Reviews tagging 'Racism'

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

30 reviews

nic_theliterarylair's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

DNF'd at 50%
TW- Fatphobia, racism, sexism, suicide

This book is like when you feel you *have* to laugh at something an old man said to you, just to be able to get away from him...

I get where this was trying to go, and understand why it tugs at certain people's heartstrings, I suppose, but I was deeply uncomfortable at almost every page.

This has not dated well at all, and this "bitter" man is actually very racist, sexist and fatphobic. Why am I supposed to feel inspired by someone who eventually just acts *somewhat* politely.

Have Backman's other books aged better?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia

Moderate: Racism and Sexism

fogg_asphyx's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Outing

daniellel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, Xenophobia, and Car accident

ashteroid's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

5 stars except justice for jimmy, why was he written like that 😭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia, and Medical content

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, Terminal illness, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Outing

aus10england's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

kt2e56's review

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I was hoping this would be a five star book for me based on reviews I’ve read but alas, it’s only a 3. I was really enjoying it at first but it started to become very repetitive and quite frankly, Ove kinda sucks. He has some good qualities! He’s saved lives! He does eventually help his neighbors! But he comes across less like a grumpy old badger who just is lonely and more like an outright bigot. He’s super misogynistic (and never really changes that). He’s racist (and never really changes that). He lets a gay man stay with him after he’s been kicked out of his home which is lovely! But he refers to him as (I’m presuming based off of Pervana’s reaction to the phrase) a slur 80% of the time. And I think the most annoying is that he is (but also quite frankly the author is too) WILDLY fatphobic. Like disgustingly so. And Backman himself also seems SUPER fatphobic as he can’t write about Jimmy at all without calling him a slob, talking about whether or not his clothes fit, constantly making him pester everyone about food, etc. It’s gross. I do like the overall message and there are moments that are sweet here but even in flashbacks to life with his beloved wife, Sonja, I can’t help but wonder why she stayed with a man who belittled her pretty frequently and also was just so nasty to others. His hatred of bureaucrats makes sense! His racism, sexism, and other casual bigotry really does not. None of that factors into his backstory and I feel like it’s odd that the author made certain qualities of Ove so repugnant when he could have just been a crotchety old man and loner who thinks everyone else is incompetent. The story would have been just as impactful. It all ties itself up by the end with a neat little bow but there are portions of this that are genuinely draining to get through.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Dementia, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

booknerdsinmn's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Grief, and Car accident

stephbernoth's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Homophobia, Infertility, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Dementia, and Religious bigotry

bridgetkay's review against another edition

Did not finish. Could not finish. I got more enjoyment reading the 1-star reviews for this book. 

The character is problematic as all hell and I really have no interest in a story centred on a white man who’s surrounded by people who aren’t white men as supporting characters to some kind of redemption arc. Any time I attempted to read this, it put me in a bad mood. So for self care purposes, I will not be finishing this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent