“A Man Called Ove” follows the life of an elderly. He seems to be very different to those around him. Mad even bitter. He is the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. But behind the mean old man exterior, there is a story of struggle and sadness. The book opens to one November morning where Ove unhappily meets his new chatty young neighbors along with two (just as chatty) young daughters.
Meeting them seems to be one of many life’s displeasures that Ove will have to tolerate. But after they accidentally hit his mailbox, this small inconvenience leads to a comical and heartwarming tale. One of an 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.
Thoughts
This book review is much over do, and for that, I apologize. This book was a splendid read. Truly it had me from the first page until the very last. And as for Ove, well I was immediately invested in him. Upon first meeting Ove, he doesn’t come across as a lovable kind of guy. Nevertheless, I still found him endearing and immensely amusing. Fredrik Backman was brilliant in drawing out feelings for a character that readers may otherwise find hard to like. Behind Ove’s harsh, brutally honest, and not so politically correct ways I discovered early on that life itself had helped shape this grumpy old man. As the story unfolds, you are not disappointed. From one chapter to the next readers travel between Ove’s past and present. In doing so intimate details about his early childhood and life as a young man begin to emerge.
With these journeys into his past, you began to understand Ove at a deeper level. Things that were once black and white are now filled with vivid colors. You find yourself wishing he wasn’t so ‘dead’ set on his ultimate goal, but you understand why as you hold your breath to see which direction he chooses. This story showcased one man’s struggle and the reality of a harsh world while revealing rays of hope, promise, and a future beyond the pain. Each character was introduced seamlessly and played their role perfectly. This book moved me; Ove moved me. It was beautiful written, and I’m glad to have read it.
I’m also pleased to report to you that its end was perfectly fixing. Don’t worry, no spoilers here. Though I was not ready to be done with this read, I happily did so when I saw how thoughtfully it ended. The landscape of the world you and Ove traveled together has changed. Not all at once, but slowly and entirely. In the most simplistic way, the closing pages summarized the truth Ove discovers about second chances. And this lesson reverberates through the very soul of this timely story.
This book surprisingly provided a personal connection for me as well. Ove in many ways shared similar traits of that of my late grandfather. So as I read it, I seemed to discover a truth about not one, but two men. But without this context, I believe readers will thoroughly enjoy this book. And quickly consider it to be among one of their favorites.
Review: Must Own It
Rating Scale:
Must Own It (A+)
Get It (A)
Check It Out (B)
Borrow It (C)
Pass It By (D)
Running From It (F)