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anastashamarie'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
🐈 I had a long wait to get this one from the library, but honestly, I'm just going to go buy it (and probably the rest of Backman's bibliography) because this book hit me in a way nothing has since I was a teenager reading John Green.
🏘️ This is an existentialist masterpiece. The writing is so simple yet so impactful. The characterizations of the whole cast are so well-rounded. It's heartbreaking and uplifting and just generally just so human. It's full of love and sorrow and so much hope. One of those stories that I think is going to stick with me forever.
🖍️ Now, if you'll excuse me while I go back to crying my eyes out. We can talk more about it later.
Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Fatphobia, Death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Infertility, and Misogyny
ashteroid'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, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Child death, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Islamophobia, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Racism, and Racial slurs
touchoflilac's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Child death, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
annasbooks00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Grief, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
Minor: Homophobia
sauvageloup'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
3.75
Pros:
- Ove definitely grows on the reader in a fully complete and lovable person. I was worried initially that I was going to completely dislike him in the first chapter, but though he stays totally grumpy, his generosity is enough to make him likable. His character is also helped explained by the flashbacks to his past, which were well handled and enjoyable.
- All the side characters were probably my favourite, with Parvanah, Jimmy, Rune, Anita, etc. They were all really well developed and played perfectly into Ove's narrative. Their emotions and actions made up for his suppressed emotions and passivity.
- Despite Ove being a backwards grump, the book makes it clear that that's no reason for a decent person to be homophobic or racist, or ableist either, even if he doesn't have the words for it.
- It was also satisfying how the narrative looped back round. Partly with Ove accepting the use of the internet to get back at the council bloke, and also him buying an iPad for Parvanah's daughter.
Cons:
- I found the suicidal bits very uncomfortable. Which, like, duh. But I didn't feel like they had as much gravity as they should have. Ove's POV plays everything down, but I never felt like the book validated how awful his suicidal intent was. Parvanah makes a comment once about 'we all know how terrible Ove is at dying!', making it clear she did know he was trying to kill himself and yet she never addressed it.
- I felt like there was some fatphobia against Jimmy. Just the descriptions of him felt off.
- The book's pace was also a little slow. Which isn't really a bad thing, it suits the story and how it was told and Ove's character, but it didn't make me rush to the finish.
Overall, a very well crafted book. But it would probably hit even better with someone who wasn't me.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Grief, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Homophobia, Medical content, Ableism, and Fatphobia
The suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts are frequent through the book and a 'plot point', for want of a better word. Proceed with caution.abookandaspotoftea'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, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
essie__reads'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: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Panic attacks/disorders
madisonfrank'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: 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