Reviews

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

criminalpancakes's review

Go to review page

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

3.75

evelynsnow10's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love this book. Really. And grumpy men are not grumpy, they just have a different way to look at things. 

daisy23's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Favourite quotes:

"He was a man of black and white. And she was colour. All the colour he had"

"We are always optimists when it comes to time, we think there will be time to do things with other people. And time to say things to them. Time to appeal.”

"People said he was bitter. Maybe they were right. He’d never reflected much on it. People also called him antisocial. Ove assumed this meant he wasn’t overly keen on people. And in this instance he could totally agree with them. More often than not people were out of their minds.”

"Death is a strange thing. People live their whole lives as if it does not exist, and yet it’s often one of the great motivations for living"

tyiennasreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? It's complicated

5.0

skes96's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring 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

confused_cat's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny 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

4.75

Excellent book. Much better than the Hollywood movie adaptation.
I simply love everything about it - the writing, the pace, the dark humor, the characters.
Ove's character seem to be timeless. I imagine there will always be people who are traditionalists, strong, stubborn, loyal to the fault,  and live by their principles. I don't always agree with them and their old school ways but I do admire them.

Answering reading group questions and some reflections:
  • I only drive Toyota - haha. Is there a bit of Ove in my character?
  • Ove was actually grieving for almost for the entirity of the book. Having human (and animal) to care is what got him through. 
  • Honestly, the neighbourhood that Ove lives in is almost similar to the one I grew up in - where every one helps and bothers each other quite a lot. I sort of miss that.
  • Ove and Sonja have opposing communication style. This would make things difficult in real life but it seems that they have enough love hence patience with each other to go thru life challenges.
  • I wonder if there are actually more people like Ove in the world, doing heroic things and refusing to make a fuss. 
  • Technology, relationships, and lifestyles kept on changing. It would be great if we can slow it down. I seriously can't imagine what life would be like say 40 years from here.



Expand filter menu Content Warnings

squeakywindow's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Ove is a man I can truly understand

ssaba's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I've been eyeing this book for some time and I can finally say that I've read it. adorable storytelling. very passionate descriptions of the characters. Shows you how you don't know any one's battles in life and that, you can even befriend your worst enemy.
[b:A Man Called Ove|18774964|A Man Called Ove|Fredrik Backman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405259930l/18774964._SY75_.jpg|21619954]

elwood's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

“His heart is too big”

And mine is shattered.

Fredrik can do no wrong and we must protect him at all costs. Just like Rune. Juste like Ove.

anikastone's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? It's complicated

4.0