A review by lazypanda
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

I went into this book thinking it was a comedy. Reason being the review on the cover that said ‘warm, funny… unbearably moving’. The first chapter was trying to be funny and boy, did I dislike it. Two chapters in and I wanted to learn more about this old man. One thing I missed about books these days are chapter titles. You won’t be missing that here with this book. Every chapter is titled “A man called Over and …”
It was a refreshing read after a very sad one. A warm hug on a cold evening. When you lose meaning to life, this book just might be the one to tell you to carry on. That is an ironic statement, and you will understand why after a few chapters. It is a well written book and funny at times but mostly, nice to watch. It is like a hallmark movie you can say but better somehow.
There is a repeating line, which changes itself every time it appears, that I loved. “Sometimes it’s hard to explain why some men suddenly do the things they do. …” The love story of Ove and Sonja was touching. You wouldn’t think someone like Ove would go above and beyond for love but he does, in his own way.
An excerpt from the book - ‘Loving someone is like moving into a house. At first you fall in love with all the new things, amazed every morning that all this belongs to you… Then over the years the walls become weathered, the wood splinters here and there, and you start to love that house no so much because of all its perfection, but rather its imperfections… These are the little secrets that make it your home.’ 
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