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quills4days'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, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Dementia, Car accident, Cancer, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Miscarriage
Minor: Domestic abuse and Gun violence
heartofhorrors'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
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Child death, Chronic illness, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Grief, Ableism, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
samcsmith'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: Miscarriage, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Car accident, Medical content, Cancer, Cursing, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Xenophobia, Homophobia, and Animal cruelty
starlitpage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pregnancy, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Car accident, Death, Terminal illness, and Fatphobia
Minor: Child death, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Alcohol
saskia_ej'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: Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Medical content, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Death, Dementia, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
astoriareader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
- Ove is a 59 year old Swedish man, who recently lost his wife. His wife was the love of his life, and they were together for many years.
- Ove has lived in the same house in the same neighborhood for around 40 years. He’s a curmudgeon, and he likes to keep to himself.
- After losing his wife, he has been contemplating suicide. However, his suicide attempt is interrupted by his new, foreign neighbor, Parvaneh.
- “It is the leadin 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.”
- I rarely cry when reading, but I shed tears in the epilogue.
- Backman skillfully juggles comedy and tragedy. He explores a lot of deep themes: community, the impact we have on others, grief, loss, loneliness, aging, healing, love.
- Expert level character development. I enjoyed Ove’s backstory & learning about why he is who he is. I also loved his love story with his wife.
- I felt for Ove throughout the whole story. He feels like your friend, and you get to know him throughout the book.
- So many wonderful side characters throughout the story.
- Satisfying ending.
- Loved Backman’s writing style. Admittedly, this is the first one I have read by him. I am definitely going to look for more by this author.
- I loved the incorporation of the cat into the story, and I thought it was interesting to see how having a pet was clearly healthy & helpful for Ove.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Grief
Moderate: Death and Miscarriage
Minor: Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Fatphobia, and Car accident
alex1'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Miscarriage, Self harm, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Ableism
idk1806'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 and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Miscarriage
pkc'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: Cancer, Dementia, Child death, Car accident, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Outing, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
torismazarine'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, Cursing, Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Cancer, Child death, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug use, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Violence