Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

142 reviews

jhbandcats's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad 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

4.25

A gentle look at an irascible old man (who isn’t really that old) and the sources of his discontent. The book opens with Ove in the depths of despair, alone, nothing to live for, his only desire to end his life. Within just a few pages he’s saddled with meddling, incompetent neighbors *and* their children, and a beat-up tomcat who insists on moving in. 

Ove’s facade cracks as he learns to care for those around him, from taking the clutzy neighbor with broken limbs to the hospital to rescuing a stranger who interrupts his own failed suicide attempt. Over the course of the book, Ove’s heart opens up and he’s able to appreciate his life again. The meddling neighbors and the beat-up tomcat were the best things that could have ever happened to him. 

The irascibility was grating at times but it was tempered by the bittersweet backstory of Ove’s youth. This book has been made into two movies, the excellent Swedish version and the eminently serviceable Hollywood remake. The book, of course, shows far more depth - definitely worth reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Fatphobia, Grief, Miscarriage, Body shaming, Death, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Infertility, Medical content, and Pregnancy

arshiya_amreen90786's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Death, Pregnancy, and Suicide

Moderate: Chronic illness, Outing, Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, and Car accident

Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Dementia, Infertility, and Fire/Fire injury

kirsty_irwin's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

mindlps's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death

Moderate: Pregnancy and Terminal illness

Minor: Homophobia and Drug abuse

cady_sass's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-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

4.25

Not to be dramatic but I would die for Ove 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Self harm, Car accident, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Grief, Medical trauma, Medical content, Miscarriage, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

cassidyzang's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Car accident

Moderate: Terminal illness, Death, Dementia, and Pregnancy

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Bullying, Dementia, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Racism, Domestic abuse, Child death, Cancer, Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, Car accident, and Outing

cinnamonghostie's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Dementia, and Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness

Minor: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

kotashomelibrary's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Death

Minor: Child death, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Outing, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, and Body shaming

nydhoggyr's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Moderate: Terminal illness, Sexism, Homophobia, and Xenophobia