Reviews with content warning for Death - L'uomo che metteva in ordine il mondo

Reviews tagging 'Death'

L'uomo che metteva in ordine il mondo by Anna Airoldi, Fredrik Backman

471 reviews

riannamarie's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful slow-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

4.25

Okay so this was just a little bit heart-warming. I lived in Norway for a year and whenever I read/watch any form of media from a Scandanavian country it makes me feel at home. Koselig is a Norwegian word that doesn't have a direct English translation. It is a feeling of cosiness, contentment and warmth. It evokes feelings of intimacy and finding joy in the little things in life. Somehow this book manages to be koselig, heart-wrenching and hopeful all at the same time.

The book is about Ove who is a 59 year old gentlemen who is often perceived as a grumpy old man but there is much more to him beneath the surface than what the outside world perceives. Underneath his grumpy facade is deep loneliness and profound grief. You slowly grow to love Ove as his layers are peeled back throughout the story. The way you warm to him as the reader mirrors how the people in Ove's neighbourhood warm to him throughout the book as they transform from strangers to valued friends.

The descriptions of Ove's relationship with Sonia were beautifully described. Their love and the emptiness Ove feels upon the loss warmed my heart but also brought me to tears. This book explored what it meant to mourn someone you love and what it means to mourn the part of yourself that only they could bring out of you.

It is not a 5 star read for me purely based on the fact that it never pulled me in to the point where I couldn't put it down. Everytime I picked it up I thoroughly enjoyed the experience but I wasn't obsessed. This is probably because it is a story of comically mundane happenings in a neighbourhood, with artfully crafted characters. I will certainly be reading other books by Fredrik Backman.

Content Warnings

uh_havey's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring lighthearted sad 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? No

4.75

Content Warnings

onthesamepage's review against another edition

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funny hopeful 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

4.0

I thought I'd get through this book without letting it get to me, but the ending got me after all.

I have a real appreciation for the character work Backman does in his books, and Ove was no exception. The voice the author gave him is full of unintentional humor. He cares so much for people and takes their needs into consideration, even while constantly saying and thinking that he doesn't care and that everyone should stop bothering him and leave him to die in peace. I enjoyed his interactions with the different people and pets that forced themselves into his life, but I guess the cat will be my favourite.

Sad, but also really heartwarming.

Content Warnings

ktrobbins's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

cpreeta6's review against another edition

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challenging emotional 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

Please check the content warnings before reading the book. There is mention of them in the following review.

I have no words. I had to space my reading out, quite a bit, as the material was emotional and heavy. However, I finally took it up today and finished it. That was the perfect way it could've ended. The writing flows beautifully, in a way that I flew through the pages. Only the content made me pause and think, if I could take it at the time.

I DNFed the book last year as I believe that a book is best enjoyed with the right mindset, and it should never put you in a depressive mood. When required, put the book down, and go about your life. It will still be waiting for you with open arms when you feel like you can return to it.

I never thought, following an old man's life would feel so touching to me. Ove is a grumpy, unfriendly man who always needs some tinkering to do. He needs the rules to be followed. He is a man who loves his wife very much.

The different conversations that can be had regarding the book are manifold. The mental alacrity of certain characters and their actions can sometimes only be understood in hindsight. The book tackles loss of a loved one and grieving, and many more issues that can tug at your heartstrings.

Ultimately, it is not a book you pick up lightly. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry. It will take you on a rollercoaster or emotions, and you will be angry at the powerlessness of normal people against bureaucracy. Be warned, it is a melancholy, yet beautiful book.

Content Warnings