I recently finished reading A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It took me a while to "get into".... in the beginning I found Ove to be annoying - a cranky curmudgeon and I was thinking to myself "Seriously? A good friend LOVED this book?" But I continued reading, and just as Ove gradually "softens" so did I. Ove has recently been widowed and he is angry and lonely, bitter and truly lost without his wife Sonya. Ove is grumpy and to say he is set in his ways would be an understatement! He has little interest in forming relationships with his neighbours, particularly the new ones who have just moved in next door. He just wants to be left alone. But like it or not, they come into his life... I won't reveal any more of the story, but it will make you both laugh and cry and touch you in a very human way. It is simply written with a good deal of humour and although not a page turner, I kept wanting to read "just one more chapter" to see what Ove would get up to next. Read it, I think you'll like it.
Peace,
Linda
"Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die." ~ Anne Lamott
7 comments:
Seeing the book cover, one could think he does look grumpy. :)
The story sounds interesting and if well written can be very touching.
Wishing you a peaceful weekend, dear Linda, with good weather. Hugs!
Ove is now reserved! Our library has other books by this author, too.
I must try to add it to my list.
It's surprising...isn't it? At first you can't see how you are going to warm up to the characters or the book in general. But by the end, you can't help but love them all. I read most of The Nightingale but had to stop. It was not the right time for me to read it...if you know what I mean. I'll finish it some other time. Happy weekend! Hugs, Diane
Poor Ove. Continually diverted from his goal by those pesky neighbors. :) I didn't think of him as curmudgeonly so much as set in his ways and expecting everyone else to live up to his high standards (I'm married to one like that, so that's the part I picked up on), and even though he resented the intrusions he didn't turn them down. I'm firmly in the 'LOVED IT' camp.
I am reading one at the moment that is excellent! It's a YA novel which I usually don't care for, but it was recommended in the comments section of a blog I like by more than one person. It was available from my library as an ebook, so I thought I'd give it a go. So glad I did. 'The War that Saved My Life' by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley about children moved from London to the English countryside to escape the bombing in WWII.
Thanks for the recommendation. I love character books and someone this one sounds like it would appeal :) B x
I added it to my recommended reading list. I think it is a book I could relate to because Terry is becoming one of these grumpy old men! Thanks for the review.
xx, Carol
Post a Comment