kt2e56's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was hoping this would be a five star book for me based on reviews I’ve read but alas, it’s only a 3. I was really enjoying it at first but it started to become very repetitive and quite frankly, Ove kinda sucks. He has some good qualities! He’s saved lives! He does eventually help his neighbors! But he comes across less like a grumpy old badger who just is lonely and more like an outright bigot. He’s super misogynistic (and never really changes that). He’s racist (and never really changes that). He lets a gay man stay with him after he’s been kicked out of his home which is lovely! But he refers to him as (I’m presuming based off of Pervana’s reaction to the phrase) a slur 80% of the time. And I think the most annoying is that he is (but also quite frankly the author is too) WILDLY fatphobic. Like disgustingly so. And Backman himself also seems SUPER fatphobic as he can’t write about Jimmy at all without calling him a slob, talking about whether or not his clothes fit, constantly making him pester everyone about food, etc. It’s gross. I do like the overall message and there are moments that are sweet here but even in flashbacks to life with his beloved wife, Sonja, I can’t help but wonder why she stayed with a man who belittled her pretty frequently and also was just so nasty to others. His hatred of bureaucrats makes sense! His racism, sexism, and other casual bigotry really does not. None of that factors into his backstory and I feel like it’s odd that the author made certain qualities of Ove so repugnant when he could have just been a crotchety old man and loner who thinks everyone else is incompetent. The story would have been just as impactful. It all ties itself up by the end with a neat little bow but there are portions of this that are genuinely draining to get through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Grief, Ableism, Suicide, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Car accident, Dementia, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Bullying, and Infertility
paperbackvacation's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, and Dementia
hkantola11's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death
Minor: Cursing
nikki6489's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Homophobia
deannavee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said?
To be 100% honest, I didn't want to read this book. I read the summary and decided it was going to be sad, slow, and dull. I left it on my TBR shelf for a year. Man was I blown out of the water. This book somehow touched on every single emotion. It was relatable in ways I didn't expect. It was funny yet heartbreaking, and one of the very few books I ever teared up while reading it. It's a true masterpiece and I believe everyone needs to experience reading this book at some point in their lives
To be 100% honest, I didn't want to read this book. I read the summary and decided it was going to be sad, slow, and dull. I left it on my TBR shelf for a year. Man was I blown out of the water. This book somehow touched on every single emotion. It was relatable in ways I didn't expect. It was funny yet heartbreaking, and one of the very few books I ever teared up while reading it. It's a true masterpiece and I believe everyone needs to experience reading this book at some point in their lives
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Car accident, and Dementia
amys_hygge_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Fredrik Backman is an author I have wanted to read for a while now. And with the recent movie adaptation, I decided A Man Called Ove would be my first Backman book to read.
The Story 📚
This story is heavily character driven around the protagonist - a man called Ove. Ove is described as a grumpy old man, but really he is just a stubborn man set in his ways, who appreciates routine, Saab cars, and getting on with life. We find out more about Ove’s past and present in a split timeline, to discover the ways his world has changed over the years, as well as the special love story between him and Sonja. But with the arrival of new neighbours and a stray cat in his housing estate, Ove’s world takes new directions he didn’t think were possible at that time of his life.
The Review 👩🏻💻
I adored this book! Honestly, we all know someone like Ove! For me, that made the character so much more relatable and imaginable. Also, as the story is set in a Swedish town, I really enjoyed the Scandinavian references that brought to the environment to life for me.
In so many ways the book is so beautifully simple. It’s not overly complicated, and is an easy read for anyone. Ove’s character doesn’t need that! It is the kind of book I would happily recommend to anyone. I am even trying to convince my boyfriend to read it - he doesn’t read but I know he’d love the character and Ove’s mannerisms just as much as I did.
I cried so much at the end of this book. It really is going to stick with me. I’m really looking forward to seeing the two film adaptations, the older Swedish language version, and the newer American made one starring Tom Hanks. Honestly, I’m skeptical of the American one. Is Tom the right fit for Ove, and how will the perfect Swedish setting translate to America? Will let you know my thoughts after I have watched them both!
The Story 📚
This story is heavily character driven around the protagonist - a man called Ove. Ove is described as a grumpy old man, but really he is just a stubborn man set in his ways, who appreciates routine, Saab cars, and getting on with life. We find out more about Ove’s past and present in a split timeline, to discover the ways his world has changed over the years, as well as the special love story between him and Sonja. But with the arrival of new neighbours and a stray cat in his housing estate, Ove’s world takes new directions he didn’t think were possible at that time of his life.
The Review 👩🏻💻
I adored this book! Honestly, we all know someone like Ove! For me, that made the character so much more relatable and imaginable. Also, as the story is set in a Swedish town, I really enjoyed the Scandinavian references that brought to the environment to life for me.
In so many ways the book is so beautifully simple. It’s not overly complicated, and is an easy read for anyone. Ove’s character doesn’t need that! It is the kind of book I would happily recommend to anyone. I am even trying to convince my boyfriend to read it - he doesn’t read but I know he’d love the character and Ove’s mannerisms just as much as I did.
I cried so much at the end of this book. It really is going to stick with me. I’m really looking forward to seeing the two film adaptations, the older Swedish language version, and the newer American made one starring Tom Hanks. Honestly, I’m skeptical of the American one. Is Tom the right fit for Ove, and how will the perfect Swedish setting translate to America? Will let you know my thoughts after I have watched them both!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Dementia, Death of parent, Death, and Child death
whitefox90'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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death, Grief, Death, Suicide, Dementia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Homophobia
stacy_es's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Ця книжка, вона різна і викликала зовсім різні емоції, і більш за все захопила в останніх главах. Ніби здавалося щось трохи передбачуваним, навіть наївним, якісь місця були дуже схожі на щось, що колись читалось, щось занадто сумним, прям нуарним, але в цій книжці є думки про базові речі, такі як самотність, смерть, сенс життя, справжню дружбу. Це варто читати.
Чомусь мені здається, що фільм, ще й з таким актором в ролі Уве буде розрив по сентиментальності та емоційності.
Так чи інак, книжка змушує задуматися.
Чомусь мені здається, що фільм, ще й з таким актором в ролі Уве буде розрив по сентиментальності та емоційності.
Так чи інак, книжка змушує задуматися.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
Minor: Cancer, Dementia, Eating disorder, Chronic illness, and Cursing
katebb76's review against another edition
challenging
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
5.0
Ove: cantankerous, antagonistic, judgemental, disdainful. These were my initial impressions.
However, Backman quickly and cleverly starts to get you thinking about the real Ove. His regular references to Sonja (his wife), his wandering mind, the evenings on his own. And the hook.
Quite quickly you start to see another side to Ove. A lonely man, contemplating the meaning of his life. A man overcome by grief and, following losing his job, his complete loss of self-worth.
Backman approaches difficult scenarios with sensitivity and gentle humour. Did he get too close to making light of suicidal thoughts and attempts here? Almost, maybe, and I can see that this may be triggering for some. However, for me the storyline works as you understand more and more of his overwhelming grief for his wife and the life that they could have had, especially when this is complemented by his -initially begruding but then flourishing- relationships with others in the community.
There were so many moments in this book that grabbed me by the heart, whether with a giggle and a warm feeling inside or producing tears in my eyes.
The moment with Parvaneh and the cot, knowing its history, also got me sobbing, and I'm not sure I fully stopped until after I'd finished the whole book and started to process what had happened.
Backman is so clever with his attention to detail. Dropping snippets into the story that he then returns to later so you feel like you're reliving Ove's memories and are really inside his head.
I don't know how Fredrik Backman turns characters who I possibly wouldn't have much to do with in real life (Ove, Benji in Beartown etc) into people that you empathise with and feel so much for. Surely there's no greater message to take from this than you often really don't know someone's backstory and what they are going through that makes them behave in a particular way. Give most people a chance and take time to understand them: you might just be surprised by what's in their heart.
However, Backman quickly and cleverly starts to get you thinking about the real Ove. His regular references to Sonja (his wife), his wandering mind, the evenings on his own. And the hook.
Quite quickly you start to see another side to Ove. A lonely man, contemplating the meaning of his life. A man overcome by grief and, following losing his job, his complete loss of self-worth.
Backman approaches difficult scenarios with sensitivity and gentle humour. Did he get too close to making light of suicidal thoughts and attempts here? Almost, maybe, and I can see that this may be triggering for some. However, for me the storyline works as you understand more and more of his overwhelming grief for his wife and the life that they could have had, especially when this is complemented by his -initially begruding but then flourishing- relationships with others in the community.
There were so many moments in this book that grabbed me by the heart, whether with a giggle and a warm feeling inside or producing tears in my eyes.
Spoiler
Stand-out moments include the chapter where Ove has just been adopted by the cat. The interactions between them -the argument over the newspaper in the car and then the cat's head in Ove's hand at Sonja's grave. The relationship between a cat and its human perfectly captured.The moment with Parvaneh and the cot, knowing its history, also got me sobbing, and I'm not sure I fully stopped until after I'd finished the whole book and started to process what had happened.
Backman is so clever with his attention to detail. Dropping snippets into the story that he then returns to later so you feel like you're reliving Ove's memories and are really inside his head.
I don't know how Fredrik Backman turns characters who I possibly wouldn't have much to do with in real life (Ove, Benji in Beartown etc) into people that you empathise with and feel so much for. Surely there's no greater message to take from this than you often really don't know someone's backstory and what they are going through that makes them behave in a particular way. Give most people a chance and take time to understand them: you might just be surprised by what's in their heart.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Dementia
stephbernoth's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Cancer, and Death
Moderate: Terminal illness, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Racism, Cancer, Violence, Medical content, Infertility, Dementia, and Body shaming