sichloeng'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: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Ableism, Car accident, Infertility, and Self harm
sandysmith'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: Suicide, Death, Dementia, Fatphobia, Grief, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, and Pregnancy
emmah_1845'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: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, and Infertility
macliffe's review against another edition
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Child death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Infertility, Fatphobia, and Death of parent
bandysbooks'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
Ove is an elderly curmudgeon of a man and also a recent widower. After his wife's death, life has lost all meaning and he is walling himself off from the world around him in preparation for his own death. Things don't progress as smoothly as he'd hoped because his interfering, nosy, well-intentioned neighbors keep showing up with minor emergencies for him to resolve.
The plot concept is simple and not entirely unique. (It certainly reminds me of the movie Up by Pixar which was produced a couple years prior to this book.) That said, Backman leans into that simplicity and just tells a really good, moving story. He doesn't try to make is surprising or twisty. Instead, he builds a relationship between the reader and Ove and the cast of characters that surround him.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see this book touch on topics like ableism, ageism, xenophobia, racism, social services and homophobia. I did not expect this book to take a stance on these topics, but each one is addressed by little plot points throughout the story.
The characterization was one of my favorite parts of the book. Each character from Ove himself to the minorest of supporting characters is vibrant, alive, and realistic. Not only could I imagine the interactions that occur, but I've actually witnessed similar interactions by similar people in my own life.
If you enjoy found family tropes, grumpy old men, and an easy to enjoy style of writing, this is the book for you! Don't be put off by the hype. This one is worth it.
Graphic: Car accident, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
alexisgarcia'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: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Child death, Cursing, Cancer, Chronic illness, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, and Suicide
kottman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Violence
theonlybaillie'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: Grief, Suicide, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pregnancy, Cancer, and Miscarriage
kristensandiego'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 and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage and Car accident
mmalone'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: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Dementia, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Bullying, Car accident, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Medical content, and Chronic illness