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A review by booksandel
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
emotional
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
I have to be honest, this book jumped up my tbr list because it came highly recommended by a close friend and boy am I glad I chose to read this right now.
Sometimes a book lands in your lap by some miracle at the perfect moment in your life. This was one of those times. I struggle to think of a better moment in my life to handle the intense and almost unbearable discussion of grief and love and living.
Was it perfect? No. The blatant and unnecessary fatphobia in this was irritating to say the least and I had a few other small things that didn't totally work for me (the timeline was too fast and too slow at the same time and this needs to stop being marketed as humorous because it is decidedly NOT funny. At best, it's charming and endearing.) But that does not mean that its emotional impact and true mastery of the craft of writing doesn't merit it five stars. There were moments wherein I was overwhelmed by the beautiful prose in the darkest moments of this book and that precision is a testament to Backman's skill.
Easily takes its place in my top books of the year already and I do not see it being bumped from that list. And Backman is now cemented in my mind as an author whose entire works I cannot wait to devour.
(though I think I can wait because idk if I'm ready to cry my eyes out again too soon)
Sometimes a book lands in your lap by some miracle at the perfect moment in your life. This was one of those times. I struggle to think of a better moment in my life to handle the intense and almost unbearable discussion of grief and love and living.
Was it perfect? No. The blatant and unnecessary fatphobia in this was irritating to say the least and I had a few other small things that didn't totally work for me (the timeline was too fast and too slow at the same time and this needs to stop being marketed as humorous because it is decidedly NOT funny. At best, it's charming and endearing.) But that does not mean that its emotional impact and true mastery of the craft of writing doesn't merit it five stars. There were moments wherein I was overwhelmed by the beautiful prose in the darkest moments of this book and that precision is a testament to Backman's skill.
Easily takes its place in my top books of the year already and I do not see it being bumped from that list. And Backman is now cemented in my mind as an author whose entire works I cannot wait to devour.
(though I think I can wait because idk if I'm ready to cry my eyes out again too soon)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Animal death
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, and Terminal illness