A Man Called Ove

I'm not sure I can even articulate what moved me so deeply about this book, but I think it had something to do with the resonance of Ove. Ove is every one of us who has ever quietly soldiered on, asking for nothing. And that spoke to my soul.

The main character, Ove, is a grumpy old man who grows on the reader as the story progresses. The clever use of unique metaphors and similies add to the humour as do the appearance of other interesting characters. I liked how contemporary issues such as immigrants, elder care, disabilities, family dynamics and homosexuality are covered in this entertaining and heartfelt story. There is also a cat! There is something for everyone in this engaging and well-written story.

It is rare for a story to stay with me as long as this one has. The weaving together of grief and hope was both heartwrenching and heartwarming. We are created and called to love God and love others. That isn’t always easy or convenient. This story showed what loving your neighbor can look like and how it can change a life. 

At first, the main character, Ove, seemed like a curmudgeon whose odd behavior infuriated and confused people around him (in humorous ways).

As I read further, I learned that his every quirk had a deep and satisfying reason. I also loved how the story was filled with kindness. The author, Fredrik Backman, is the king of quirky character development. I’ve read this book four times.

After watching the movie based on the novel A Man Called Otto, I read the book. The story of an angry, grumpy old man who wants to end his life after his wife’s death caught my attention.

Ove is the neighborhood busybody. He watches over the housing, tries to insist others do the same and is thoroughly obnoxious most of the time.

Yet, as the story unfolds, he finds himself drawn into life, becoming involved with a young couple and their children. He teaches the young woman how to drive and ends up driving her to the hospital when… show more.

At first glance, Ove, the grumpy old man, is a misanthropist who has grown disillusioned with the world.

However, as the story unfolds, it reveals the underlying kindness in the man as he undergoes an unexpected transformation. The book’s greatest strength lies in the author's ability to write in a manner that transcends language barriers.

Originally penned in Swedish, the translation allows English readers to feel entirely at home within its pages.

As with The Midnight Library, this book features a miserable protagonist. But Ove is more than a grumpy stick-in-the-mud. The more you learn about what shaped him, the more endearing he becomes.

When you realize he’s grieving over the recent death of his dear wife, your empathy swells, and you start to root for him, especially when you glimpse a little goodness in him. I love this book (and the movie) because it conveys a truth about the human condition: We are not meant to live in isolation.

If Ove can become a treasured part of his community and… show more.

A Man Called Ove was recommended to me by my husband. He is a voracious reader who has no qualms in casting a book to one side if it doesn’t immediately grab him – so I take his recommendations seriously. 

Ove is a grumpy old man who doesn’t want to continue living after the death of his wife. It sounds depressing and I nearly didn’t bother. But Backman’s skill as an author turns Ove’s story into an absolute delight. Ove may be grumpy, intolerant, and set in his ways but he is unable to turn his back on anyone in… show more.

I love this book because I once had a neighbor like Ove.

I was young and pregnant, and frankly a little frightened by him. Instead of having a cat, he had an old dog. The old dog got stuck in the mud in my backyard. I had to go over and knock on this neighbor’s door. Together, we wrestled to save the dog.

The man’s name was Charles and over the course of two years he taught me everything I know about gardening. When I read this book, I cried. Ove reminded me of Charles. 

This laugh-out-loud funny book is also a charming exploration of some of the assumptions we tend to make about older people, particularly those with challenging quirks and personalities. 

It is told in a light and engaging way, but really packs a punch with some insightful and thought-provoking messages.

The character of Ove will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book and it has the power to change the way you think not only about the older people in your life, but also your own future.