proper jobs' he's had operating forklifts for 10-12 hours a day, waking up so sore he couldn't extend his fingers. He's telling me this, he says, not to garner sympathy but because he wants the industry to be careful with how they treat young writers. Writers are highly sensitive by nature. 'You're not supposed to be a balanced, high-functioning individual because that's not what makes you a great writer,' Backman says. 'People expect you to be able to shut that off and say 'Yeah, but now we need you to think about marketing, meeting about marketing, thinking about your brand.' 'It's fine when you put that pressure on someone like me, who is 44 years old and I have kids, and I have a life and I have a good support system around me and I've been doing this for 15 years. But when that pressure starts mounting up on someone in their 20s, I think that's a lot to ask of someone who makes their living off of talking to imaginary friends.' To some degree, intense marketing is a necessary evil under capitalism. Books need to sell to keep publishers and authors afloat, and a good campaign can be the difference between putting food on the table or not. The landscape is also shifting. As social media, namely BookTok, continues to drive sales, there's an increasing push for authors themselves to be a brand, rather than their work alone. We have access to authors' personal lives in a way we never have before. Some authors thrive through marketing, touring, speaking and signing. But not all. 'These people that you're dealing with are very sensitive creatures, and you can break them if you push them too hard,' Backman says. Fredrik Backman wrote 'My Friends' for the young dreamers If 'My Friends' was his last book, Backman tells me, what would he want to say? The story is told in two alternating timelines. The past perspective is about four childhood friends and one transformative summer. Their bond inspires a painting that eventually becomes, decades later, the most famous painting in the world. In the present, a teenager clings tightly to a postcard of the painting. It's her most cherished possession in the world. Then she finds herself in unexpected ownership of the original. Her cross-country journey to learn how the artwork came to be connects surprising roads in her own life and the painting's subjects. If our discussion about publishing is a critique of the capitalistic churn of people as commodities, 'My Friends' says the same thing about art. Backman, whose wife is an art buff, frequents museums with his family. He loathes that art is hidden away and sold as capital. He wants to teach young people that it belongs to them. Young people are a driving force in Backman's work. In 'A Man Called Ove,' a grieving, depressed elderly man finds reason to live after he encounters a young family next door. The heart of 'My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry' is a lovable 7-year-old. Even the books with adult characters show that we're all just big kids on the inside, figuring it out as we go. I ask him if hope is something he wants to share with his readers. That's how I always feel when I close a Backman book. He looks for a different feeling instead. 'At the end of the night (when) you're just exhausted and someone in your life who loves you and cares about you just turns around and looks at you and says, 'You did good. You did good. I can see that you struggled, and I can see that you did your best,'' Backman says. 'That's what I'm looking for in my books, and maybe that's interpreted by some people as hope, and maybe it's redemption and maybe it's something else. But I'm looking for that. I'm looking for you to close the book at the final page and feel like it's OK.' Need a new book?: 15 new releases you can read right now Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
The Country Bookseller is a small-town store with a big-town selection
The Country Bookseller is a small-town store with a big-town selection Independent bookstores are the heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way, and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities. Each week we profile an independent bookstore, sharing what makes each one special and getting their expert and unique book recommendations. This week we have Jeanne Snowdon, owner of The Country Bookseller in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. What's your store's story? The store started in 1994 from one woman's dream and dedication. A teenager she later hired stayed for 22 years and helped elevate the store to what it is today. I will soon be the third owner, making my own dream come true while feeling humbled and aspiring to build on the legacy of the two remarkable women before me. What makes your independent bookstore unique? Our shop has proudly served our community for more than 30 years, earning the affection of both local residents and the many tourists who visit each year. One of the most prosperous years in the store's long history was the year of lockdown during the pandemic, proving the dedication of the town residents in helping it remain a constant even through difficult times. We are a small-town store with a big-town selection. What's your favorite section in your store? The Children's Section is my favorite. It is colorful, has a great selection of books, and lots of natural light streaming in from two large window seats that look out over the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee. What book do you love to recommend to customers and why? I often recommend "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. It is narrated by the figure of death, which sounds gruesome but isn't. The story is about a young girl who discovers the power of words. Her story is beautiful and sad, heartwarming and devastating. It is a story that will stay with you long after you close the book. What book do you think deserves more attention and why? "Raising Hare: A Memoir" by Chloe Dalton. It is the story of one woman's life-changing decision to rescue an orphaned baby hare she encounters in the English countryside while working from home during the pandemic lockdown. She takes us through the challenges she faced while discovering her newfound connection to nature and a passion for advocating for wildlife so they can coexist peacefully with humans. It is beautifully written and I felt as though I accompanied her throughout her journey. What books/series are you most excited about coming out in the next few months and why? Everyone is excited about Fredrik Backman's newest title, "My Friends," which comes out Tuesday. In nonfiction, I am excited about "Is A River Alive?" by nature writer Robert Macfarlane. Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important? Supporting local businesses is more important than ever. You contribute to the strength of your community's economy by choosing to shop locally. Fostering connections with local business owners enhances community spirit and belonging. When the original owner of the bookstore needed to move locations down the road, the town residents showed up in droves, creating a human conveyor belt moving the books hand-to-hand down to the new location. What are some of your store's events, programs, or partnerships coming up that you would like to share? On Memorial Day weekend, we'll have a multi-author book signing. Several other New England authors will be joining us this summer for signing events promoting their new titles. In July, we will be hosting a nationwide 'Find Waldo Local" event co-sponsored by Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association.
