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A review by justinkhchen
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
5.0
5 stars
Sometimes the most touching story is derived from a life simply lived; A Man Called Ove celebrates the mundane and reflects on the nuance of life, death, and love, all through the perspective of a grumpy old Swedish man called Ove.
Suicide plays a huge role in this story (so beware if you're sensitive regarding this specific subject matter), but it's implemented rather cleverly here, as the main driving force fleshing out Ove's backstory, as well as providing momentum moving the story forward. The book's episodic structure (each chapter is essentially a self-contained story) is filled with anecdotes from one's daily routine: Ove meets his new neighbor, Ove tries to buy a computer, etc. Like how Seinfeld is known as 'a show about nothing', the collected minutiae of daily life slows builds into something layered and relatable, you can't help but ultimately feel passionate about its cast of diverse characters—the book leaves you with an ending that is heartwarming, with a hint of melancholy. But that's also life in a nutshell.
A Man Called Ove is an easy recommendation; a charming tale that appears simple at first, but with a universal message and potent lasting power. It will make you contemplate about the experiences that shape someone into who they are, and the unpredictability of this thing we call living.
Also cat, I'm not a cat person, but might have swayed my judgment after reading this.
P.S.: Try the audiobook if you have a chance, the narration is pretty outstanding.
Sometimes the most touching story is derived from a life simply lived; A Man Called Ove celebrates the mundane and reflects on the nuance of life, death, and love, all through the perspective of a grumpy old Swedish man called Ove.
Suicide plays a huge role in this story (so beware if you're sensitive regarding this specific subject matter), but it's implemented rather cleverly here, as the main driving force fleshing out Ove's backstory, as well as providing momentum moving the story forward. The book's episodic structure (each chapter is essentially a self-contained story) is filled with anecdotes from one's daily routine: Ove meets his new neighbor, Ove tries to buy a computer, etc. Like how Seinfeld is known as 'a show about nothing', the collected minutiae of daily life slows builds into something layered and relatable, you can't help but ultimately feel passionate about its cast of diverse characters—the book leaves you with an ending that is heartwarming, with a hint of melancholy. But that's also life in a nutshell.
A Man Called Ove is an easy recommendation; a charming tale that appears simple at first, but with a universal message and potent lasting power. It will make you contemplate about the experiences that shape someone into who they are, and the unpredictability of this thing we call living.
Also cat, I'm not a cat person, but might have swayed my judgment after reading this.
P.S.: Try the audiobook if you have a chance, the narration is pretty outstanding.