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austinen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
christine52's review against another edition
4.0
A Man Called Ove is well written and engaging. The story tells of a man, set in his ways, who is struggling and bitter after the death of his wife. He doesn't want to be left without her and decides to "join" her, however, his attempts are interrupted and foiled at every turn. The author weaves the story of Ove's youth with the current date, which explains a lot about his disposition and character. He is a man of integrity who doesn't like to be crossed. As the story unfolds Ove is joined in his neighborhood and life by a very unique and varied cast of characters...all of whom affect him and his life in wonderfully funny and poignant ways. The book is touching, humorous and meaningful.
lansry'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? Yes
5.0
guyc's review against another edition
3.0
Likeable enough light read but very predictable. Grumpy old man turns out to have good reasons to be grumpy and is de-grumped by life and experience - pleasant enough but I don't understand the OTT reviews as if it were extraordinary.
kt122's review against another edition
2.0
I found this book to be very depressing. It's about a man who has led a hard life who has to deal with even more difficulties. I didn't find it amusing or charming, although some might.
joshua_white's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove is yet another testament to his exceptional storytelling prowess. While it didn’t capture me quite as intensely as the Beartown series, it was still a remarkable, heartfelt read. Backman has this uncanny ability to create characters that stay with you long after you’ve closed the book, and this story is no exception.
The heart and humor in this book are unmatched. Ove himself is unforgettable, as is the cast of quirky neighbors—and of course, the cat. (Seriously, the cat deserves its own shout-out.) This book further cements Backman as one of my favorite authors. Few can write with as much depth, emotion, and subtle humor as he does. Highly recommend!
sn00pyk1d's review against another edition
5.0
Hilarious and completely charming! Odd that I can say that about a book where a man is continually interrupted in his attempts at committing suicide, to be with his recently deceased wife, but the circumstances of each interruption are beyond funny. Ove is also a complete curmudgeon on the outside but has a heart of gold on the inside.
makeitsewquiltco's review against another edition
5.0
A story that feels like it will be so sad ends up being hilarious and touching. It is written partly in Ove’s past, which gives wonderful context to the narrative, and the threads of the characters tie together so nicely. It was the kind of book I couldn’t stop listening to.
The audiobook was narrated by JK Simmons, which was a delightful surprise!
The audiobook was narrated by JK Simmons, which was a delightful surprise!
skktsh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0