By: Fredrik Backman 

ISBN: 978-1501160769

Publisher: Atria

Publication Date: 4/25/2017

Format:  Hardcover 

My Rating:  5 Stars

This author has a knack for "Best Books To Tug At Your Heart Strings."

Talented storyteller, Fredrick Backman returns following the novella (2016), And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer: (A small book with a BIG message ), with his latest powerful story, BEARTOWN — A Swedish dying hockey town. A town of stories. A town of secrets.

High-expectations. Burdens. Pressures. A town which relies on the sport and its youth to pull them through. Some people have the "bear" in them.

Beartown isn’t close to anything. The town is losing. It has been a very long time since it won at anything. The town slogan, “Beartown Leaves You Wanting More.” The wind, snow, and weather have since wiped out the word “more.”

The ice hockey stands are packed every weekend, even though the team’s achievements have collapsed in line with the town’s economy. A small town with big dreams. A community. Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden to carry, for all concerned.

There are also those from the Hollow. Those less fortunate. How do those from different social classes stack up?

“Hockey is both complicated and not complicated at all. It can be hard to understand the rules, challenging to live with the culture, as good as impossible to get all the people who love it not to pull so hard in different directions that it breaks . . . “

This is why everyone hopes that when the team’s fortune improves, the rest of the town will get pulled up along with it. Their motto has been: "Word hard, take the knocks, don’t complain, keep your mouth shut, and show the bastards in the big cities where they are from."

Once upon a time, Beartown Ice Hockey’s A-team was one step above the juniors and second best in the top division in the country. That was more than two decades and three divisions ago, and now Beartown will go up against the best once again. A win means something for the town’s economy. Survival.

“The sport demands only one thing from you. Your all.“

Maya hates hockey but understands her father (Peter)’s love for it. Peter had made it all the way to Canada and the NHL, matching up against the best in the world. He had come home to take over the team. Peter and his wife, Kira (attorney) have their own grief from the past. Does family mean more than sports, a town, a community's survival?

When the star player on the hockey team, whom everyone looks up to is accused of rape, the town is devastated. The guy on the pedestal. Who would dare take him down?

"It’s only a game. It can only change people’s lives. "

A hidden crime. One that could change lives. There are secrets and lies among friends, family, teens, husbands, and wives.

Backman reaches down into the soul and hearts of his characters and the human psyche. He takes his flawed characters to the dark places and brings hope. They become heroes. As with all his books, readers will find themselves bookmarking many passages, with this bold story of friendship and family bonds; ultimately one of redemption. Rich in character and the true meaning of family.

From loyalty, betrayal, and courage.

Backman's writing is lyrical, poignant, and thought-provoking. Highly emotional and insightful; part coming-of-age and a cautionary tale for both parents and teens; the consequences of carrying other’s dreams on our shoulders.

Have read all his books and highly recommend each one.
A Man Called Ove
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Britt-Marie Was Here
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

Best Novella of 2016

A special thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an early reading copy. (always love his quirky covers). Also purchased the audiobook.

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PRAISE FOR BEARTOWN

“Like Friday Night Lights, this is about more than youth sports; it's part coming-of-age novel, part study of moral failure, and finally a chronicle of groupthink in which an unlikely hero steps forward to save more than one person from self-destruction. A thoroughly empathetic examination of the fragile human spirit, Backman's latest will resonate a long time.”—Kirkus Reviews

 

“Lest readers think hockey is the star here, it’s Backman’s rich characters that steal the show, and his deft handling of tragedy and its effects on an insular town. While the story is dark at times, love, sacrifice, and the bonds of friendship and family shine through ultimately offering hope and even redemption.”—Publishers Weekly

 

“The sentimentally savvy Backman takes a sobering and solemn look at the ways alienation and acceptance, ethics and emotions nearly destroy a small town and young people.”
—Booklist

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Fredrik Backman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here, as well as a novella, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer. His books are being published around the world in more than thirty-five languages.

 

He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children.  Read More 

By: Fredrik Backman 

ISBN: 978-1501115066

Publisher: Atria 

Publication Date: 6/15/2015 

Format: Other

My Rating: 4 Stars 

In MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE’S SORRY, as in his previous novel A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman paints a vivid portrait of the relationship between an older person nearing the end of his or her life, and a young child.

There is much to learn from people at the opposite ends of life. As we also discover in his latest novella, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, with a boy and his grandfather.

All fairy tales take their life from the fact of being different. The power of storytelling!

“Only different people change the world,” Granny used to say. “No one normal has ever changed a crapping thing.”

Granny has always loved treasure hunts. She does not color within the lines; a total disregard for social niceties. Everyone thinks she is crazy. A trouble-maker. Rip-roaring life is an adventure. A superhero for her granddaughter, Elsa. They both are misunderstood.

“Because all seven-year-olds deserve superheroes. And anyone who doesn’t agree needs their head examined.”

Elsa is seven years old. Not quite eight yet. She is smarter than her years, an old soul. She is different. Her Granny is her best friend and teaches her about life through stories. Her only friend. She does not fit in at school. Intuitive, Elsa, loves her Granny. She is eccentric, her protector, and the one who tells her nightly bedtime fairy tales in their small apartment in the Land of Almost-Awake. (Miamas, Miploris, Mimovas, Wolfheart, the Chosen One, the sea-angel, etc.)

“Grow up and be different and don’t let anyone tell you not to be different; because all superheroes are different.”

With an array of misfits, a neighborhood apartment full of colorful eccentric quirky witty characters. We also meet Britt-Marie (we hear more from in) Britt-Marie Was Here.

“Because if a sufficient number of people are different, no one has to be normal.”

Elsa’s parents are divorced and she spends time at both households. Her mom has remarried and currently pregnant. Granny is keeping a secret from Elsa. She has cancer. However, when she dies she is angry and alone, full of emotions. She has left her a treasure hunt.

“Having a grandmother is like having an army. This is a grandchild's ultimate privilege: knowing that someone is on your side, always, whatever the details. Even when you are wrong. Especially then, in fact. A grandmother is both a sword and a shield.”

Now, Elsa is left with the task of delivering her grandmother’s final letters of apology to all other residents of the building—The Monster, a hulking, quiet germaphobe; Alf, a tough-talking, curmudgeonly cabbie; Britt-Marie, the nervous wife of a businessman (Kent), and others—whom she feels she mistreated during her lifetime.

Is there a connection to her granny, her stories, neighbors, and her characters?

Grief, adventure, humor, emotions, and love all collide.Endearing and whimsical fairy tales provide a way to teach children (and adults) some fundamental truths about the world. I listened to the Audiobook and Joan Walker as always, delivers a captivating performance!

Hey, being a boomer, I even enjoy my seven-year-old grandson's company sometimes more than my uptight forty-year-old son. There is a bond, which often skips a generation. Of course, those are the joys of being a grandparent, when life is simpler, and not as structured. We are wise, of course :)

I enjoyed my Fredrik Backman binge read this weekend, making my way through all his endearing and charming stories. This was my last one.

Looking forward to Beartown, coming May 2017 (Atria Books) a poignant, charming novel about a forgotten town fractured by scandal, and the amateur hockey team that might just change everything.

Interview: Author Fredrik Backman talks to Drummond Moir about his book.

Reading Guide

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About the Author 

Fredrik Backman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here, as well as a novella, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer. His books are being published around the world in more than thirty-five languages. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children.  Read More 

New York Times  The Man Behind ‘A Man Called Ove,’ Sweden’s Latest Hit Novel

From the extraordinary author and Swedish storyteller, Fredrik Backman, with his award-winning debut, A Man Called Ove, delivers another zany character, BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE — A heartwarming, witty celebration of second chances, unlikely friendships, and the power of one person to make the world a better place. 

Britt-Marie is age 63. Amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic. Some may say eccentric. She does not like a mess. Her husband Kent said she was aggressive-passive. Known as nag-bag. All she ever wanted was a balcony. She wanted a husband who did not walk on the parquet floors with his golf shoes. If he could only put his shirt in the laundry basket and would say occasionally he liked the food.

She likes an organized cutlery drawer. Clean windows. Newly mopped floors. Her favorite “go to” must have cleaning tool of choice “bicarbonate of soda.” It wipes always all the flaws. Clean and new. Kent said she was “socially incompetent.” They were past their sell by date. She had enough. There were limits. She was leaving.

Britt-Marie likes things clean. An obsession. A need for order. Would be nice to be appreciated. Be noticed. She was critical, hard to please, judgmental, excessively particular about details. Easily disgusted. She is flawed, zany, funny, and possesses a great heart. Her compulsive tendencies are explained by her tragic past and history of being neglected and diminished by those around her.

Leaving her husband, she starts a new. She finds herself in Borg, a tiny, economically depressed “community built along a road.” Most of the town has been shut down, most of the residents have left, and the ragtag bunch remaining includes orphaned children, a criminal, a former star of the local football team (now blind), and the proprietor of the only business in town—who's in a wheelchair, and most likely an alcoholic. Plus her relationship with a rat (hilarious).

As a caretaker, her new job is a perfect fit!. She cleans and cleans. The defunct recreational Center in the fictional European town of Borg. With an array of interesting off-beat characters including two young children—Vega and Omar.

But behind the passive-aggressive, socially awkward misfit, is a woman who has more imagination, bigger dreams, and a warmer heart than anyone around her realizes. Love can be found in the most unexpected of places. A place of belonging.

Equally witty and poignant; Hilarious, insightful and moving, an inspiring story about truth, second chances, and rediscovery. Best of all, another important life lesson.

On a personal note, Britt-Marie is so much like my dad. At age 85, he is still a cleaning machine. Never get in the way of his cleaning. Heaven forbid you should come to the door after the floors have been freshly vacuumed. You will not be allowed to enter. Never interfere with his schedule.

I listened to the audiobook and Joan Walker's performance was amazing! A perfect entertaining Britt-Marie.

Highly recommend Backman’s latest novella, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer The small book with a Big powerful important message and loads of heart! Top Novella of 2016.

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The Man Behind ‘A Man Called Ove,’ Sweden’s Latest Hit Novel

NY Times Oct 29, 2016 

About the Author

A special thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Love this book!!! 5 Stars +++

Fredrik Backman has created a unique brand, with his own genre and collection of quirky humorous characters, with light-hearted, and deeply moving stories. Fans are loving!

It all started with the sensational debut, A MAN CALLED OVE,, now a film, recently released in the US, featured in the latest Oct 2016, New York Times . What an inspiring story! Still on the bestseller list. Thereafter came, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here.

I read the author's latest this weekend, AND EVERY MORNING THE WAY HOME GETS LONGER AND LONGER his first novella and was "Hooked!" My absolute favorite book thus far, and my “Favorite Novella of 2016”: I think this warrants its own hashtag #AEMTWHGLAL.

After reading the novella, had a "binge" Backman weekend, listening to audios of all the books I missed. I tend to start with the latest and work my way backward.

A story about TIME. A short, yet powerful story of fear and love, and how they seem to go hand in hand. Using the time wisely, we have, while we still have it. We know it is priceless, but sometimes we think there will be time to say and do everything we want to say. Sometimes, there is no time.

For anyone who has lost someone dear to them, or is losing someone to an illness, this book is for you! I cannot say enough about this book. A moving portrait of an elderly’s man struggling to hold on to precious memories. A family trying to cope with a way to let go.

Buy multiple copies. Give them away; perfect for gift giving: Christmas, holiday, and those who need uplifting, going through trying times with illness, loss, and their loved ones for guidance and understanding. A perfect size.

As the author mentions in his opening letter to the readers, this book was never meant for us to read. It was the author’s personal way to sort out his own thoughts on paper. But it turned into a small tale of how he is dealing with slowly losing the greatest minds he knows and about missing someone who is still here and how he wanted to explain it to his children. He is letting it go.

We can only extend our deepest gratitude, and sincere "thank you" for sharing this intimate poignant story to your readers.

It is Grandpa, his grandson Noah and his dad Ned. An elderly man with dementia is slowly slipping away. He is hanging on to the memories. A family trying to make sense and come to grips with this tragedy.

The bridge which connects grandson and grandfather. The special bond. By doing so is a way to apologize to the children Their daily sharing on the bench--their love of mathematics and their jokes. He has lost his wife, and he tells Noah about their life together. He does not want to forget. They talk to her. Ned, Noah’s dad sometimes sits on the bench, but he prefers writing and playing the guitar versus math. He is angry about grandpa’s illness.

The elderly man is slowly losing part of his memories. He is struggling to hold on; however, slowly slipping away. The fear of the unknowns. Getting old. Dying. Noah wants to understand. Mathematics always took them where they needed to go, but now this places lacks coordinates; there are no roads out, no maps lead here. Readers hear about his falling in love. She was a wise woman. He has so little time.

“Those who hasten to live are in a hurry to miss, she sometimes used to whisper to Noah, though he didn’t know what she meant before she was buried.

Noah is insightful. “I would rather be old than a grown-up. All grown-ups are angry, it’s just the children and old people who laugh.”

Grandpa: My memories are running away. “I’m constantly reading a book with a missing page, and it’s always the most important one.”

"Like constantly searching for something in your pockets. First, you lose the small things, then it’s the big ones. It starts with keys and ends with people."

“Sometimes I remember that I’ve forgotten. That’s the worst kind of forgetting. Like being locked out in a storm. Death is a slow drum. It counts every beat. We can’t haggle with it for more time.”

Noah: “But one good thing with your brain being sick, is that you’re going to be really good at keeping secrets. That’s a good thing if you’re a grandpa.” If you forget me, then you’ll just get the chance to get to know me again.

As the blurb states, “A small book with a BIG message.” So very true. This is a rare gem, you will treasure!.

On a personal note: As many of you are aware, I lost my mom recently in August after her three -year courageous battle with cancer, and see a lot of my dad (lost without mom), through the eyes/voice of the grandfather portrayed. Even though our loved ones have an illness, death is something no one wants to discuss. Until one day, there is no more time. Time is precious.

With an aunt currently suffering from Alzheimer’s; this powerful small book, will warm your heart and touch your soul. Everyone will recognize someone in their life that may be slipping away. This book can be of great comfort to those in times of turmoil and unrest.

I found myself reading the book, over and over and bookmarking so many pages. Beautifully written. In addition to the book copy, also purchased the audiobook, and David Morse narrator delivered a captivating performance!

Looking forward to Beartown, coming May 2017 (Atria Books) a poignant, charming novel about a forgotten town fractured by scandal, and the amateur hockey team that might just change everything.

JDCMustReadBooks

About the Author

Fredrik Backman has created a unique brand, with his own genre and collection of quirky humorous characters, with light-hearted, and deeply moving stories.

It all started with the sensational debut, A MAN CALLED OVE, (pronounced OO-va), now a film, recently released in the US, featured in the latest Oct 2016, New York Times article . What an inspiring story!

I read the author's latest this weekend, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer his first novella and was hooked! (My favorite Novella of 2016, and my favorite of his books, thus far). I actually have read and reread it several times. It will touch your heart. As usual, I tend to start with the latest release and work my way backward.

Immediately, following the novella, quickly completed a Backman backlist "binge" weekend read; listening to all his books via audio to catch up. Currently reading My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry. Will be catching up with reviews.

Each story is unique, deeply moving, and comes with big important life message. All of Backman’s stories are about real people, in different turning points of their lives, most alone and starting over. However, they find a new way to approach life and look differently at those around them.

Featured in A MAN CALLED OVE, is a grumpy miserable man, age 59. He loves his Saab, and of course, knows nothing about computers or technology. He is very rigid and wants everyone to follow his rules. He does not like change.

His wife, Sonia died earlier and she was the only one who could keep him in line. (A beautiful back story). Life is not worth living without his soul-mate and wants to join her in the afterworld. He misses her. He talks to her constantly.

However, a young couple and their children move in next door, plus all sorts of tragic news, including his oldest friend going to a nursing home.

His suicide plans have to take a back seat while dealing with one conflict after another. He is set in his ways and wants things his way. From turning off his radiators, canceling his newspaper subscription and even went so far as to anchor a hook into the ceiling to hang himself.

But he keeps getting interrupted by his clueless, prying neighbors. He strikes up a friendship with an Iranian immigrant and her two young daughters, who find Ove’s grumpiness endearing. However, underneath this rough exterior, the man is quite generous, with a heart of gold.

If you are in the US, some may see some similarities with (2008) Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” character, Walt. Both leading men; grumpy widowers, retired; very rigid, leading a solitary life, miserable lives. Both wives have recently died. They do not fit in today’s world. They despise their neighbors. They both love their cars (Eastwood, 1972 Gran Torino).

However, in the end, both leading men, develop unlikely friendships, and they take their neighbors under their wing and become the hero in the end. (Of course, A Man Called Ove, lacks all the violence, included in Grand Torino, and the storylines are totally different). However, fun parallels; to see the hardest of men turn soft in a positive, admirable way.

Highly recommend the Swedish blogger’s endearing, charming entire book collection. Can’t wait to see what comes next. (Love the branding, and covers).

Can you believe, this is four years later, “A Man Called Ove” has sold more than 2.8 million copies worldwide, making the book one of Sweden’s most popular literary exports since Stieg Larsson’s thriller “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”

“Ove” became a blockbuster in Sweden, selling more than 840,000 copies. It was adapted into a successful stage production and an award-winning Swedish feature film, which recently opened in the US. In the US, the book landed on the bestseller list for 18 months. After first published and has remained for 42 weeks! Reprinted 40 times and has sold more than a million copies in print.”

This recent post by Writer Ilana sums up Backman’s writing perfectly: The Magic of Fredrik Backman"

“In his writing, Backman demonstrates a sense of positivity in the world, even while describing desperate circumstances. He covers up horror with humor but allows sadness and pain to have their time on the page as well, once his characters have developed enough of a closeness with each other to be able to experience it together. There is a kind of central thesis to his books in this: pain is something to be shared, something that is far harder to deal with alone and that is often pushed down or ignored or dealt with matter-of-factly when one doesn’t have a support network.”

Well said! Atria definitely has discovered an award-winning much loved Scandinavian Star (the US has embraced). What a success!! "He Wins Hearts on the Page and Now on the Screen!" Movie Trailer

Reading Group Guide.
An ideal book club pick.

The narrator, George Newbern (audiobook) delivered a captivating performance.

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