Usually I read through a good book in record time, struggling to put it down and wanting to find out what happens next. But My Friends, yet another wonderful book by Fredrik Backman, is slow going. Perhaps because of my misconception that it would be a fast and light read, which it isn't, but probably more so because there's so many swirling and insightful thoughts in it, that I need time to process. I'm not quite two-thirds through the book with more to come, I'm sure, but here are just a few of those ideas.
On what we leave behind.
A humorous take on men (and remember, this is a man writing the book. Backman is incredible in that, in all his books, he is able to write intuitively from so many perspectives.)
On what is art (and for me, why I write this blog - to get the stuff out of my head. Art, that's stretching it; I just, must, get it out of my head so I can stop thinking about it. If, for anyone, that writing turns into art, well, wow!)
Finally, the best idea (so far) from the novel. I love this and have spent time thinking about family and friends and what the "one really good now" would be for each. That moment encapsulates all the nows of all the other memories of that person.
Maybe I've conflated heaven and memories. But then, aren't good memories just that, slices of heaven on earth?
To be sure, they are.
Thoughtful Thinking
