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ainun_farhan_zahra's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely love this book.I cried while reading it.It is a light read,so beautiful and heartfelt. Definitely reading more books from this author.
galoshes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
I'm not sure just yet whether I want to give this book five stars. On one hand, I can relate to Ove's silent method of showing that he cares. The story gives me hope that actions really do speak louder than words, and shows how observation and action can profoundly affect someone's life. The characters each stand out, their relationships are funny and honest, and the ways in which Ove's plans fail are ridiculous in the best way.
On the other hand, I don't really buy that everyone loves Ove so much when he's so hateful in public. But maybe this is on purpose: this is a fairy tale world where everyone looks past belligerent words and raised voices and getting constantly yelled at and still sees the curmudgeon's big heart.
This is a tsundere trope with all the tropey accessories and assertions that look! This guy is a good guy! Look at the evidence! My face has been smashed into the evidence of Ove's goodheartedness with desperate enthusiasm.
It's at least clear that Backman had a lot of fun writing this.
On the other hand, I don't really buy that everyone loves Ove so much when he's so hateful in public. But maybe this is on purpose: this is a fairy tale world where everyone looks past belligerent words and raised voices and getting constantly yelled at and still sees the curmudgeon's big heart.
This is a tsundere trope with all the tropey accessories and assertions that look! This guy is a good guy! Look at the evidence! My face has been smashed into the evidence of Ove's goodheartedness with desperate enthusiasm.
It's at least clear that Backman had a lot of fun writing this.
cathrynlmiller's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
meaganriley12's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
ptstewart's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes, some people breathe for other people. We find our way through life for other people.
“Ove had never been asked how he lived before he met her, but if anyone had ever asked him, he would have answered that he didn’t.”
Eventually, I realized that Ove had been living not just for Sonja, as he (and I) believed, but for Rune as well, for their friendship and their quarrels. This, I think, is the foundation for why he was constantly involved in everyone else’s lives, too.
Ove’s moral compass is such that he can’t help helping people or fixing things, and his distaste for nearly everything around him is not so much irritating—as such distaste can be in character written more poorly—as humorous. This distaste stems, I would argue, from Ove’s sense of self, sense of right and wrong, his arbitrary list of “shoulds” and “should nots,” which, whether or not you agree with them, make him a three dimensional character you can root for because he is strong in his convictions and never succumbs to qualities he detests, even if you’d want to spit on him if he were your own neighbor in real life.
A Man Called Ove is charming, well written and structured, and full of characters uniquely their own who battle on—formidably—together, a community prepared to support and welcome one another if given only the slightest inch.
“Ove had never been asked how he lived before he met her, but if anyone had ever asked him, he would have answered that he didn’t.”
Eventually, I realized that Ove had been living not just for Sonja, as he (and I) believed, but for Rune as well, for their friendship and their quarrels. This, I think, is the foundation for why he was constantly involved in everyone else’s lives, too.
Ove’s moral compass is such that he can’t help helping people or fixing things, and his distaste for nearly everything around him is not so much irritating—as such distaste can be in character written more poorly—as humorous. This distaste stems, I would argue, from Ove’s sense of self, sense of right and wrong, his arbitrary list of “shoulds” and “should nots,” which, whether or not you agree with them, make him a three dimensional character you can root for because he is strong in his convictions and never succumbs to qualities he detests, even if you’d want to spit on him if he were your own neighbor in real life.
A Man Called Ove is charming, well written and structured, and full of characters uniquely their own who battle on—formidably—together, a community prepared to support and welcome one another if given only the slightest inch.
ellaburgess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
lorbach's review against another edition
5.0
Ahhh this book! I cannot even remotely give it enough stars. I laughed so many times out loud. Fredrik has the wittiest sense of humor. He just so splendidly wove a tale of a man that I wish existed and could be in my life. At the end I wept. And then I was openly sobbing.
This is one of those books that will stay with me forever and that I will NOT be giving to Paperback Swap!!!
This is one of those books that will stay with me forever and that I will NOT be giving to Paperback Swap!!!