A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

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Book Description

Read the New York Times bestseller that has taken the world by storm!

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 exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. “If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist, starred review).


My Thoughts:

Perhaps it's my Swedish heritage or perhaps it's just that I have a couple of people in my life with Ove's personality, but I really felt I understood this character. A couple of the reviews I read stated that readers thought the story was too unbelievable. Perhaps those readers did not fully understand a man like Ove. This is a story about hardships, integrity, determination, deep love and convictions. It is also a story of compassion and endearment. I laughed and I cried. Although it may not have been my favorite book and it started out rather slow and boring, I am glad I read this. And it is a book I will remember. My only negative comment is that Ove was constantly referred to as an "old" man. Well dang! He was only 59!

My Ratings: