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Overview
Overview
Read the New York Times bestseller that has taken the world by storm In this "charming debut" (People) from one of Sweden's most successful authors, a grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door. Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon--the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him "the bitter neighbor from hell." But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time? 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. A feel-good story in the spirit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Fredrik Backman's novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. "If there was an award for 'Most Charming Book of the Year, ' this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down" (Booklist, starred review).
- Format: TradePaperback
- Author: Backman, Fredrik
- ISBN: 9781476738024
- Condition: Used
- Dimensions: 8.20 x 1.00
- Number Of Pages: 368
- Publication Year: 2015
Customer Reviews
Rating Snapshot
5 ★
61%
4 ★
26%
3 ★
9%
2 ★
0%
1 ★
4%
23 Ratings
0
0% Would Recommend
0 Recommendations
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A Man Called Ove: A Character Study of an Impactful Life
Terry H. - 4 years 5 months agoA Man Called Ove is a rare book in that the protagonist is an older, curmudgeonly male. Ove has a gruff exterior that hides a loving, caring heart. He is helpful to those on the outside of society and those in need. Ove has great knowledge and a large skill set, both of which he shares to improve all around him. Ove shares his love with the world despite many trails and disappointments throughout his long life. He stays engaged in improving the world even though it does always return his love and commitment. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs an example of a person who stays connected to and continually improves the world despite ongoing loss and sadness. A Man Called Ove is, at the core, a character study of an impactful life.
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Catches one’s interest
Rita K. - 4 years 8 months agoIt was written too simply and moved too slowly. It had no plot and I had to push myself to finish reading the book…
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A Man Called Ove
Melissa B. - 5 years 2 months agoIt was a slow start, for me, but I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it. It was exceptional, by the end.
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Not my favorite Backman but well worth the read
Melissa R. - 5 years 6 months agoThose of you who have read my reviews before know that I am a fan of Fredrik Backman. Most people I know who like his books fell in love with him because of A Man Called Ove, yet it took me years to get around to reading it. I'm not sure why. It is an excellent book that has a similar ensemble cast to his other books. That said, I will say it lacked the utterly blissful charm and complexity of My Grandmother Said To Say She's Sorry and the profundity of Anxious People. I know, I have friends who feel the opposite. For me, this one lacked that extra layer of meaning or perhaps allegory in the case of My Grandmother that really makes Backman an extraordinary writer. His voice is still his voice and his characters are complicated and surprising. I particularly enjoyed a couple of the surprise revelations about people who figured in Ove's past and present. I also appreciated the diversity in a culture not really known for that. I was distracted by the fact that a friend told me Tom Hanks was making a movie of it. I kept picturing Hanks as Ove and the image really didn't quite fit (though I love him as an actor)
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A witty, grumpy old man teaches purpose and meaning to life
Heidi M. - 5 years 6 months agoThis is my new favorite book. It is intense with a topic that should make readers sad and thoughtful but is written in a way that brings wit, intelligence and comedy together. The characters use of analogies in describing things makes me giggle out loud and fall in love with this grumpy old man several times over. I recommend this to all types of readers, even if fiction novels is not your thing, you will enjoy this one. #SpringPicks