Reviews

The beginning was so slow, I considered DNFing it.

Ove was a person that cared so much. He got tired of caring so much and just wanted to be reunited with the only person who ever understood the way he cared about things.

It was a heartbreaking story, beautifully told. Ove started as a highly unlikable character, in a way a grumpy old neighbour can be. But then we get to know the grumpy old neighbour, understand that's he's not so grumpy after all, and bring out the best in him.

In a way, it's also a cautionary tale to have more than one person that bring colour to your life! And allow yourself to be the one to bring colour to theirs

whatistasareading's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

sowall's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

Vilken underbar bok. Alltså. Wow.

Jag har sett filmen x antal gånger och har väl tänkt ungefär ”hur kul kan den här vara då?” Superkul. Är svaret.

Jag har gråtit floder. Alltså floder. Jag har skrattat tills jag kiknat. Fy satan vilken härlig bok. Läs den.

emaer2's review against another edition

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4.0

*3.75

lifelikerose's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

thebibutterfly's review against another edition

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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

4.5

lonelyasfranz's review against another edition

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3.0

Surprisingly, I didn't like this nearly as much as I tend to like the author's books. It seemed too well placed together at the end and unrealistic (much unlike his others, as I know them), which undermined the point. To be quite honest, some of the characters verged on the unlikeable at times, which seems normal, but there was something about the manner that put me off in a strange way. Some things were almost excessively drilled in, while some seem to have been completely forgotten. Why did Parvaneh lie about the cat allergies? We never find out, unless I'm missing something subtle. The buyers at the end were very disagreeable with me, and I didn't like it at all. Their presence, nay, existence seemed directly anathema to the characters and idea of the book, what we've been told to believe over the course of 336 pages. Overall, certainly not Backman's finest work. Potentially my least favorite. I suppose it was worth the read, but I would recommend going into it with considerable optimism or saving yourself the trouble and skipping the last twelve pages.
They simply aren't worth it, and very nearly ruined the rest of the book for me.

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