Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

135 reviews

anastashamarie's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

☕ Never mind me, just casually sobbing over here. 

🐈 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. 

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Content Warnings

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

bellsduckquack's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Fatphobia

courtsport's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.0

A delightful book about a loveable curmudgeon. I liked the Beartown series more, but still very much enjoyed this novel by Backman. Though it would have been better without the fatphobic descriptions of his neighbour.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Fatphobia

Minor: Homophobia and Terminal illness

rebekkamafia's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia

Moderate: Xenophobia and Body shaming

Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Suicide

aetheros's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Homophobia and Fatphobia

lillist's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

becciee's review against another edition

emotional funny sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Homophobia, Fatphobia, and Xenophobia

knhall14's review against another edition

4.0

This book was wonderfully written and a beautiful premise. Found family is my absolute favorite. However, I took a star off for the amount of fat phobia in this book. It was so unnecessary. I know this was about a grumpy old man but it was so excessive. The movie was just as wonderful without the fat phobia so that's what I plan to stick with. I appreciate the author for giving us this story but I am nervous to read his other novels if there is the same amount of fatphobia. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia and Suicidal thoughts

jhbandcats's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-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? Yes

4.25

A gentle look at an irascible old man (who isn’t really that old) and the sources of his discontent. The book opens with Ove in the depths of despair, alone, nothing to live for, his only desire to end his life. Within just a few pages he’s saddled with meddling, incompetent neighbors *and* their children, and a beat-up tomcat who insists on moving in. 

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Fatphobia, Grief, Miscarriage, Body shaming, Death, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Infertility, Medical content, and Pregnancy

romeroreads's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted sad

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, and Grief

Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Death, Dementia, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Car accident, Death of parent, and Cancer