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A review by karkei
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-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
4.5
Ove is as old-school as they come. Despite the great reviews I’ve heard about this book, I was quite skeptical. When the story started out, Ove was grumpy and complaining. I wondered if he was one of those characters you’re just not supposed to like.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Fatphobia, Miscarriage, and Car accident
Minor: Body shaming