Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

46 reviews

professional_grandma's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• 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 a grumpy old man who reluctantly reflects on his life in this story of nosy neighbors, mangy cats, and finding meaning after loss. I adored the hilarious and elaborate metaphors that filled the narrative as well as the way Ove tried his best to make you dislike him as you began to learn his character. This was such a beautiful book and a definite must read! 

This author was brilliant in slowly revealing information to the reader, like when we found out that Ove’s wife had passed away 6 months ago. It was so darkly humorous how Ove’s attempts at taking his life were constantly undermined by “annoying” neighbors or random incidents. I absolutely love the trope of the grumpy old man with the people that wiggle into his heart. I love the relationships between him and Parvaneh and Patrick’s kids and when they started to call him granddad it put the cherry on top. The end was heartbreaking, but the perfect conclusion as Ove finally joined his wife after finding friends and family and providing for them after death.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Cancer, and Chronic illness

Minor: Grief, Sexism, and Homophobia

zara89's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Miscarriage, and Grief

Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Infertility, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Car accident

verlayne's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Ableism, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, and Grief

danielle_sips_tea's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Dementia, Grief, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Car accident, Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Miscarriage

Minor: Animal cruelty

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• 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

I absolutely adore Backman’s writing. His characters are incredibly well developed and loveable. His stories are always more than meets the eye, which this definitely was. I like to go into his books totally blind and it always improves the experience of reading his books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Child death, Cursing, Cancer, Chronic illness, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, and Suicide

sammiesshelf's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

This book was like a warm hug, except it was sad, but crying is cathartic anyways.

A man called Ove is a grumpy curmudgeon who lost his wife six months ago and doesn't plan on being too far behind her. His several attempts to end his life are continuously foiled by his expanding group of neighbors who are not deterred by his grumpiness.  Parvaneh and Patrick have moved in next door with their two adorable daughters, and they seem to make a habit of ringing Ove's doorbell and disrupting his self-pity party. Patrick is a goofy, lanky IT consultant who seems to almost float through life, and his wife Pravaneh is a fiery, pregnant, Iranian woman who will not take "no" for an answer. 

There are so many things about this book that made it perfect. From Ove's love for Sonja to him punching a clown, to his helping a teenager impress a girl, this was a wonderful story about showing a man that his life is worth living. With every plundered suicide attempt, Ove's determination is weakened and his heart ever so slightly warmed. Parvaneh is probably my favorite character other than Ove because of her passionate, no-nonsense attitude. I love that she forced Ove to drive to a hospital twice, rescue a cat, adopt said cat, and help keep Rune at home. Also, her daughters are two wonderfully developed characters, especially the older one (sorry I cannot remember their names). 

This story brought me to tears several times, both of joy and sadness. Despite Ove's less-than-cheery demeanor, the way he describes and cared for Sonja made me bawl like a baby. The end of this book especially gutted me. Especially

when the girls start calling him Granddad, and him giving them and Jimmy's daughter a trust fund after he died. That made me ugly cry.

I feel like I could immediately reread this right now, it was that good. A new favorite for sure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Terminal illness and Chronic illness

Minor: Miscarriage and Car accident

mmalone's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Dementia, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Bullying, Car accident, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Medical content, and Chronic illness

melplays9000's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• 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

There’s nothing revolutionary about this book. No exciting plot twists or big reveals, and yet the story was everything I wanted it to be going into it. This book contains an amazing executed found family trope and I loved every second of it. Ove as a character was one of my favorites ever, he was very particular and had a strong no bullshit attitude while also being so deeply a good person and helping people despite any initial reluctance he had. I loved him and I loved the other characters who all worked so well together and were perfect for each other the whole way through and came together in the end in a way which was satisfying and incredibly sweet. 

The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the fact that Ove died in the epilogue. Can’t we have a single story with an elderly main character where they don’t die? I admit the scene did have an emotional impact on me but I felt it wasn’t really necessary. 

Overall I found this book very sweet and the overall vibes were very calm and just a pleasant experience. 4.5 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Dementia, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

giannacolo's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The perfect book. Funny, dark, off-kilter, hopefully, sweet, and inspiring. Ove is a mountain of a man, and he manages to worm his way into the hearts of everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Dementia, and Domestic abuse

madisonfrank's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Violence