The presentation of the novel "My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry" by the most famous Swedish writer Fredrik Backman took place (photos)

Fredrik Backman is a Swedish contemporary, well-known writer. He studied theology but dropped out and started driving a truck. His books have been translated into about 30 languages and published in more than 40 countries. "A Man Called Ove" is Backman’s first and most famous novel. Two years after its publication in Armenian, Newmag presents another work to Armenian readers: the novel "My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry".

The book was translated from Swedish to Armenian by Ashkhen Bakhchinyan. She considers that Backman generally breaks stereotypes in society and especially in relationships. "If we are accustomed to certain perspectives, his work gradually guides us toward precisely opposite notions.

When encountering unpleasant, prickly, and eccentric characters who initially seem more repulsive, by the end of the book, we unexpectedly find ourselves feeling more positively towards them. We even begin to shatter stereotypes, to the extent that they start influencing our general outlook on life. Whenever we encounter peculiar individuals in our surroundings, through the lens of Backman’s perspective or our own, we develop a wholly different perception."

According to the translator, if she were to describe the book in one word, she would choose the term ambivalent, because it is repeatedly recalled and used by the heroine. The characters embody this quality, and Backman crafts situations to facilitate a deeper understanding of their complexities.

Anna Bakhshyan, the editor of the book, shared her perspectives emphasizing that both the book's characters and the Armenian grandmother-grandchild relationship are very similar to each other. "In general, all grandmothers in the world are probably similar, and it doesn't matter if they are from the Scandinavian countries or another.

In today's world, children often lack parental attention due to various reasons. Therefore, having an eccentric or quirky grandmother with whom you share secrets, a special language, and everything in between is truly wonderful, as the writer aptly describes. In the child's perspective, the grandmother is likened to "both a sword and a shield." With such a grandmother, you can embark on "reconnaissance" in life, symbolizing that having a grandmother enriches every aspect of your life. It's a beautifully poignant tale”.

The book's main partner is "Bookinist." Heghine Medoyan, the commercial director of the company, highlighted that this marks their initial collaboration with Newmag in this format, expressing hope for its continuation. "The selection of the book was made by the Newmag team, and we had complete confidence in Artak, believing that the book would achieve great success. Upon receiving the offer for this book, we were already familiar with Backman's other works and this particular one, albeit not in Armenian, we were optimistic that Armenian readers would embrace it and that it would be successful." 

The speakers guaranteed that this book would evoke strong reactions from readers - whether they like it or not, they won't be able to remain indifferent. "My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry" is now available for purchase on the newmag.am website and in all bookstores.