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meaganriley12's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
eebluee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Building community and relationships is the key to happiness and meaning, this novel says and proves. The characters create a hopeful and cooperative world, and the "grumpy old man with a heart of gold" persona is written beautifully (and hilariously!) here.
Ove also feel like a character on the autism spectrum, even slightly beyond reality - so big was his willingness to fix/build anything around him (even on vacation). A nice exploration of suicidal ideation, especially following such all-encompassing grief. Great writing style, great translation, will be happy to read more novels by Backman.
Ove's death at the end felt bittersweet, yet it was easy to accept - he did so much for the people around him that his legacy felt cemented no matter what.
(also much better than the movie, read this instead)
Ove also feel like a character on the autism spectrum, even slightly beyond reality - so big was his willingness to fix/build anything around him (even on vacation). A nice exploration of suicidal ideation, especially following such all-encompassing grief. Great writing style, great translation, will be happy to read more novels by Backman.
(also much better than the movie, read this instead)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Suicide attempt
palis's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
"Love" is maybe a weird way to identify this book since it is not a love story, but it contains the most incredible sentences depicting love that I have ever read. Love in a couple, and Love in a community. A book that is about finding meaning to your life when you don't fit in it. And the meaning is found in helping others. It has all the things people who quite can't fit in society or aren't able to communicate with the world will hope to someday find.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Car accident, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cancer and Miscarriage
reminiscences's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Fatphobia, Chronic illness, Homophobia, and Miscarriage
notalek's review against another edition
4.0
This book was quite hard for me to read cause I just kept thinking about my cat, the sort of cat that will give you one look and you'll already know exactly what she thinks about the situation, and I miss her so bad. And, well, the whole suicidal MC thing was a part of it too, but mostly the cat for some reason.
But yeah, Backman is really good at writing about difficult topics and still making you laugh in the meantime. I felt things, a lot of things, and generally had a good time after all I think. The Cat Annoyance is the best character (easy job for a cat) but Ove is really fun as a character too, and so are the others in this book.
I can join the people recommending this book to others, just be aware that there's like. A LOT of descriptions of suicide attempts.
But yeah, Backman is really good at writing about difficult topics and still making you laugh in the meantime. I felt things, a lot of things, and generally had a good time after all I think. The Cat Annoyance is the best character (easy job for a cat) but Ove is really fun as a character too, and so are the others in this book.
I can join the people recommending this book to others, just be aware that there's like. A LOT of descriptions of suicide attempts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
barath_6023's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a lovely read. I couldn't put it down. The language in the book is rather simple too, maybe because of it being a translation. Also, the characters, with a few exceptions, are all so lively and different. Ove goes from a man easy to dislike to a man you'd dislike yourself for disliking him.
Even when not reading, I kept thinking of Ove, and the Oves I might see in everyday life. The lives they've lead, what made them who they are today...it all fits perfectly with the idea of imagining people complexly.
Surprisingly even shed a few tears at the end, that's how you know it's a good book! If you were a fan of Pixar's Up and you want a wholesome book that can show you a variety of feelings, this might be right for you!
Even when not reading, I kept thinking of Ove, and the Oves I might see in everyday life. The lives they've lead, what made them who they are today...it all fits perfectly with the idea of imagining people complexly.
Surprisingly even shed a few tears at the end, that's how you know it's a good book! If you were a fan of Pixar's Up and you want a wholesome book that can show you a variety of feelings, this might be right for you!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Grief
liiiizzzk's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
ragelbagel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Loved that we learned about Ove through both his past and present life, and how real this story felt in terms of the strong community built during the telling of it. A classic-feeling, pretty predictable story, but sweet nonetheless (:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
jennyg1234's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Such a sweet story. I love this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia
froggoz13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The writing style and the story just aren't for me. The story got better in the second half of the book, but the plot and jokes and characters are too repetitive and satirical.
Also why are Jimmy and Mirsad together????
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Car accident
Minor: Homophobia, Violence, Fatphobia, Xenophobia, and Domestic abuse