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kjm_x's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Ableism, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Cancer, Dementia, and Animal cruelty
rebeccajost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
itsocchiolism's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia, Cancer, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Pregnancy, and Car accident
Minor: Domestic abuse
captainbiscuits's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
bandysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ove is an elderly curmudgeon of a man and also a recent widower. After his wife's death, life has lost all meaning and he is walling himself off from the world around him in preparation for his own death. Things don't progress as smoothly as he'd hoped because his interfering, nosy, well-intentioned neighbors keep showing up with minor emergencies for him to resolve.
The plot concept is simple and not entirely unique. (It certainly reminds me of the movie Up by Pixar which was produced a couple years prior to this book.) That said, Backman leans into that simplicity and just tells a really good, moving story. He doesn't try to make is surprising or twisty. Instead, he builds a relationship between the reader and Ove and the cast of characters that surround him.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see this book touch on topics like ableism, ageism, xenophobia, racism, social services and homophobia. I did not expect this book to take a stance on these topics, but each one is addressed by little plot points throughout the story.
The characterization was one of my favorite parts of the book. Each character from Ove himself to the minorest of supporting characters is vibrant, alive, and realistic. Not only could I imagine the interactions that occur, but I've actually witnessed similar interactions by similar people in my own life.
If you enjoy found family tropes, grumpy old men, and an easy to enjoy style of writing, this is the book for you! Don't be put off by the hype. This one is worth it.
Graphic: Car accident, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
bitterseason's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Cursing, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, and Violence
cianarae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Car accident, Terminal illness, Dementia, Medical trauma, and Miscarriage
Minor: Animal death, Ableism, Alcohol, Cancer, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Ableism, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
gabe7372's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Dementia, Homophobia, and Cancer
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Infertility, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug use
abookandaspotoftea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent