Review of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Summary

Meet Ove. The very definition of a curmudgeonly old man. While grieving his late wife, a young family moves in next door. With his strict routines, short temper, and general dislike for others, Ove finds the family irritating, but unavoidable. Over time, however, given various interactions with the new family and other neighbors, Ove opens up and learns to let others in again. This is the story of unexpected friendships, a scruffy cat, and healing.

Review

If you’re looking for a quick recommendation, yes, I would definitely recommend this book!

This is one of the best books I read in 2019. I know, I was a little late to the party, but I still loved it! What I enjoyed so much about it was mainly the characters. Especially Ove. Each character is so unique and different, but Ove stands out. Although he is rude, and occasionally downright mean, he’s still loveable. Especially after we learn his backstory. He’s a lot like the old guy in Up, Carl. Kind of grumpy, but you can’t help but love him.

The family that moves in next door helps Ove to realize he’s not alone in his grieving process. That he has a support system, even if he doesn’t initially want it. I think his character development is great, because he starts out rough and mean, but as we learn about his earlier life, he softens.

Another great part I enjoyed about this book was the writing. It’s quirky. But not in a bad way. It’s also really funny. The character descriptions bring each person to life, the depictions of comical situations are hilarious, and the portrayal of the past puts the present into perspective. The writing adds depth to the story that I don’t think many authors could accomplish with similar stories. It’s as unique as Ove himself.

Another part I enjoyed was the ending. Backman builds up Ove’s relationships with others, but these relationships are put to the test. To see if they really do care about Ove and his life. Of course, they do. But I think it’s important to see that. To show just how much progress Ove has made when it comes to relationships with his neighbors. The ending ties everything up in a nice bow, which left me content after watching Ove go through everything that he did.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to a busy mom. It’s one of those feel-good novels that you won’t soon forget. It’s one of the books I would let you borrow if I had it on my shelves, it’s that good. You won’t regret reading this one!

Rating

Five out of five stars

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If you enjoyed my review of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, you might also like All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood. Check out my review!

If you’re interested in purchasing A Man Called Ove, here are some quick links to buy the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. And, if you’re interested to see what others think, here’s the link to the book on Goodreads.