A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Reading this book reaffirms that we can’t define a whole person based on just a few minutes of interaction. More often than not, we find ourselves wondering whether someone is genuinely unkind or simply going through a difficult time, yet we tend to assume the worst. If I had met Ove in his usual grumpy self, I wouldn’t have liked him either. But reading his story gave me a deeper understanding of why he is the way he is. Unfortunately, not everyone gets to have their internal battles and struggles laid out in a book.
Ove is a very straightforward character. He has firm principles and may seem inflexible at times, but he truly believes that the right way is the only way. He loves with all his heart and feels loss just as deeply. Before I knew it, Ove found his way into my heart, and I can’t help but be fond of this grumpy old man.
The whole premise of this book could have easily felt depressing but with Ove's unintended humor, I found myself smiling a lot of times. I fell in love with Fredrik Backman's storytelling, his writing is very heartfelt and the book has a very natural progression. I am definitely looking forward to more of his work.
I saw the movie without realizing it was based on a book, but that didn’t make the reading experience any less enjoyable. Still, I’d definitely recommend reading the book first if you can!
P.S. I raided our toolbox for this photo haha I just think it’s perfectly Ove-coded! 😅
At first sight, Ove is almost certainly the grumpiest man you will ever meet. He thinks himself surrounded by idiots - neighbours who can't reverse a trailer properly, joggers, shop assistants who talk in code, and the perpetrators of the vicious coup d'etat that ousted him as Chairman of the Residents' Association. He will persist in making his daily inspection rounds of the local streets.
But isn't it rare, these days, to find such old-fashioned clarity of belief and deed? Such unswerving conviction about what the world should be, and a lifelong dedication to making it just so?
In the end, you will see, there is something about Ove that is quite irresistible...
The word-of-mouth bestseller causing a sensation across Europe, Fredrik Backman's heartwarming debut is a funny, moving, uplifting tale of love and community that will leave you with a spring in your step - and less ready to judge on first impressions a man you might one day wish to have as your dearest friend.