Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Een man die Ove heet by Fredrik Backman

113 reviews

ayeshacincina's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Light-hearted, funny, refreshing and very touching. A Man Called Ove is the kind of book that feels like a warm hug - sometimes crushing, but ultimately radiating warmth. The characterization of Ove was so well-written. He was a rigid man, unwavering in his principles and ethics which at first came across as being "bitter", "grumpy" or "rude". But Ove was not bloody bitter.

I loved how the author portrayed Ove in the same neutral light, without any character development as such, but a shift in "character perception". The story beautifully navigates our view of Ove from an old bitter sod to the beloved grandad of the neighbourhood. 

The relationship between Ove & Sonja was one like no other - pure, genuine, devoted and beautiful. However, the relationships that later bloom throughout the story are something you want to hold close to your heart caressingly. One of the most comforting of them was that between Ove & Parvaneh. She became the daughter he never had, and he became the father she once lost. The relationships in the story grow so tenderly, that one can't help but shed a tear, even after laughing moments before.

Subjectively, the book was more heartwarming than sad. It makes you laugh a little, cry a little, a bit sad here, and a lot happy there but nonetheless, it leaves you content. Happy endings don't always mean that one gets to live longer, but when one is content and at peace before one's final goodbye (with a cat by your side).

Ove's death was not so much a tragedy to mourn, as it was a beautiful memory to celebrate and cherish silently in our hearts forever.

The writing style was a delightful mix of roguish humour and tender emotion. There were a few parts that felt a little cliche, but that is more of a subjective remark than a constructive critique. Ultimately, the book is highly recommended if you want a read that stabs you a little, but also gently caresses you as you go about every chapter of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, Grief, and Suicide attempt

liesthemoontells's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

2.0

I read this book for book club. It was fine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Classism

connormdavy's review against another edition

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Domestic abuse

svenrodian's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

amyreh's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

Exactly what I needed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Homophobia and Miscarriage

Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Car accident

tabookish's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring 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

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

elizlizabeth's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

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

2.0

I can understand it as a dark comedy, but absolutely not as a cozy heartwarming tale. Ove is not without many flaws which fine, but did the plot have to be so dull? It mostly hinges off bad things happening and Ove reacting to them, which got tiring after a while.
I have a bone to pick with the many slurs, fatphobia, and shrieking women. Might give Backman another chance to see if this was an Ove thing or an author thing but I have limited hopes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Racism

Minor: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Car accident

orchidlilly's review against another edition

dark 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? No

4.5

A really good exploration of grief and learning to live after it. Ove is both lovable and annoying, which turns at a point to endearing in its own right. The rest of the characters feel very real and individualized, and have a lot of unspoken depth to them. The back and forth between Ove's memories and current life really build his story well and allow the reader to understand why he is the way he is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Dementia, and Death of parent

Minor: Infertility, Racism, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

avadesiree's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Domestic abuse

jeslis's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Notes:
- A very touching, domestic and beautiful reflection on humanity. I loved the simplicity of the setting and yet how largely generalisable it is to so many people's lives and experiences.
- Such a wonderfully crafted emotional book; reading it was a beautiful empathetic experience — all of my emotional responses were so visceral (made me laugh so many times, I felt happy and warm and sad so vividly).
- Made me CRY big time at the end (and a fair few other times throughout).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Minor: Domestic abuse