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michelle_mc96's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Violence, Racism, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Car accident, Miscarriage, Infertility, Pregnancy, Death, Medical content, Terminal illness, Grief, Child death, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Fatphobia
caseyf's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Infertility, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Car accident, Grief, and Terminal illness
anastashamarie's review against another edition
- 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 had a long wait to get this one from the library, but honestly, I'm just going to go buy it (and probably the rest of Backman's bibliography) because this book hit me in a way nothing has since I was a teenager reading John Green.
🏘️ This is an existentialist masterpiece. The writing is so simple yet so impactful. The characterizations of the whole cast are so well-rounded. It's heartbreaking and uplifting and just generally just so human. It's full of love and sorrow and so much hope. One of those stories that I think is going to stick with me forever.
🖍️ Now, if you'll excuse me while I go back to crying my eyes out. We can talk more about it later.
Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Fatphobia, Death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Infertility, and Misogyny
melanieripple's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Death
Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, and Car accident
ericaw212's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Dementia
Minor: Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Cancer, Gun violence, Homophobia, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse
atypeofgrass's review against another edition
- 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
Edit: most of the comments I am reading after this I feel don’t understand the point of the book. It is not about the plot of the book at all. It is about the character and their development. Don’t go into this expecting a great story, go into this expecting to be sad. The man in the story is grumpy all the time because that was how he was written. Spend time thinking about the real people in the world who are constantly angry, and think of what they may feel on the inside. Not everything should be judged off of the first glance.
Graphic: Death and Self harm
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Infertility, and Terminal illness
Minor: Pregnancy and Hate crime
dukeofkel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer and Miscarriage
Minor: Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, and Injury/Injury detail
jhbandcats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Ove’s facade cracks as he learns to care for those around him, from taking the clutzy neighbor with broken limbs to the hospital to rescuing a stranger who interrupts his own failed suicide attempt. Over the course of the book, Ove’s heart opens up and he’s able to appreciate his life again. The meddling neighbors and the beat-up tomcat were the best things that could have ever happened to him.
The irascibility was grating at times but it was tempered by the bittersweet backstory of Ove’s youth. This book has been made into two movies, the excellent Swedish version and the eminently serviceable Hollywood remake. The book, of course, shows far more depth - definitely worth reading.
Graphic: Car accident, Fatphobia, Grief, Miscarriage, Body shaming, Death, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Infertility, Medical content, and Pregnancy
arshiya_amreen90786's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Grief, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Medical content, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Cancer, Chronic illness, Outing, and Car accident
Minor: Infertility, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, and Animal cruelty
my_a's review against another edition
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Car accident, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Fatphobia, and Infertility
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Misogyny