Reviews

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

loveann1220's review

4.0

This grumpy old man deserves the whole world.

katykelly's review against another edition

5.0

Sometimes you get a feeling from the first page of a book that it's going to be a winner. I am predicting this is the next sleeper European hit, following on from The Hundred Year Old Man...

Everything about this just struck a chord with me. The chapter headings, A Man Called Ove and..., Ove himself, the characters around him, the story, they all meshed beautifully together into a warm and darkly hilarious book about a Swedish Victor Meldrew.

Ove is retired (well, he has been forced from his job). He takes his responsibilities of the residents' committee seriously, insisting on cars not parking where they are not allowed, bikes being kept in sheds. His wife no longer talks to him. He is exasperated by the neighbours who can't reverse a van or fix a radiator, and anyone who drives anything other than a Saab ("he had no intention of placing his foot in an American car, unless his foot and the rest of his body had first been placed in a coffin.") He takes no prisoners - his neighbours are the Pregnant One and the Lanky One.

Yet I warmed to him immediately. And that feeling only grew as Backman showed us Ove's history. And back in the present, just what is going on in Ove's life, and how he also affects that of his community. And how they start to have an effect on him.

I really think to go into any detail would spoil the book for you, if you're reading this. While some of the plot may not feel like anything new, Ove is a beautifully-drawn character who comes to life on the page and really does keep you guessing just how the story you think you've sussed is going to end.

Warm, witty, with a little bite, you'll love Ove. A summer winner, I'm betting on it.

Review of a Netgalley advance copy.

bobwoco's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

3.75

lurker_stalker's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. Love it. Will read it again and again, I'm sure.

yaydonna's review

5.0

I cried so hard during this book. It is amazing I recommend it to everyone. Trigger warning required though it does discuss suicide.

bells_books's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

_alyssab's review

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

miss_chief's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

5.0

bleumingpages's review

4.0

By far the only book I've read that isn't a love story but feels more beautiful and heartwarming than a love story.

puddlecham's review

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

5.0