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aunt_b'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: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Bullying
tabookish'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
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
elzmri'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
This book had me laughing and crying. Blackman has a way of using his lexical choices to reflect the personality of the protagonist; what I mean is that even though it is in third person, it still holds Ove’s vibe. [I’ve stayed up all night and I’m tired so please excuse my attempts at explaining myself].
The characters have so much depth, and so diverse- Blackman even gives Cat Annoyance its own meaningful personality.
Ove reminded me of my grandad- I think that’s why it had me sobbing at the end.
The translator has also done a fantastic job- even though it is Swedish, it has a universal familiarity that I think everyone can relate to, no matter where you’re from.
I don’t often read contemporary novels, but this one has quickly become a favourite. I’ve already bought Anxious People and My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologies; I appreciate Backman’s writing style, which isn’t oversimplified in a way that most modern novels tend to be.
I’d love to read more about Parveneh’s life…
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Fire/Fire injury
irislovescats'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Chronic illness, Dementia, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Homophobia and Miscarriage
orchidlilly'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? No
4.5
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
meg_sm'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
3.0
Graphic: Grief and Suicide attempt
bambiann's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
karkei'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
4.5
While there are still things I disagree with him on, there were so many things that I grew to love about him too - mostly his love for Sonja. What an incredibly heartbreaking, yet equally heartwarming tale.
In spite of his tough exterior, Ove was a marshmallow inside. People back then were just not taught to express themselves quite emotionally. What a tough bunch of people the boomers were.
These were just an outstanding bunch of characters. Ove was such a simple man but yet so complex. His characterization was so intricately woven - I want to applaud Backman. Ove reminded me of other characters I like - partly that old man in Pixar’s “Up” and partly Richard Gilmore from Gilmore Girls. They must be cut from the same cloth. I also absolutely loved Sonja - she’s such a strong and loveable woman. Apart from that, the diversity that was written into this story certainly didn’t go unnoticed.
Sonja summed Ove up best when she said he was the oddest kind of superhero.
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Fatphobia, Miscarriage, and Car accident
Minor: Body shaming
mbrogs2024'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
3.75
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Homophobia and Violence
hkveit'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
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cancer, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Car accident