Fredrik Backman is absolutely one of my favorite authors, and his new novel, “My Friends” is another masterpiece. This book is about friendship and also about art. It shares how people, who didn’t think they fit in anywhere, found family, love and life together. One of the most touching quotes from the story is “He was good at seeing beauty in everything, that happens if you’re no good at seeing it in yourself.” Backman makes the most simple observation stand out with his beautiful writing style and his honesty. This novel isn’t full of action, but if you love a heartbreaking, heartwarming, meaningful story – please read “My Friends!”
Louisa is an 18 year-old orphan who has lived in multiple foster homes and has just lost her best friend to an overdose. Drawing gives Louisa joy – although she doesn’t think she is ‘good enough’ to share her talent with others. Her favorite painting is ‘The One of the Sea’ by C.Jat and in this novel, Louisa learns the backstory of this valuable painting. She is mesmerized by the stories of the teenagers involved in the painting – the artist, Ted, Joar, Ali and Christian. Each chapter tells more of the story of those teens over a summer twenty-five years before. Every character had flaws, but they felt so real and were described in such detail that I could picture each one in my mind.
I hated when I reached the end of this novel, because I loved the characters and the writing style so much! I was fascinated by the 25-year-old story of the teenagers but I also loved the current story about Louisa. There are SO many wonderful quotable lines I want to remember in “My Friends” – also some surprises, especially toward the end. Thank you to Fredrik Backman for really seeing the feelings and emotions in human hearts!
Leave a Reply