deeply sad message from Frederik Backman

LoriLori · ‎03-12-2010

A Swedish woman who speaks English posted this link. She did so amid a discussion on Goodreads of whether Beartown was meant to be a trilogy. I said I never heard that at a reliable source (and I didn't, it's true) and I felt great closure after "Us Against You."

This woman speaks Swedish and English and said yes, he has stated in Swedish it was meant as a trilogy --

-- and then provided a link to this, for now his last, blog post. It's the only post he's ever written in both Swedish and English.

It's long and it's heartbreaking. Those who love his work -- and anyone who suffers from depression and anxiety or loves someone who does -- will want to read it. I feel for him. I fear for him.

http://www.fredrikbackman.com/2018/07/02/something-about-the-anxiety/

Bird mama · ‎03-12-2010

@LoriLori I'm not familiar with this writer. That said, I'm so glad that he had the courage to write everything he did in his blog.

There are times when you must speak, not because you are going to change the opposing side, but because if you do not speak, they have changed you.

Cwoldie · ‎03-09-2010

Thanks for posting this. I’ve forwarded it to my book club members.

CareBears · ‎08-30-2015

@LoriLori Reading this just breaks my heart, but I do know how he feels, and after reading it, I have even more respect for him. I suffer with severe depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and social phobia. How this man does what he does is above being brave, he is an extremely strong person. When you suffer with what he does, just getting out of bed every day is extremely hard, especially when you are under a great amount of stress. He is very lucky that his family and friends support him, my family have dropped me like a hot potato, and want nothing to do with me, even though one of my nieces suffer also, they support her, but they have labeled me a freak and dangerous. I would never hurt another living thing, people judge so harshly without knowing any of the facts and that is what is so painful. That is why I am such an avid reader it helps me escape my reality, and I can enter into other places to submerge myself into happier worlds, where no one is judging you and labeling you. I will pray for Frerdrik Backman but now can understand why his books always touch my heeart as they do, he literally is putting his soul into each book which is a very brave way to write.

QVCkitty1 · ‎05-23-2015

I loved " A Man Called Ove ".

" You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts."
Daniel Patrick Moynihan

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

My gosh, I think he should stop writing books. He seems stressed to the point that he may kill himself. I'm introverted too. When I read these boards or on Facebook about how much some people do, I feel overwhelmed, yet I know they are comfortable being kept so busy.

LoriLori · ‎03-12-2010

@AuntG wrote:
My gosh, I think he should stop writing books. He seems stressed to the point that he may kill himself. I'm introverted too. When I read these boards or on Facebook about how much some people do, I feel overwhelmed, yet I know they are comfortable being kept so busy.

I think you missed the point. It begins with a woman in California telling him to write about the depression. I don't know if you've read any of his books but he's one of the bestselling authors on earth and one of the most beloved. He loves writing. Those of us who have taken the full journey know his stuff has taken a turn toward the dark and that's what happens with artists.

Creatives -- writers, artists, musicians -- have always had high rates of depression. Their art is/was an expression of that. More writers kill themselves than any of the other arts. These include, among many:

Hemingway, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Jerzy Kozinski, David Foster Wallace, Primo Levi, Hunter S. Thompson, the list goes on and on

Here is an enlightening study from the National Institutes of Health, "The Relationship Between Creativity and Mood Disorders":

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181877/

And an article from the NY Times whose headline you can see:

https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/14/books/exploring-the-links-between-depression-writers-and-suicide....

So while I agree that he seems stressed to the point where suicide is undoubtedly a concern, I don't agree he should stop writing books. That's his business and his wife's. She sounds amazing. She always has. If only everyone had that level of unconditional, smart support.

He needs to get well. As simple and as incredibly complicated as that is.

LoriLori · ‎03-12-2010

@CareBears wrote:
@LoriLori Reading this just breaks my heart, but I do know how he feels, and after reading it, I have even more respect for him. I suffer with severe depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and social phobia. How this man does what he does is above being brave, he is an extremely strong person. When you suffer with what he does, just getting out of bed every day is extremely hard, especially when you are under a great amount of stress. He is very lucky that his family and friends support him, my family have dropped me like a hot potato, and want nothing to do with me, even though one of my nieces suffer also, they support her, but they have labeled me a freak and dangerous. I would never hurt another living thing, people judge so harshly without knowing any of the facts and that is what is so painful. That is why I am such an avid reader it helps me escape my reality, and I can enter into other places to submerge myself into happier worlds, where no one is judging you and labeling you. I will pray for Frerdrik Backman but now can understand why his books always touch my heeart as they do, he literally is putting his soul into each book which is a very brave way to write.

@CareBears Heart You are brave to share. I've seen people who claim to be or have been mental health professionals shred people on these forums. But never in Books. Be well. Many people around here care a lot about you. Sometimes it doesn't help to know that, or you can't feel the support even when it's there......Be well. Please. Pouring his soul, I don't think he could write any other way. It's who he is. Be well. Heart

CareBears · ‎08-30-2015

@LoriLori Thanks, i am sick of hiding who I am, I have no reason to be ashamed, Mental illness is a medical ailment same as breaking your leg, or fighting asthma, I am sick and tired of being labeled a freak, I am a human being who feels emotions to the core of my soul, I give too much and I care too much and for that I have been taken advantage of. I have been really focusing on me the last year and I am not taking any more disrespect from anyone, I am me, and I will rise from the ashes if I must, you know how much I love Fredrick Backman he is an amazing author and person, nobody could write as beautifully as he does if he was not a man with a beautiful heart and soul, I am so glad that he shared this part of his life, like I mentioned I respect him even more now that I know what he faces each day, God bless him!

Judaline · ‎03-10-2010

@LoriLori I have no words regarding what he wrote. What a troubled soul. It must have felt good putting it all on paper. I hope he finds peace somehow.

I was wondering if that is a self portrait on your url? It is so beautiful.