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Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
How Fredrik Backman helped me get over my reading slump, again
In a time where everything has a screen and every screen has a stream, where even your refrigerator might suggest a cooking reel and your watch buzzes with breaking news—how do books stand a chance? We are living in an era where content is currency and attention is collateral. Your car has a dashboard that plays YouTube. Your speaker has an opinion. Even your mirror might soon start narrating the news. Everything is evolving–smarter, sharper, louder. The quiet, deliberate act of reading feels almost… archaic. In this hyper-stimulated ecosystem, where even Marvel is now more movie than comic, it's no surprise that the written word often loses the battle for our attention. Words on paper? They don't auto-play. So, like many of us, I too got sucked into the vortex of videos. One reel turned into twenty. One video essay became four. And just like that, my once-beloved habit of reading quietly slipped through the cracks, swallowed by what we now officially call the brain-rot era. And this, dear reader, is what bibliophiles refer to as: the reading slump. My first real slump lasted over two years. Books gathered dust. Bookmarks remained frozen somewhere between page 8 and page 12, abandoned like half-hearted New Year's resolutions. Then, one idle day in 2019, while aimlessly wandering through a bookstore in a mall—a rare enough act now to almost feel vintage—I stumbled upon a hardcover edition of Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. At first glance, it was the chapter lengths that drew me in. Tiny, digestible, two-to-three page chapters. 'Small accomplishments,' I thought. Back then, I needed any win I could get. Reading ten pages felt like climbing Everest in flip-flops. But Backman's structure made each chapter feel like a checkpoint in a video game—quick, satisfying, and motivating. What I didn't expect, however, was that his writing would do far more than just coax me back into reading. It gripped me, made me laugh, then made me feel things I wasn't ready to feel. A bank robbery. A hostage situation. A deeply absurd cast of characters. All of it absurd on the surface, but within it, so much humanity. So much messy, unfixable, and beautiful humanity. As Backman writes in Anxious People: 'This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots.' It was. Idiots just like us, trying to love, trying to be better, failing most of the time, but trying anyway. Through his prose, Backman didn't just write stories. He created spaces, warm, messy rooms filled with people who could've been your friends or your neighbours. And somehow, through these fictional strangers, I found comfort. The reading slump broke, gloriously. What followed was a reading renaissance. In the years 2020 through 2022, I devoured nearly 60 books. I became that annoying person with Goodreads goals and colour-coded bookmarks. But as they say, what goes up… Life got busy. Or maybe I got lazy. Probably both. I tried dipping my toes back into different genres—sci-fi, romance, literary fiction. And don't get me wrong, many of those genres are the go-to slumpsavers for most readers. The adrenaline of a good thriller. The comfort of a cozy romance. The escapism of well-built fantasy. But for me, nothing clicked. I would start reading, then remember an email I hadn't replied to. Or a Netflix show I had half-finished. Or sometimes, I'd just doomscroll until my thumb ached and my brain was mush. The worst part? I kept buying books, somehow thinking the purchase itself would jolt me into reading. (Spoiler: it didn't.) My 'TBR' shelf became less of a to-do list and more of a guilt museum. Eight months. Not a single book finished. Then came Lucas. A few weeks ago, while I was mindlessly scrolling through Amazon—because that's the most reading I had been doing lately—I stumbled upon a short story by Fredrik Backman I hadn't read before. Titled The Answer Is No, it was just 68 pages long, available only on Kindle and audiobook. The length, again, was my hook. The author was the clincher. I downloaded it immediately. Backman's story introduces us to Lucas, a man who has perfected the art of living alone. Not in a tragic, brooding, tortured-artist way. In a calm, curated, pad-thai-and-wine kind of way. Lucas's evenings are spent exactly how he wants them: with video games, routine, and absolutely no human interaction. He's not hiding from the world—he's just very sure he doesn't want to be part of its chaos. And honestly, I got it. Entirely. In Lucas's resistance to social demands, in his meticulous life of boundaries and avoidance, I saw a version of what many of us have become—content in our curated bubbles, fiercely guarding our 'me time,' replacing human conversations with algorithm-fed content. But of course, life—Backman-style—has other plans. What begins as a mundane event in Lucas's apartment building spirals into a surprisingly sharp, quietly hilarious, and deeply human narrative about community dysfunction, unwanted responsibility, and the emotional pile-up we all try to ignore. Lucas, despite himself, gets dragged into the mess, socially and otherwise. And through a string of wonderfully absurd characters and unexpected moments of connection, he's forced to reckon with something more disorienting than chaos: the possibility of needing other people. Without ever preaching, The Answer Is No gently prods at themes of loneliness, reluctant empathy, and what it means to set boundaries without shutting the world out completely. It's a story laced with Backman's signature warmth, dry wit, and knack for revealing our deepest vulnerabilities through the simplest of setups. And as I reached the final page, I realised something: I hadn't just finished a book, I'd finished it without checking my phone once. That's no small feat in this age of infinite distractions. What is it about Fredrik Backman that gets to me? It's not just that his chapters are short (though that definitely helps). It's that he makes the ordinary feel sacred. He writes about people who feel like your mother, your awkward co-worker, your best friend who moved away, your angry neighbour who just needs a hug. His words aren't flashy. They're honest. And sometimes, that's far harder to write. His stories don't demand your attention, they earn it, gently. Backman is not the kind of writer who yells to keep you reading. He whispers. And you lean in. And while other genres rely on plot, twists, world-building to keep you turning pages, Backman builds emotional gravity. You turn the page not to know what happens next, but because you don't want to leave the character alone in their grief, their joy, their vulnerability. In Anxious People, he writes: 'We need to be allowed to convince ourselves that we're more than the mistakes we made yesterday. That we are all of our next choices, too, all of our tomorrows.' That's what reading his books feel like, hope wrapped in heartbreak, delivered with warmth and wit. I won't lie to you. This might not be my last reading slump. Life happens. Screens will keep glowing. Attention will keep fracturing. But now I know where to go when I need to come back. Sometimes, you don't need a 500-page epic or a bold new genre to get you reading again. Sometimes, all it takes is a Swedish author with an extraordinary understanding of ordinary people. Sometimes, all it takes is a short story and a quiet boy named Lucas. And sometimes, that's enough to remind you that reading isn't just a habit, it's home. So here I am again, back from the void, thanks to Fredrik Backman. And guess what? I am already onto my next book. (As I See It is a space for bookish reflection, part personal essay and part love letter to the written word.)
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Need a book that feels like a hug? 8 comfort reads for when life gets hard.
We all need a little bit of comfort these days. In a fast-paced and interconnected world, many of us are feeling overwhelmed by our phones and social media, climate change and politics. Reading is one way to quiet the noise. Turning to a good book can be an act of self-care and even promote healing – like 'bibliotherapy,' a practice some therapists use to help clients work through issues using literature as the tool. Though what's comforting can look different person to person, here are eight books we recommend turning to when you need to feel a little lighter, a bit better and a hint more hopeful. 'Anxious People' by Fredrik Backman I'd nominate any Backman book for this list, especially 'Anxious People.' Backman has a particular talent for writing about hard topics in a way that still makes you cozy, even telling USA TODAY in May that he aims to make readers 'close the book at the final page and feel like it's OK.' The book starts with a failed bank robber taking a group of strangers hostage in an apartment open house. Though that may sound like a blood-pressure-raising plot, 'Anxious People' is less of a crime caper than it is a big-hearted study of humanity with soulful characters. 'We'll Prescribe You a Cat' by Syou Ishida 'We'll Prescribe You a Cat' falls into the new-yet-already-beloved genre of 'healing fiction' – feel-good stories, often with magical realism elements and usually translated from Japanese or Korean. This 2024 novel follows the mysterious Kokoro Clinic for the Soul in Kyoto, which can only be found by those truly struggling. The medication it offers is unorthodox, but transformative. This hopeful and cozy novel is a tribute to the human-animal bond. 'Howl's Moving Castle' by Diana Wynne Jones It doesn't get much more nostalgic than a good Studio Ghibli film – why not check out the source material behind one of Hayao Miyazaki's greatest? This '80s fantasy classic follows eldest daughter Sophie as she tries to break a spell that's transformed her into an old lady. To return to her true state, she must enter an enchanted mobile castle and win the help of the heartless wizard Howl, who is hiding secrets of his own. 'Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting' by Clare Pooley This charming novel follows an unlikely community formed among a group of commuters. Eclectic magazine columnist Iona is the catalyst, bringing together the strangers after one of them nearly dies choking on a grape on the train. 'Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting' is a sweet story packed with love, family drama, midlife crises and lessons learned from the kindness of strangers. 'All Creatures Great and Small' by James Herriot Nonfiction fans and animal lovers alike should check out the classic memoir series 'All Creatures Great and Small' by James Herriot, the beloved Scottish veterinarian. With both difficult cases and lighthearted ones, 'All Creatures Great and Small' is an inspiring must-add to your comfort reads. 'The House in the Cerulean Sea' by T.J. Klune This blurb from fantasy author V.E. Schwab says it all: 'It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket.' Witty and heart-warming, 'The House in the Cerulean Sea' follows Linus, a case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, who is charged with visiting a remote orphanage to decide just how dangerous its magical occupants are. This fantastical love story is filled with memorable found family characters and will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' by Shelby Van Pelt 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' is about a widow with a profound connection to a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium where she works. There's an element of mystery as well, as Marcellus (the octopus) decides it's up to him to uncover a 30-year-old mystery – the disappearance of Tova's (the widow) teenage son. It's a great book club pick. 'Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches' by Sangu Mandanna This sweet, uplifting fantasy novel follows a lonesome, orphaned witch as she gains an unexpected community teaching young witches how to control their magic. As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon has to hide her magic from the public eye, finding solace in posting videos online where she 'pretends' to be a witch. But when others see through her facade, she gets a shot at real belonging for the first time. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood lands huge new film role alongside Angelina Jolie
WHITE Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood had landed a top film role alongside Hollywood royalty Angelina Jolie. The British actress is set to play a reluctant bank robber — with Oscar-winner Ange, 49, as one of her accidental hostages. 3 Aimee Lou Wood has landed a huge new film role alongside Angelina Jolie Credit: Getty 3 Oscar-winner Angelina will play one of Aimee's accidental hostages Credit: Getty The project — an adaptation of best-selling novel Anxious People — is expected to prove popular among movie executives at this week's Cannes Film Festival in the south of France. Marc Forster, behind the camera for James Bond film Quantum of Solace, is lined up to direct. Anxious People is a 2019 book by the Swedish author Fredrik Backman. It is being adapted by screenwriter David Magee — who worked on box office hits Life of Pi and Finding Neverland. A Swedish telly series was aired on Netflix in 2021 Aimee, 31, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, is one of the country's rising stars thanks to her stand-out role in the latest series of HBO's comedy-drama The White Lotus. She previously won a Bafta for Best Female Comedy Performance in the Netflix series Sex Education.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood lands huge new film role alongside Angelina Jolie
WHITE Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood had landed a top film role alongside Hollywood royalty Angelina Jolie. The British actress is set to play a reluctant bank robber — with Oscar-winner Ange, 49, as one of her accidental hostages. 3 The project — an adaptation of best-selling novel Anxious People — is expected to prove popular among movie executives at this week's Cannes Film Festival in the south of France. Marc Forster, behind the camera for James Bond film Quantum of Solace, is lined up to direct. Anxious People is a 2019 book by the Swedish author Fredrik Backman. It is being adapted by screenwriter David Magee — who worked on box office hits Life of Pi and Finding Neverland. A Swedish telly series was aired on Netflix in 2021 Aimee, 31, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, is one of the country's rising stars thanks to her stand-out role in the latest series of HBO's comedy-drama The White Lotus. She previously won a Bafta for Best Female Comedy Performance in the Netflix series Sex Education. 3
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood lands huge new film role alongside Angelina Jolie
WHITE Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood had landed a top film role alongside Hollywood royalty Angelina Jolie. The British actress is set to play a reluctant bank robber — with Oscar-winner Ange, 49, as one of her accidental hostages. 3 Aimee Lou Wood has landed a huge new film role alongside Angelina Jolie Credit: Getty 3 Oscar-winner Angelina will play one of Aimee's accidental hostages Credit: Getty The project — an adaptation of best-selling novel Anxious People — is expected to prove popular among movie executives at this week's Cannes Film Festival in the south of France . Marc Forster, behind the camera for James Bond film Quantum of Solace, is lined up to direct. Anxious People is a 2019 book by the Swedish author Fredrik Backman. It is being adapted by screenwriter David Magee — who worked on box office hits Life of Pi and Finding Neverland. READ MORE ON AIMEE LOU WOOD A Swedish telly series was aired on Netflix in 2021 Aimee, 31, from Stockport, Greater Manchester , is one of the country's rising stars thanks to her stand-out role in the latest series of HBO's comedy-drama The White Lotus. She previously won a Bafta for Best Female Comedy Performance in the Netflix series Sex Education. 3 Aimee is a rising star thanks to her stand-out role in the latest series of The White Lotus Credit: AP
