Fredrik Backman Books

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Fredrik Backman is a Swedish author with a global audience that has also written columns and blog posts. Born in 1981 in Brannkyrka, Sweden, Backman spent his childhood in Helsingborg. Some of the author’s fans have probably seen his work in publications like Moore Magazine and Helsinborgs Dagblad.

His first novel, ‘A Man Called Ove’, came out in 2012. He wrote the second book (Things My Son Needs To Know About The World) with the intention of producing what he has described as an unconventional parenting guide. Backman was so determined to see the book published that he tied the publication of his debut novel to the publication of his second book.

In other words, his publisher could not publish ‘A Man Called Ove’ unless they also agreed to publish his parenting guide. He got his wish. As a child, Fredrik Backman enjoyed writing. But he had no interest in becoming a published author.

He was drawn to the written word because, from his point of view, it was the most effective way to communicate with other people. Whenever he wrote something, Backman appreciated the fact that he had the option of reading through it and making revisions before it showed it to its intended target.

Eventually, the author found that he enjoyed telling stories. Unlike his peers in the publishing industry, Backman doesn’t have a writing routine. He spends a lot of time thinking about his ideas for stories and characters. He doesn’t see the point in making a schedule that forces him to sit at his computer for several hours a day when he doesn’t know what he’s supposed to write.

The absence of a proper routine doesn’t make it quite as challenging for Backman to keep track of his long list of characters as people realize. He always thinks of them as real people rather than imaginary characters.

This is made easier by the fact that his characters are inspired by real people. Though, he often combines the lives and personalities of several people, 20 in some cases, to create individual characters.

As far as Backman is concerned, keeping track of his characters is no different from keeping track of his friends and family. He knows them too well to lose track of their stories and plot threads. The author’s books tackle several heavy subjects.

Backman enjoys writing about ordinary people that have to come to terms with the consequences of their stupid decisions. He has no interest in the lives of the extraordinary. From his point of view, average people are more fascinating,

Backman would never describe writing as a struggle. He loves the activity too much. Backman gets a lot of enjoyment out of writing. If he did not enjoy it, he wouldn’t write. The author admits that some days are more difficult than others. On occasion, he has to force himself to write even when he doesn’t feel like it. But he still wouldn’t call it a struggle.

Fredrik Backman Books Into Movies

‘A Man Called Ove’ became a movie of the same name in 2015. ‘Britt-Marie Was Here’ became a movie of the same name in 2019. ‘Beartown’ became a TV show. Titled ‘Bjornstad’, it was released in North America in 2021.

Best Fredrik Backman Books

The author is an avid traveler. Backman’s best books include:

A Man Called Ove: Ove is the worst neighbor. The old man hates change. He has a short temper and strict principles, and people tend to avoid him. But Ove isn’t quite what he seems. He tends to do a better job of hiding his sadness than other people.

The old man’s structured world is ripped apart when a young couple and their precocious children move in next door. They start off on the wrong foot by destroying his mailbox but Ove has no idea that the first step to an interesting friendship has been taken.

Anxious People: A group of strangers, who met at an apartment open house, are forced to abandon the facades surrounding their lives when a robber takes them all hostage. None of the people in the precarious situation is quite what they seem. They all need help, not just the argumentative couple with a child on the way or the 87-year-old woman with a spine of steel but also the robber with the gun.

When Does The Next Fredrik Backman book come out?

The next book by Fredrik Backman is My Friends and will be released on May, 20th 2025.

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