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asourceoffiction'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's story is as heartbreaking as it is delightful, but the beauty in it just shines through and paints everything in a hopeful light. It seems clear from early on that the universe wants him to stick around for a while, no matter how great the inconvenience. The writing is incredible and gives brilliant insight into Ove's curmudgeonly mind. He sees things in black and white, and his irrefutable logic is as hilarious as it is infuriating. Even the chapter names made me smile.
Ove is also not the only wonderful thing about this book; where Backman shines is how he creates an entire community of stunning characters. Parvaneh, Jimmy, Rune and everyone Ove encounters just enhance everything. I laughed out loud more than once, and cried plenty too. I was so enamoured that I went to see the film a few hours after finishing the book. It's one I know I will revisit, and definitely one I will now be recommending to anyone who hasn't already met a man called Ove.
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Chronic illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pregnancy
egalligan'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
4.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Homophobia, Car accident, Terminal illness, and Fatphobia
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Forced institutionalization
purplepenning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Ableism, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Medical content, Dementia, Death, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Car accident
Minor: Blood, Domestic abuse, Violence, Cursing, and Animal cruelty
abominablesnowaro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Terminal illness, Body shaming, Cancer, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Xenophobia, Medical content, and Bullying
marie_is_reading'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
4.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death
Moderate: Car accident, Grief, Child death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Dementia, Homophobia, Cancer, and Chronic illness
emmah_1845'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
4.5
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, and Infertility
ridern2002'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
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Cancer, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death
chris_reads'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
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Car accident, Chronic illness, Dementia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
fujo_cat'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
3.25
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, Blood, Antisemitism, Animal death, and Violence
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