This Swedish author is close to replacing John Irving as my favorite author (of books for adults) – Kate DiCamillo remains my favorite for kids’ novels. As far as I can tell, he’s only been published since 2014 (A MAN CALLED OVE which was adapted into two different movies, one starring Tom Hanks), but he has an incredible understanding of people. And he can create characters that make you wish you knew them in real life. The people always come first for me when reading, before the story, but I rarely read a novel that draws me into the story and the people in that story like Backman does. He’s the type of writer who creates lines so perfect that you have to stop and re-read them several times – usually insights about being human – things we all know, but expressed so well that we have to pause.

I just finished reading MY FRIENDS, but I’ve also read BEAR TOWN, ANXIOUS PEOPLE, MY GRANDMOTHER SENDS HER REGARDS AND APOLOGIES and BRITT MARIE WAS HERE.

The best part is he has several books (some novellas, one non-fiction) I haven’t yet read:

THE DEAL OF A LIFETIME

US AGAINST YOU

THE WINNERS

AND EVERY MORNING THE WAY HOME GETS LONGER AND LONGER

THINGS MY SON NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD.

Happy reading!