A Man Called Ove

by Fredrik Backman

Paperback, 295 pages

English language

Published Dec. 14, 2015 by Sceptre.

ISBN:: 978-1-4447-7581-5

(14 reviews)

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 …

A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

(Previous notes): Loved this book (translation from Swedish). Quirky story of a curmudgeon which is also a film (with English subtitles) on Netflix. Backman is a successful journalist, author, and blogger. Also enjoyed ‘Britt-Marie Was Here’ and I look forward to checking out his latest new release.

2 editions

KnitAFett reviewed A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

This book. Oh, this book.

5 stars

I adored this book. So much.

It was a lighter read which was really nice since the overall theme of the book could be a little heavy.

Ove is a widowed old curmudgeon of a man who is very abrasive and unlikeable to most when they first meet him. And he wants to end his life to be with his wife again. And all the pesky neighbors keep getting in the way.

This book was very much like an onion. Backman did a great job of peeling back the layers of Ove throughout the book so you could start to see how he thinks and that he's not just the cranky man he has the reputation for being.

I laughed a lot through this book. And cried at the end.

I have given this book many hugs.

Ben - and son (James) reviewed A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Amazing

5 stars

After having spent months reading through a very long series, I was finding it hard to pick up and get through another book.

This book cured me. At once it is annoying and compelling - the main character is at once understandable, relatable and a little strange to us.

It's a great story which will stick with you... and after reading it, you can search out other material (there's one great movie, and another not so great version).

genebean@bookwyrm.social reviewed A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Review of 'A Man Called Ove' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I don’t remember the last time I laughed this much at a book!

acaleyn@bookwyrm.social reviewed A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Review of 'A Man Called Ove' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This really surprised me with how much I liked it. It's hard to find a vein of contemporary fiction that does it for me, but boy did I just connect with this crotchety old man.

lakelady reviewed A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Review of 'A Man Called Ove' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Love and grief and reconnecting wrapped in a simple tale of neighbors. At times darkly humorous, at times with penetrating insight. Looking forward now to reading more by this same author.

debby_joyblue reviewed A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Review of 'A Man Called Ove' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A Man Called Ove is my IRL book group pick this session. I submitted it because I'd heard raves from several of my virtual book group pals. I'm so glad!

Give Ove some time to grow on you—don't give up! As is often the case, one of my favorite aspects of the book is the character/relationship development. Most of the characters are lovable, in their own way; but, it is particularly their relationships that make the story so desirable.

I didn't want the story to end; but, when it did, it was practically perfect in every way.