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juliettelemire03's review against another edition
4.0
I cried, i laughed, i became attached… it’s not really the type of book i usually go for but i was pleasantly surprised! It was warm and sad read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
agiecummings's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not me crying during the epilogue of this book. 😭
Wow, Fredrik Backman really has a way with words. What a beautiful, heartbreaking story of how one person is all it takes to completely change your perspective. The way Ove learns to bring himself out of his grief over his wife’s passing to become a human so surrounded by love was just beautiful. The world finally got to see the Ove that Sonja knew. And that was absolutely incredible.
Heartbreaking story but so real and honest. Love that about Fredrick’s books. He always also able to put into words feelings that often feel above description. Just so beautifully crafted.
Wow, Fredrik Backman really has a way with words. What a beautiful, heartbreaking story of how one person is all it takes to completely change your perspective. The way Ove learns to bring himself out of his grief over his wife’s passing to become a human so surrounded by love was just beautiful. The world finally got to see the Ove that Sonja knew. And that was absolutely incredible.
Heartbreaking story but so real and honest. Love that about Fredrick’s books. He always also able to put into words feelings that often feel above description. Just so beautifully crafted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicide
greenrose's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
marsxbarz's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
gloomi_sundai's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.75
LOVE STORIES oh man i really fell in love with ove even tho he was so mean and crabby :///// this story was so cute and borderline cheesy i had some issues with how they ended it, specifically how some of the characters got together and i wished we got to see patrick more but i cried real tears reading this so thats majorly saying something also the fatphobia was not funny
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Fatphobia
jennifermreads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I watched for years as this book passed back and forth across the desk of the library where I worked. It steadily went home with readers and was solemnly returned and raved about. When library patrons speak about a book so often and with such passion, I listen and add it to my TBR…in 2017. And, I just read it. Finally.
For whatever reason I delayed the reading. I read other Backman books: Beartown, Britt-Marie Was Here, and And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer. But I delayed on reading Ove’s story. When I started listening to the book, I had second and third thoughts about continuing the book. The first line is “Ove is fifty-nine” and then we accompany him as he tries again and again to join his wife in the afterlife. I’m not at that side of fifty yet. But that is not old and I was a bit perturbed that he had decided his life was over. But I kept reading…
And, yes, I am glad that I did. J.K. Simmons narration was masterful. Despite his grouchiness and being oh-so-curmudgeonly, Ove wormed his way into my heart just as he did his neighbors’ hearts.
"A time like that comes for every man, when he chooses what sort of man he wants to be. And if you don’t know the story, you don’t know the man."
Thankfully, Fredrik Backman’s intention was for us to know Ove’s story. Readers get to walk through Ove’s life and discover how the curmudgeonly cape was draped on his shoulders. What a life.
Over and over, with each of Backman’s books, I am awed at how he shares the stories of his characters with such compassion, truth, and emotion. Yes, <i>A Man Called Ove</i> is dark and I encourage folks to heed trigger warnings (attempted suicide, grief, aging)—but there is also a lot of beauty, love, and brightness to Ove…much to his grumpy dismay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Grief
00phantom's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Beautiful. I already want to read it again. Ove’s inner monologue is so relatable and endearing. The flow of the story is interesting and well paced. Deals with heavy topics in a lighthearted and genuine way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Grief
Moderate: Dementia, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Infertility
Minor: Violence
cell0girl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
One of the best books I’ve read so far! A combination of humour and satire which juxtaposes the most morose feelings one can experience in life; Frederik’s use of symbolism is truly inspirational. The main criticism I have is that there are fatphobic stereotypes which are used to mock individuals instead of being utilised to show the issues regarding fatphobia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia and Miscarriage
michelle_mc96's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Racism, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Car accident, Miscarriage, Infertility, Pregnancy, Death, Medical content, Terminal illness, Grief, Child death, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Fatphobia