A Man Called Ove
Summary:
In this bestselling and delightfully quirky debut novel from Sweden, a grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.
Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.” But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?
Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So, when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.
A feel-good story in the spirit of “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” and “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand”, Fredrik Backman’s novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful and charming exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
This is a book that made me laugh as much as it made me cry. There are so many things that Ove presents so very matter-of-fact that does make you wonder why things are simpler in life. The book overall is a bit gloomy, but not in a depressing way. Instead, the tone of the book is set my Ove himself and he tends to be a bit of a cynic.
In book club, we all had trouble articulating just why we loved the book so much and I think it’s because we all identified with different aspects of the characters. Although overall about Ove, the book is also about transitions in life and how people adapt to the challenges they’re presented with. This was one of the few books that had me staying up extremely past my bedtime to finish and I’d highly recommend to anyone.
Warning: Contains violence, references to suicide and will make you cry.
Rating: 5 stars!
Who should read it? Anyone who can appreciate a cranky old man in their life.