A review by svjak
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"This was a world where one became outdated before one's time was up. An entire country standing up and applauding the fact that no one was capable of doing anything properly anymore."

You know Mr. GET OFF MY LAWN? Angry grumpy pants grandpa who doesn't have a care in the world for other people and is only concerned with himself and his own little world?

Yeah, that's Ove. 

Ove- he's the kind of main character that you start the book anticipating how much you're gonna hate him by the end. He's rude, inconsiderate, and unwilling to be lenient or flexible for anyone or any reason. He's like the little old neighbor lady who walks around looking for HOA violations and reports you for every single one of them. 

And at the beginning there's really nothing likable about him at all. Until Fredrik Backman works his magic. 

Backman crafts this character with sarcasm, humor, and a surprisingly emotional backstory that brings light and life to Ove. And suddenly somewhere in the middle you flip a page and realize that you actually do like Ove. And you want him to succeed and be happy again. 

“Ove had never been asked how he lived before he met her. But if anyone had asked him, he would have answered that he didn’t.”

A Man Called Ove is the chronicle of Ove's life from a young boy working with his father to an old man struggling to get along with his neighbors. Backman is an expert storyteller and this book was full of so much emotion and wisdom. 

"We always think there's enough time to do things with other people. Time to say things to them. And then something happens and then we stand there holding on to words like 'if'.”

Backman brought us into the life of an unlikable character and showed us that there is more to a person than just what you see on the surface, even when you think you must be 100% right. And he also shows how life experiences can shape a person and how they react to events happening to and around them. How sometimes reactions are habits and kindness can make a world of a difference. 

I adored this book. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings