You have to love Fredrik Backman’s writing. I am a huge fan of “A Man Called Ove” and have read most of his other work. This short, charming book is a love letter to his young son. Backman alternates some very short 1-2 page anecdotes with some longer reflections on parenthood and life. It is all there – from the lack of sleep to all the stuff you think you need to the struggle with getting a car seat installed correctly to changing lots of diapers to the mistakes we all make as parents. This book had me laughing out loud several times. Backman clearly loves his family (both his wife and son) and his stories combine just the right amount of sweetness with humor.
I enjoy reading about a loving father in these days when the bookstore shelves (and the news for that matter) are filled with tragic stories of dysfunctional families. There are regular guys out there, like Backman, who love their family and are trying to do the right thing. Backman does get pretty personal here talking in some detail about his relationship with his wife and being the victim of a crime. You want to hang out with Backman, even better, you want him to adopt you!
Every parent should read this, as you will definitely see yourself in these anecdotes. Even if you don’t have kids, you will see yourself in his description of this generation. This would make a great Father’s Day gift, but you don’t have to wait, rush out and read it now!