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hihet's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
claire_p's review against another edition
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
4.0
Emotional and heartwarming, the book explores the impact of grief, community & found family. Strong character development lended to each charcter having a unique voice and contribution to the overall story. It was difficult to distinguish the time-frame in some parts of the book ecspecially at the start. Well written and flows seamlessly despite being translated from Swedish. A moving read that will bring a tear to your eye.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
acobbva's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
vagrantheather's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Everyone I know loves this book. I didn't, and I've been trying to pin down why. What am I missing?
I don't like Ove. I generally prefer gray characters - people who are believably complex - and Ove is. He's been through a lot of shit, and the readers are led to see how this has made him into the curmudgeonly old man that he is. He's unlikeable, anal retentive, verbally abusive, unwilling to adapt. But also willing to help his community, with strong senses of duty and personal responsibility. The issue I have is that Ove is openly racist, fatphobic, and anti establishment. He demonizes "the system" extensively - social services, healthcare workers, code enforcement, local government, are all "the baddies." Through the course of the book we see Ove accept the neighbors he was prejudice toward (an Iranian woman and an obese man), but "the system" is the enemy all the way through. It strikes me as very, well, Republican. All gays are bad except this one neighbor I know. All immigrants are bad except my illegally employed maid, she's ok. The only moral abortion is my abortion.
As a healthcare worker I thought it was particularly egregious that the author thought 'throwing a doctor through a door' for relaying bad news was just a funny anecdote. At no point does Ove come at odds with his belief that "the system" are all shallow, bad people out doing bad things to society. I would more call it an underlying theme that Bachman believes in his bones.
I don't have a problem with the prose or pacing of the story; it's relatively well written. I just strongly dislike Ove and the underlying theme that social safety nets are bureaucratic red tape that hurts more than they help. Nor do I enjoy the overt theme that it's up to the community to give curmudgeonly old men endless redemption opportunities - it feels like a new face on the old "it's a woman's job to fix a broken man" trope. Ove's usefulness as a handyman and his sense of duty to help where he can don't override his abusive disposition.
I don't like Ove. I generally prefer gray characters - people who are believably complex - and Ove is. He's been through a lot of shit, and the readers are led to see how this has made him into the curmudgeonly old man that he is. He's unlikeable, anal retentive, verbally abusive, unwilling to adapt. But also willing to help his community, with strong senses of duty and personal responsibility. The issue I have is that Ove is openly racist, fatphobic, and anti establishment. He demonizes "the system" extensively - social services, healthcare workers, code enforcement, local government, are all "the baddies." Through the course of the book we see Ove accept the neighbors he was prejudice toward (an Iranian woman and an obese man), but "the system" is the enemy all the way through. It strikes me as very, well, Republican. All gays are bad except this one neighbor I know. All immigrants are bad except my illegally employed maid, she's ok. The only moral abortion is my abortion.
As a healthcare worker I thought it was particularly egregious that the author thought 'throwing a doctor through a door' for relaying bad news was just a funny anecdote. At no point does Ove come at odds with his belief that "the system" are all shallow, bad people out doing bad things to society. I would more call it an underlying theme that Bachman believes in his bones.
I don't have a problem with the prose or pacing of the story; it's relatively well written. I just strongly dislike Ove and the underlying theme that social safety nets are bureaucratic red tape that hurts more than they help. Nor do I enjoy the overt theme that it's up to the community to give curmudgeonly old men endless redemption opportunities - it feels like a new face on the old "it's a woman's job to fix a broken man" trope. Ove's usefulness as a handyman and his sense of duty to help where he can don't override his abusive disposition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Grief
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
I have read two books by Fredrik Backman this year and I have loved both. I can’t wait to continue reading everything he has written.
Ove’s story is a sad one. At least, at first. But eventually his friends and neighbours help him realize there’s more to life than death, and Ove’s life has meaning.
Ove’s story is a sad one. At least, at first. But eventually his friends and neighbours help him realize there’s more to life than death, and Ove’s life has meaning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
abbypeekreads's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
thedaniellewilson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
3.75
This book isn’t really short stories, but each chapter is a little story about Ove. I have a hard time finishing short story style books because I don’t keep reading. The story is somehow dark, funny, and light at the same time.
And I think Parvaneh knew what he was trying to do each time she visited. She knew.
And I think Parvaneh knew what he was trying to do each time she visited. She knew.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
ashley_wohner's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Grief, and Suicide attempt
wanderflash_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
the stereotypical grumpy old man. i didn't see myself adoring him but a third into the story and i saw myself softening towards him. there really are people who love that one person wholeheartedly and can't see themselves being with anyone else. that one track mindedness of ove made me like him. i also see a bit of autism in him if we're being honest. he's stubborn, abides by his rules, doesn't let anyone tell him what to do, follows his strict routine, and stands for what he believes is right. people like him are very rare these days. he's soft hearted in his core.
in my heart i thought all those failed suicide attempts were sonia telling him to live on, to stay and leave a mark in this world, to let other people see what she saw in him but alas! nothing stops a heart that grieves, especially when only that one thing could reunite them to the love of their life. my heart hurts for him, he should've been able to live on and spend his last days with his found family.
in my heart i thought all those failed suicide attempts were sonia telling him to live on, to stay and leave a mark in this world, to let other people see what she saw in him but alas! nothing stops a heart that grieves, especially when only that one thing could reunite them to the love of their life. my heart hurts for him, he should've been able to live on and spend his last days with his found family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt