A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman

5 We all need an Ove in our lives…

 

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.

 

My thoughts…

This book came highly recommended by another amazing author, and much to my surprise sent me her copy.  I love it when other authors suggest books, I feel like its just going to be great!!  A Man Called Ove did not disappoint…

When you start this book off, you instantly think Ove is just a mean, grumpy, old man.  However as you delve deeper into his character you realize he has so many more layers.  Ove has so much depth, he is set in his ways, things have to be a certain way. There is no gray area with Ove.  With his wife however, she is the color and light in the world.

 

This book without making you realize it’s even happening will change your outlook on life.   It will change how you view others… is that man really grumpy or is he holding people at arms length for a reason??  I can’t tell you how much I put little sticky tabs in this book at the funny moments it had.  I LOL’d so much I think my husband thought I was loosing my mind.  However the author covers unbelievably hard subjects at the same time.  The ability this author had to weave such a in depth story of now and then was fantastic.  I loved seeing what made Ove who he was today.  I adored all of the side characters, and seeing how the just accepted Ove for who he was… well accept that one.  If you read the book you will understand who the one is.

All in all this book is just amazing.. I really think that everyone should read it.

 

Excerpt….

“Go and stand where you’re not in the way.”

The Lanky One nods, slightly puzzled.

“Holy Christ. A lower-arm amputee with cataracts could have backed this trailer more accurately than you,” Ove mutters as he gets into the car.

How can anyone be incapable of reversing with a trailer? he asks himself. How? How difficult is it to establish the basics of right and left and then do the opposite? How do these people make their way through life at all?

Of course it’s an automatic, Ove notes.  Might have known.  These morons would rather not have to drive their cars at all, let alone reverse into a parking space by themselves.  He puts it into drive and inches forward.  Should one really have a driver’s license if one can’t drive a real car rather than some Japanese robot vehicle? he wonders.  Ove doubts whether someone who can’t park a car properly should even be allowed to vote.

 

Have you read this book????? What did you think????