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A review by perry417
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
5.0
I wasn't sure this was the book for me. A curmudgeonly, solitary older man who (and I don't think this is a spoiler alert) attempts suicide several times? And it's "funny"? I felt that this description hit on too many characteristics of my own family experiences, and I started this book ready and willing to put it down if it was too emotionally difficult to me.
Oh, but it wasn't. Ove is a character who will stay with me for quite a while. What some people said was "funny" wasn't at all -- it was tender, and sweet, and filled with love and longing. The suicide attempts were not the core of the story, at least not to me, and I'm so glad that didn't prevent me from reading this book.
This book was so, so beautifully written. It's not that I didn't "like" Ove at the beginning -- although he's certainly gruff and outspoken and ill-tempered at first. I was curious about him, about what made him tick, and like so many other reviewers, I softened toward him bit by bit as more of his back story was filled in. And it was done with such a light touch, with humanity and grace and understanding. This was a book that sneaks up on you with its beauty and spirit. I especially appreciated the love story with Sonja, his decades of friendship/animosity with his neighbor Rune, and the evolution of his relationship with Parvaneh and her children.
This was a great book group pick; I really enjoyed our conversation about it!
Oh, but it wasn't. Ove is a character who will stay with me for quite a while. What some people said was "funny" wasn't at all -- it was tender, and sweet, and filled with love and longing. The suicide attempts were not the core of the story, at least not to me, and I'm so glad that didn't prevent me from reading this book.
This book was so, so beautifully written. It's not that I didn't "like" Ove at the beginning -- although he's certainly gruff and outspoken and ill-tempered at first. I was curious about him, about what made him tick, and like so many other reviewers, I softened toward him bit by bit as more of his back story was filled in. And it was done with such a light touch, with humanity and grace and understanding. This was a book that sneaks up on you with its beauty and spirit. I especially appreciated the love story with Sonja, his decades of friendship/animosity with his neighbor Rune, and the evolution of his relationship with Parvaneh and her children.
This was a great book group pick; I really enjoyed our conversation about it!