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A review by katebb76
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Ove: cantankerous, antagonistic, judgemental, disdainful. These were my initial impressions.
However, Backman quickly and cleverly starts to get you thinking about the real Ove. His regular references to Sonja (his wife), his wandering mind, the evenings on his own. And the hook.
Quite quickly you start to see another side to Ove. A lonely man, contemplating the meaning of his life. A man overcome by grief and, following losing his job, his complete loss of self-worth.
Backman approaches difficult scenarios with sensitivity and gentle humour. Did he get too close to making light of suicidal thoughts and attempts here? Almost, maybe, and I can see that this may be triggering for some. However, for me the storyline works as you understand more and more of his overwhelming grief for his wife and the life that they could have had, especially when this is complemented by his -initially begruding but then flourishing- relationships with others in the community.
There were so many moments in this book that grabbed me by the heart, whether with a giggle and a warm feeling inside or producing tears in my eyes.
Stand-out moments include the chapter where Ove has just been adopted by the cat. The interactions between them -the argument over the newspaper in the car and then the cat's head in Ove's hand at Sonja's grave. The relationship between a cat and its human perfectly captured.
The moment with Parvaneh and the cot, knowing its history, also got me sobbing, and I'm not sure I fully stopped until after I'd finished the whole book and started to process what had happened.
Backman is so clever with his attention to detail. Dropping snippets into the story that he then returns to later so you feel like you're reliving Ove's memories and are really inside his head.
I don't know how Fredrik Backman turns characters who I possibly wouldn't have much to do with in real life (Ove, Benji in Beartown etc) into people that you empathise with and feel so much for. Surely there's no greater message to take from this than you often really don't know someone's backstory and what they are going through that makes them behave in a particular way. Give most people a chance and take time to understand them: you might just be surprised by what's in their heart.
However, Backman quickly and cleverly starts to get you thinking about the real Ove. His regular references to Sonja (his wife), his wandering mind, the evenings on his own. And the hook.
Quite quickly you start to see another side to Ove. A lonely man, contemplating the meaning of his life. A man overcome by grief and, following losing his job, his complete loss of self-worth.
Backman approaches difficult scenarios with sensitivity and gentle humour. Did he get too close to making light of suicidal thoughts and attempts here? Almost, maybe, and I can see that this may be triggering for some. However, for me the storyline works as you understand more and more of his overwhelming grief for his wife and the life that they could have had, especially when this is complemented by his -initially begruding but then flourishing- relationships with others in the community.
There were so many moments in this book that grabbed me by the heart, whether with a giggle and a warm feeling inside or producing tears in my eyes.
The moment with Parvaneh and the cot, knowing its history, also got me sobbing, and I'm not sure I fully stopped until after I'd finished the whole book and started to process what had happened.
Backman is so clever with his attention to detail. Dropping snippets into the story that he then returns to later so you feel like you're reliving Ove's memories and are really inside his head.
I don't know how Fredrik Backman turns characters who I possibly wouldn't have much to do with in real life (Ove, Benji in Beartown etc) into people that you empathise with and feel so much for. Surely there's no greater message to take from this than you often really don't know someone's backstory and what they are going through that makes them behave in a particular way. Give most people a chance and take time to understand them: you might just be surprised by what's in their heart.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Dementia