A Man Called Ove

A Man Called Ove
by Fredrik Backman, Henning Koch
Pages: 337
Published by Atria Books
Publication Date July 15th 2014
Source: Bought
Genres: General Fiction
Goodreads

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.

Reasons to Read A Man Called Ove

• If you love character-driven, heart-warming reads A Man Called Ove is a must
• Ove is a rarity as he is a loveable curmudgeon and his story is like an onion, with each layer invoking more emotion.
• Fredrik Backman has a very subtle sense of humor that could bring a smile to the most heart-wrenching moments in the novel.
• I loved reading of the backstories of Ove’s neighbors and how he inadvertently affected their lives.
• Of course I also enjoyed learning about Ove’s past and what molded his personality and outlook on life.
• A Man Called Ove is an unexpected gem.  I closed the book happy to have made the journey, yet sad that it was over.