A review by fazazzle
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

challenging dark emotional funny reflective tense 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

3.0

This book is an interesting study of grief and the importance of surrounding yourself with other people. Humans are certainly not solitary creatures, and we all need someone in our corner. 

That being said, I’m not sure that this book says anything remarkably unique about grief or friendship or life that will really stick with me. (Not sure if the translation into English is at fault here, but I truly cannot think of a single stand-out quote). Mostly I’ll remember crying over the characters and the circumstances they find themselves in. If you think you are suppressing any emotions and need a cry, this is the book for you! (Obviously, beware the CWs, this book actually is not for everyone. If I wasn’t already invested in the story, I might not have finished reading it myself). 

I think that Backman’s skill of slowly revealing character backgrounds through flashbacks as the book progresses is really what makes the characters feel so fleshed-out and real. Don’t even talk to me about the Jimmy background reveal - yes, I was crying. 

Anyways, I don’t think I will read this book again anytime soon unless I really need to get the tears flowing for some random reason.

If I had a nickel for every time in the past 6 months I read a book about a person trying and failing to unalive themselves, I’d have TWO nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
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