A Man Called Ove
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"We always think there's enough time to do things with other people. Time to say things to them. And then something happens and then we stand there holding on to words like 'if!"
A Man Called Ove fühlt sich lange wie ein ganz gewöhnliches Buch an – bis man am Ende angekommen ist und Rotz und Wasser heult. Ove und all die anderen Charaktere sind mir so sehr ans Herz gewachsen. Ove ist jemand, den ich anfangs nicht mochte, und doch habe ich ihn am Ende geliebt. Die Geschichte ist traurig, emotional und gleichzeitig voller Humor. Ein großer Schwerpunkt des Buches liegt natürlich auf Verlust und Tod, aber ebenso auf Gemeinschaft und Freundschaft. Besonders schön fand ich, wie sich nach und nach die Beziehungen zwischen den Charakteren entwickeln und zeigen, dass niemand wirklich allein sein muss, wenn man sich auf andere einlässt.
Super süßes Buch
Wow! Dieses Buch war wirklich wirklich toll. Fredrik Backman hat einen ganz besonderen Schreibstil, der in dem Buch die Emotionen noch verstärken konnte. Es geht um einen grantigen, alten Mann, und im Laufe des Buches bekommt man Schritt für Schritt heraus, was ihn dazu gemacht hat. Seine Lebensgeschichte ist herzzerreißend schön & traurig zugleich. Es gab Stellen, da hab ich gekichert, und Stelllen, wo ich geweint hab. Ein Must-Read! 🤩
Als ich die Kurzbeschreibung zu diesem Buch gelesen habe, hätte ich nie erwartet das mich dieses Buch so berühren könnte. Die Geschichte ist vom Tempo her ziemlich langsam und man wechselt immer wieder zwischen zwei Zeitebenen, der Gegenwart und Oves Vergangenheit, hin und her. Teilweise hatte es ein paar Längen, besonders in den Rückblicken, doch insgesamt fühlte ich mich immer gut unterhalten. Die Geschichte ist unglaublich berührend und man durchlebt ein echtes Wechselbad der Gefühle. Ich habe das Buch jeweils auf dem Weg in die Uni im Zug gelesen und in einem Moment musste ich mir ein lautes Lachen verkneifen und nur ein paar Seiten später die Tränen zurück halten. Das Ende habe ich dann glücklicherweise zu Hause gelesen, denn dieses hat mir echt das Herz gebrochen und die Tränen sind, selbst nachdem ich das Buch weggelegt hatte, nur so geflossen. Gleichzeitig war ich aber auch am Lächeln, denn besser hätte das Ende einfach nicht passen können. Ove ist ein absolut unglaublicher und einzigartiger Charaktere. Er findet einfach immer etwas zu meckern und mir ist wirklich noch nie eine so mürrische Figur begegnet. Doch trotz, oder vielleicht auch gerade wegen, all seinen Fehlern kann man einfach nicht anders als Ove im Verlauf der Geschichte ins Herz zu schliessen. Denn auch wenn er sich gegen aussen ganz anders gibt, und es selbst nie zugeben würde, hat er doch ein gutes Herz und verbringt mindestens so viel Zeit damit anderen Menschen zu helfen, wie sich über sie zu ärgern. Doch auch die Nebencharaktere sind unglaublich vielfältig und interessant. Auch sie haben alle ihre Fehler, doch je mehr man sie kennen lernt, desto mehr schliesst man auch sie ins Herz. Ganz besonders mochte ich Parvaneh, Oves neue, schwangere Nachbarin, da sie die einzige ist die ihm die Stirn bieten kann und die beiden daher ein tolles Team abgeben. Und die Katze, weil sie einfach ist, wie Katzen halt so sind. Ich bin wirklich froh, dass ich dieses Buch geschenkt bekommen habe, denn asonsten wäre mir eine wirklich berührende Geschichte entgangen. 4,5*
"Liebe ist etwas Sonderbares. Sie überkommt eine völlig überraschend." Genauso ist es auch mit diesem Buch. Man durchlebt beim Lesen gleich eine ganze Palette von Emotionen, die so nachvollziebar sind und so vielfältig, wie es das Leben nur sein kann. Ich weiß nicht, wann ich mich das letzte Mal mit einem 59jährigen knurrigen und doch so liebenswerten Protagonisten eines Buches so sehr identifizieren konnte. Großartiges Buch, das ich sicher nicht zum letzten Mal gelesen habe.
I'm really disappointed because I heard about the movie both American and swedish one but this was too boring and I hate that he wrote this book, because It's too slow, I love slow books that things happen slowly and there is a change at the end but this one was too boring so I Dnf it, even though that I forced myself to finish it.Still I'll look forward to the new book release and 2 other books that one of my favorite YouTuber's mentioned,but I don't check the summary yet and maybe I change my mind.
“We always think there's enough time to do things with other people. Time to say things to them. And then something happens and then we stand there holding on to words like 'if'.” My favorite read of 2022. Sad, emotional, hopeful. Obviously, a big focus of this book is loss and death, but also community, friendship and realising the worth of one's own life. Without romanticising anything, this book also shows the lowest lows in life, but leaves you feeling content and emotionally moved.
Hat mich in eine Leseflaute gebracht
Ich weiß, dass das Buch super beliebt ist. Also sehr sicher weicht meine Meinung von den meisten ab. Aber für mich hat es sich unfassbar gezogen und ich empfand es als sehr träge. Die ganze Stimmung hat mich auch eher frustriert und in eine Leseflaute gebracht. Aber der Hälfte bin ich dann aufs Hörbuch umgestiegen, weil ich es echt nicht mehr ertragen habe.
This book. I don’t even know where to begin. I finished it yesterday and it was the first time I really cried while reading. And not because it was that sad it was just that I couldn’t believe it was over. I didn’t want it to end and I felt so empty after. I bought this book, because someone who’s really important to me was reading it. The same day she told me, I watched a video and it came up there, which was such a good coincidence. I just had to order it! I was scared I wouldn’t like it, because I really wanted to love it and I did!! It was so different to the stories I’ve read before, but that’s what makes it special! I fell in love with the characters and the story and ahh I could scream. It was good! The character development as well!! And although I might relate to more things if I was older it was still so accurate to life. I also liked the style of the chapters and the captions <3 But to be honest, the whole time I was reading it I knew it would be 5 stars for me and it will forever stay one of my favorites, just because she recommended it to me. “A Man Called Ove” is a quick, fun read, that deals with the life of Ove, a grumpy old man and with his story and the people around him. It is heartwarming, fun, sad and so accurate. I am so thankful I was able to read and experience this.
This book was okay to read. I am a psychologist and I was surprised that there was no trigger warning and any support hotlines mentioned for suicide prevention, as we know that once people read how to kill themselves that the numbers go up. I found it a little odd to read all the different ways how Ove wanted to kill himself. I really needed a little to get into the book. In the end, I liked it and at moments it was really funny but at the beginning I was mostly annoyed. I think in the end, I wouldn't recommend reading the book.
*And then he utters seven words, which Parvaneh will always remember as the loveliest compliment he'll ever give her. „Because you are not a complete twit.“* TW: Suicide, Childloss Oh this book has been a journey for me. It took me so long to get hooked and a lot of reading pauses but oh did it catch me. Ove is probably the most likeable unlikeable character ever. I just love him. And i love the way he is written its just so touching. Every single piece of his backstory is so well put together. First you fall in love with Sonja and you can then see all the little nooks that just makes it perfect. The dynamic between Ove and Parvaneh is my highlight. The way they bonded and how she slowy became the child he could never have is just so touching. Definitly recommend if you‘re in for a lot of bonding over completly differenct characters.
This book is EVERYTHING. It gave me all the emotions from laughing out loud to literally sobbing on the couch. Which is completely new to me, no book has ever made me feel this way and I have yet to grasp why. To be honest, it took me about 100 pages to get into the story and warm up with Ove. But when I finally did it felt like coming home every single time I opened the book (which was not really often as I have read it in only 5 days). There is just that one part with the cat in the car acting utterly human where I felt like „umm well this goes too far, there’s no cat that would ever do that“. But oh well, let Backman use this exaggeration as a stylistic device if he can’t stop himself from doing so. In short: A man called Ove is an easy to read, heartwarming book. I loved it.
Hace mucho no leía algo así. Probablemente nunca había leído algo así. A Man Called Ove es un libro inesperado, con un personaje principal que al inicio odié y terminé queriendo mucho. Te hace pensar sobre lo que es la vida cuando ya no tienes ganas de vivirla, y las pequeñas cosas que hacen que valga la pena hacerlo. La verdad pensé que iba a llorar y estaba mentalizada para hacerlo pero más que sentirme triste me siento completa, me hace ver todo a mi alrededor y apreciar la cotidianeidad de mi vida, las cosas y las personas que me rodean. Este libro es una prueba de que no necesitas más de 300 páginas para poder desarrollar personajes completos, complejos y con historias conmovedoras. Debí haber escrito esta reseña después porque mi cerebro no sabe como poner en palabras lo que siente mi corazón.
How an old bitter man with principles takes your heart.
Ove is a man I would have loved to know. A man with principles and always unwavering in his perspective. Loving below the surface. The journey you will take with him isn't one you'll come across very often. A story about loss and tragedy, new friends and a purpose. From desperate measures to comically disputes. I may have shed one or more tears and can whole heartedly say, this is a book i'd recommend any time.
You can read my review on my blog here - http://storypals.net/book-report-a-man-called-ove-fredrik-backman/ Or here. Thank the lords that I was recommended this book by one of my friends, thank the lord that I just finished reading We are Okay By Nina LaCour that I didn’t push his recommendation and immediately jumped at the opportunity and picked this book up. I know myself, I had bought A man called Ove on my kindle long ago but didn’t bring myself to read it but then that happened and I read it. It is one of the best written, best thought of books I have ever read. WHAT COULD BE EVEN BETTER? The opening. A Man Called Ove opens with him terrorizing the employees of an Apple Store (my other personality was giggling, laughing and doing all sorts of dance in my head) trying to buy a computer. Even though this chapter isn’t the start of the story or doesn’t even make sense as to why it as given to us in the very beginning, it makes sense at the end of the book. Ah, I am in love with a man called Ove and I can’t even begin to express how happy he made me throughout the book, I was laughing out loud on one page and on the other half of it crying my heart out. Thank you for the all the emotions. WHAT IS ‘A MAN CALLED OVE’ ABOUT? A Man Called Ove” tells the familiar story of the curmudgeonly old man whose grumpy life is brightened by forces beyond his control. These forces take the guise of a much younger person who provides a sense of purpose for the old hero. But behind the cranky exterior, there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations. The story is more like a slice of life, with collective events told in past and present, going back and forth. The summary sounds really boring are actually not very much for a person to actually go read about it, right? I mean why would somebody want to read about an old man whos mad at everybody? I will tell you why? REASONS TO READ A MAN CALLED OVE It is one big collective story but the chapters itself are a collection of short stories, funny stories about a curmudgeon. The book is like life, it is like you get to know a person, you see only the exterior at first and then when you talk you know their background, their story, who they are, what they are and what formed that person, that is exactly how A man called Ove is, you will be like oh he is grumpy, blah not fun. But then you read about his past, you smile, you fall in love along with him, you cry when he cries and you understand. It’s satisfying, heartbreaking and deeply human, it talks about how little things life brings us joy, those little moments. Ah!! There is not just one thing about this book, not just one concept but so many others. There is a foreign lady, there is LGBT, there is so much more about society and people in general, talking more in-depth about it will just spoil the book for you, so I am gonna stop here. That human connection is so real. Like a man who has given up in life, like a man who thinks the purpose of his life is over and then life has a way to surprise him, ah! Read this book to see best inside other people, and about finding ways to be persistently oneself while still changing enough to find new connections, and about recognizing those moments when someone is showing you their best without getting caught up on the surface presentation. THE WAY THE STORY HAS BEEN TOLD IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! I don’t know why but linear storytelling is great, but somehow when it is not linear the story speaks to me more, I get more invested and I wanted to read more about it. Hence. This is us and Dunkirk. He’s 59 when the story opens, but by the end of the book, mostly through flashback chapters, the reader knows his childhood and early adulthood and much of the story of his marriage and about that man himself, his principles, his life. This is a book that could have been extremely sad and yet isn’t. It’s a book about sombre, depressing topics that somehow manages to be delightfully funny, at some points even laughing out loud felt wrong because the story is sad but I just couldn’t help it (hat me all you want but that’s the truth). It manages to treat a collection of very different characters with individualized deep empathy and appreciation, while never pushing them all into the same mould. And the ending is wonderful. Rating: 4/5 stars Why did I take one star out if it’s so great? Because it just didn’t push me enough to love it to extremes, I enjoyed, I loved it but I don’t something was missing. Let me go out and find what that is or maybe as well watch the film and come back to you on it. 🙂 Mridu
I couldn't finish this. It revolves around Ove, a grumpy old man, whose life changes when a cheerful family moves in next door. What unfolded was the all-too-familiar trope of a 'crabby old man softened by joy.' The book's emphasis on humorous dialogues and interactions didn't resonate with me. I'm more attracted to the suspense of horror and the intrigue of mysteries, preferring enthralling plots over commonplace dialogues. The characters, though not superficial, and their everyday environment were uninspiring. Their predictable developments and the ordinary plot couldn't keep my interest. Additionally, the book's preachy undertone, intent on imparting life lessons, detracted from my reading experience. I prefer stories that entertain or inform, rather than ones that feel like moral lectures. Overall, A Man Called Ove was a letdown. It gets one star from me; it may suit many others, but it failed to capture my interest or maintain my attention.
Soooooo… This is a sad book, can't count the number of times I shed a tear and the end had me full on sobbing. This is, however, not a book whose only trait is being sad. It deals with very difficult topics regarding love, life, loneliness, bureaucracy, family, and a bunch of other things.Ove is… an amazing character to say the least. He's a wonderful person who's gone through a lot in his life and is a direct result from all that. He has the biggest of hearts and is always there to help people, even if he reluctantly admits it.Sonja's character is also really cool, she's a beautiful presence throughout the book, and Parvaneh is definitely my favourite.Things that made me sob HARD. <spoiler> Finding out that Sonja was dead </spoiler> <spoiler> Every single time Ove tried to kill himself and stopped only to help others. </spoiler> <spoiler> The fact that the girls call Ove granddad. </spoiler> <spoiler> Jimmy's story. </spoiler> <spoiler> Sonja's story, her dad, and the whole Spain trip. </spoiler> <spoiler> THE CAT AND OVE </spoiler> <spoiler> The kid Ove helped fix a bike and his relationship with Sonja. </spoiler> <spoiler> The gay kid and how Ove just let him in without a second thought. </spoiler>
Frederik Backman tells a super heartwarming, thought-provoking story that made me laugh out loud and sob my heart out. Backman has an impeccable writing style that is also picturesque and emotionally engaging. Actions speak so much louder than words: Ove, I owe you for you made me deeply reflect on what really counts in life. Love you ❤️ Absolutely fantastic & evocative story that deserves all the stars and rainbows
Nee, watt nett! Das kommt in die Hall of Fame 2014, auch wenn mir dieser Ove vermutlich nicht arg sympathisch wäre, hätte ich ihn getroffen. Seine Frau Sonja vermutlich schon eher. Insgesamt aber ein seeehr nettes Buch, gespickt mit sympathischen Charakteren, von der iranischen Nachbarin bis zum schwulen Caféhauserben. Heiko Deutschmann liest das auch sehr ordentlich (auch wenn er vermutlich deutlich weniger rauchen und oder saufen sollte, wenn er von seiner Stimme noch länger was haben will - der hört sich ca. 30 Jahre älter an, als er aussieht -nicht, das ich das jetzt unangenehm fände...)
Description
Book Information
Posts
"We always think there's enough time to do things with other people. Time to say things to them. And then something happens and then we stand there holding on to words like 'if!"
A Man Called Ove fühlt sich lange wie ein ganz gewöhnliches Buch an – bis man am Ende angekommen ist und Rotz und Wasser heult. Ove und all die anderen Charaktere sind mir so sehr ans Herz gewachsen. Ove ist jemand, den ich anfangs nicht mochte, und doch habe ich ihn am Ende geliebt. Die Geschichte ist traurig, emotional und gleichzeitig voller Humor. Ein großer Schwerpunkt des Buches liegt natürlich auf Verlust und Tod, aber ebenso auf Gemeinschaft und Freundschaft. Besonders schön fand ich, wie sich nach und nach die Beziehungen zwischen den Charakteren entwickeln und zeigen, dass niemand wirklich allein sein muss, wenn man sich auf andere einlässt.
Super süßes Buch
Wow! Dieses Buch war wirklich wirklich toll. Fredrik Backman hat einen ganz besonderen Schreibstil, der in dem Buch die Emotionen noch verstärken konnte. Es geht um einen grantigen, alten Mann, und im Laufe des Buches bekommt man Schritt für Schritt heraus, was ihn dazu gemacht hat. Seine Lebensgeschichte ist herzzerreißend schön & traurig zugleich. Es gab Stellen, da hab ich gekichert, und Stelllen, wo ich geweint hab. Ein Must-Read! 🤩
Als ich die Kurzbeschreibung zu diesem Buch gelesen habe, hätte ich nie erwartet das mich dieses Buch so berühren könnte. Die Geschichte ist vom Tempo her ziemlich langsam und man wechselt immer wieder zwischen zwei Zeitebenen, der Gegenwart und Oves Vergangenheit, hin und her. Teilweise hatte es ein paar Längen, besonders in den Rückblicken, doch insgesamt fühlte ich mich immer gut unterhalten. Die Geschichte ist unglaublich berührend und man durchlebt ein echtes Wechselbad der Gefühle. Ich habe das Buch jeweils auf dem Weg in die Uni im Zug gelesen und in einem Moment musste ich mir ein lautes Lachen verkneifen und nur ein paar Seiten später die Tränen zurück halten. Das Ende habe ich dann glücklicherweise zu Hause gelesen, denn dieses hat mir echt das Herz gebrochen und die Tränen sind, selbst nachdem ich das Buch weggelegt hatte, nur so geflossen. Gleichzeitig war ich aber auch am Lächeln, denn besser hätte das Ende einfach nicht passen können. Ove ist ein absolut unglaublicher und einzigartiger Charaktere. Er findet einfach immer etwas zu meckern und mir ist wirklich noch nie eine so mürrische Figur begegnet. Doch trotz, oder vielleicht auch gerade wegen, all seinen Fehlern kann man einfach nicht anders als Ove im Verlauf der Geschichte ins Herz zu schliessen. Denn auch wenn er sich gegen aussen ganz anders gibt, und es selbst nie zugeben würde, hat er doch ein gutes Herz und verbringt mindestens so viel Zeit damit anderen Menschen zu helfen, wie sich über sie zu ärgern. Doch auch die Nebencharaktere sind unglaublich vielfältig und interessant. Auch sie haben alle ihre Fehler, doch je mehr man sie kennen lernt, desto mehr schliesst man auch sie ins Herz. Ganz besonders mochte ich Parvaneh, Oves neue, schwangere Nachbarin, da sie die einzige ist die ihm die Stirn bieten kann und die beiden daher ein tolles Team abgeben. Und die Katze, weil sie einfach ist, wie Katzen halt so sind. Ich bin wirklich froh, dass ich dieses Buch geschenkt bekommen habe, denn asonsten wäre mir eine wirklich berührende Geschichte entgangen. 4,5*
"Liebe ist etwas Sonderbares. Sie überkommt eine völlig überraschend." Genauso ist es auch mit diesem Buch. Man durchlebt beim Lesen gleich eine ganze Palette von Emotionen, die so nachvollziebar sind und so vielfältig, wie es das Leben nur sein kann. Ich weiß nicht, wann ich mich das letzte Mal mit einem 59jährigen knurrigen und doch so liebenswerten Protagonisten eines Buches so sehr identifizieren konnte. Großartiges Buch, das ich sicher nicht zum letzten Mal gelesen habe.
I'm really disappointed because I heard about the movie both American and swedish one but this was too boring and I hate that he wrote this book, because It's too slow, I love slow books that things happen slowly and there is a change at the end but this one was too boring so I Dnf it, even though that I forced myself to finish it.Still I'll look forward to the new book release and 2 other books that one of my favorite YouTuber's mentioned,but I don't check the summary yet and maybe I change my mind.
“We always think there's enough time to do things with other people. Time to say things to them. And then something happens and then we stand there holding on to words like 'if'.” My favorite read of 2022. Sad, emotional, hopeful. Obviously, a big focus of this book is loss and death, but also community, friendship and realising the worth of one's own life. Without romanticising anything, this book also shows the lowest lows in life, but leaves you feeling content and emotionally moved.
Hat mich in eine Leseflaute gebracht
Ich weiß, dass das Buch super beliebt ist. Also sehr sicher weicht meine Meinung von den meisten ab. Aber für mich hat es sich unfassbar gezogen und ich empfand es als sehr träge. Die ganze Stimmung hat mich auch eher frustriert und in eine Leseflaute gebracht. Aber der Hälfte bin ich dann aufs Hörbuch umgestiegen, weil ich es echt nicht mehr ertragen habe.
This book. I don’t even know where to begin. I finished it yesterday and it was the first time I really cried while reading. And not because it was that sad it was just that I couldn’t believe it was over. I didn’t want it to end and I felt so empty after. I bought this book, because someone who’s really important to me was reading it. The same day she told me, I watched a video and it came up there, which was such a good coincidence. I just had to order it! I was scared I wouldn’t like it, because I really wanted to love it and I did!! It was so different to the stories I’ve read before, but that’s what makes it special! I fell in love with the characters and the story and ahh I could scream. It was good! The character development as well!! And although I might relate to more things if I was older it was still so accurate to life. I also liked the style of the chapters and the captions <3 But to be honest, the whole time I was reading it I knew it would be 5 stars for me and it will forever stay one of my favorites, just because she recommended it to me. “A Man Called Ove” is a quick, fun read, that deals with the life of Ove, a grumpy old man and with his story and the people around him. It is heartwarming, fun, sad and so accurate. I am so thankful I was able to read and experience this.
This book was okay to read. I am a psychologist and I was surprised that there was no trigger warning and any support hotlines mentioned for suicide prevention, as we know that once people read how to kill themselves that the numbers go up. I found it a little odd to read all the different ways how Ove wanted to kill himself. I really needed a little to get into the book. In the end, I liked it and at moments it was really funny but at the beginning I was mostly annoyed. I think in the end, I wouldn't recommend reading the book.
*And then he utters seven words, which Parvaneh will always remember as the loveliest compliment he'll ever give her. „Because you are not a complete twit.“* TW: Suicide, Childloss Oh this book has been a journey for me. It took me so long to get hooked and a lot of reading pauses but oh did it catch me. Ove is probably the most likeable unlikeable character ever. I just love him. And i love the way he is written its just so touching. Every single piece of his backstory is so well put together. First you fall in love with Sonja and you can then see all the little nooks that just makes it perfect. The dynamic between Ove and Parvaneh is my highlight. The way they bonded and how she slowy became the child he could never have is just so touching. Definitly recommend if you‘re in for a lot of bonding over completly differenct characters.
This book is EVERYTHING. It gave me all the emotions from laughing out loud to literally sobbing on the couch. Which is completely new to me, no book has ever made me feel this way and I have yet to grasp why. To be honest, it took me about 100 pages to get into the story and warm up with Ove. But when I finally did it felt like coming home every single time I opened the book (which was not really often as I have read it in only 5 days). There is just that one part with the cat in the car acting utterly human where I felt like „umm well this goes too far, there’s no cat that would ever do that“. But oh well, let Backman use this exaggeration as a stylistic device if he can’t stop himself from doing so. In short: A man called Ove is an easy to read, heartwarming book. I loved it.
Hace mucho no leía algo así. Probablemente nunca había leído algo así. A Man Called Ove es un libro inesperado, con un personaje principal que al inicio odié y terminé queriendo mucho. Te hace pensar sobre lo que es la vida cuando ya no tienes ganas de vivirla, y las pequeñas cosas que hacen que valga la pena hacerlo. La verdad pensé que iba a llorar y estaba mentalizada para hacerlo pero más que sentirme triste me siento completa, me hace ver todo a mi alrededor y apreciar la cotidianeidad de mi vida, las cosas y las personas que me rodean. Este libro es una prueba de que no necesitas más de 300 páginas para poder desarrollar personajes completos, complejos y con historias conmovedoras. Debí haber escrito esta reseña después porque mi cerebro no sabe como poner en palabras lo que siente mi corazón.
How an old bitter man with principles takes your heart.
Ove is a man I would have loved to know. A man with principles and always unwavering in his perspective. Loving below the surface. The journey you will take with him isn't one you'll come across very often. A story about loss and tragedy, new friends and a purpose. From desperate measures to comically disputes. I may have shed one or more tears and can whole heartedly say, this is a book i'd recommend any time.
You can read my review on my blog here - http://storypals.net/book-report-a-man-called-ove-fredrik-backman/ Or here. Thank the lords that I was recommended this book by one of my friends, thank the lord that I just finished reading We are Okay By Nina LaCour that I didn’t push his recommendation and immediately jumped at the opportunity and picked this book up. I know myself, I had bought A man called Ove on my kindle long ago but didn’t bring myself to read it but then that happened and I read it. It is one of the best written, best thought of books I have ever read. WHAT COULD BE EVEN BETTER? The opening. A Man Called Ove opens with him terrorizing the employees of an Apple Store (my other personality was giggling, laughing and doing all sorts of dance in my head) trying to buy a computer. Even though this chapter isn’t the start of the story or doesn’t even make sense as to why it as given to us in the very beginning, it makes sense at the end of the book. Ah, I am in love with a man called Ove and I can’t even begin to express how happy he made me throughout the book, I was laughing out loud on one page and on the other half of it crying my heart out. Thank you for the all the emotions. WHAT IS ‘A MAN CALLED OVE’ ABOUT? A Man Called Ove” tells the familiar story of the curmudgeonly old man whose grumpy life is brightened by forces beyond his control. These forces take the guise of a much younger person who provides a sense of purpose for the old hero. But behind the cranky exterior, there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations. The story is more like a slice of life, with collective events told in past and present, going back and forth. The summary sounds really boring are actually not very much for a person to actually go read about it, right? I mean why would somebody want to read about an old man whos mad at everybody? I will tell you why? REASONS TO READ A MAN CALLED OVE It is one big collective story but the chapters itself are a collection of short stories, funny stories about a curmudgeon. The book is like life, it is like you get to know a person, you see only the exterior at first and then when you talk you know their background, their story, who they are, what they are and what formed that person, that is exactly how A man called Ove is, you will be like oh he is grumpy, blah not fun. But then you read about his past, you smile, you fall in love along with him, you cry when he cries and you understand. It’s satisfying, heartbreaking and deeply human, it talks about how little things life brings us joy, those little moments. Ah!! There is not just one thing about this book, not just one concept but so many others. There is a foreign lady, there is LGBT, there is so much more about society and people in general, talking more in-depth about it will just spoil the book for you, so I am gonna stop here. That human connection is so real. Like a man who has given up in life, like a man who thinks the purpose of his life is over and then life has a way to surprise him, ah! Read this book to see best inside other people, and about finding ways to be persistently oneself while still changing enough to find new connections, and about recognizing those moments when someone is showing you their best without getting caught up on the surface presentation. THE WAY THE STORY HAS BEEN TOLD IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! I don’t know why but linear storytelling is great, but somehow when it is not linear the story speaks to me more, I get more invested and I wanted to read more about it. Hence. This is us and Dunkirk. He’s 59 when the story opens, but by the end of the book, mostly through flashback chapters, the reader knows his childhood and early adulthood and much of the story of his marriage and about that man himself, his principles, his life. This is a book that could have been extremely sad and yet isn’t. It’s a book about sombre, depressing topics that somehow manages to be delightfully funny, at some points even laughing out loud felt wrong because the story is sad but I just couldn’t help it (hat me all you want but that’s the truth). It manages to treat a collection of very different characters with individualized deep empathy and appreciation, while never pushing them all into the same mould. And the ending is wonderful. Rating: 4/5 stars Why did I take one star out if it’s so great? Because it just didn’t push me enough to love it to extremes, I enjoyed, I loved it but I don’t something was missing. Let me go out and find what that is or maybe as well watch the film and come back to you on it. 🙂 Mridu
I couldn't finish this. It revolves around Ove, a grumpy old man, whose life changes when a cheerful family moves in next door. What unfolded was the all-too-familiar trope of a 'crabby old man softened by joy.' The book's emphasis on humorous dialogues and interactions didn't resonate with me. I'm more attracted to the suspense of horror and the intrigue of mysteries, preferring enthralling plots over commonplace dialogues. The characters, though not superficial, and their everyday environment were uninspiring. Their predictable developments and the ordinary plot couldn't keep my interest. Additionally, the book's preachy undertone, intent on imparting life lessons, detracted from my reading experience. I prefer stories that entertain or inform, rather than ones that feel like moral lectures. Overall, A Man Called Ove was a letdown. It gets one star from me; it may suit many others, but it failed to capture my interest or maintain my attention.
Soooooo… This is a sad book, can't count the number of times I shed a tear and the end had me full on sobbing. This is, however, not a book whose only trait is being sad. It deals with very difficult topics regarding love, life, loneliness, bureaucracy, family, and a bunch of other things.Ove is… an amazing character to say the least. He's a wonderful person who's gone through a lot in his life and is a direct result from all that. He has the biggest of hearts and is always there to help people, even if he reluctantly admits it.Sonja's character is also really cool, she's a beautiful presence throughout the book, and Parvaneh is definitely my favourite.Things that made me sob HARD. <spoiler> Finding out that Sonja was dead </spoiler> <spoiler> Every single time Ove tried to kill himself and stopped only to help others. </spoiler> <spoiler> The fact that the girls call Ove granddad. </spoiler> <spoiler> Jimmy's story. </spoiler> <spoiler> Sonja's story, her dad, and the whole Spain trip. </spoiler> <spoiler> THE CAT AND OVE </spoiler> <spoiler> The kid Ove helped fix a bike and his relationship with Sonja. </spoiler> <spoiler> The gay kid and how Ove just let him in without a second thought. </spoiler>
Frederik Backman tells a super heartwarming, thought-provoking story that made me laugh out loud and sob my heart out. Backman has an impeccable writing style that is also picturesque and emotionally engaging. Actions speak so much louder than words: Ove, I owe you for you made me deeply reflect on what really counts in life. Love you ❤️ Absolutely fantastic & evocative story that deserves all the stars and rainbows
Nee, watt nett! Das kommt in die Hall of Fame 2014, auch wenn mir dieser Ove vermutlich nicht arg sympathisch wäre, hätte ich ihn getroffen. Seine Frau Sonja vermutlich schon eher. Insgesamt aber ein seeehr nettes Buch, gespickt mit sympathischen Charakteren, von der iranischen Nachbarin bis zum schwulen Caféhauserben. Heiko Deutschmann liest das auch sehr ordentlich (auch wenn er vermutlich deutlich weniger rauchen und oder saufen sollte, wenn er von seiner Stimme noch länger was haben will - der hört sich ca. 30 Jahre älter an, als er aussieht -nicht, das ich das jetzt unangenehm fände...)