A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Amy      
Lynnie 

fiction

A Man Called Ove is the story of a Swedish man named Ove.  He's stuck in the mundane daily routines he follows until circumstances outside of his control begin to turn his routines and his life upside down.


Amy's Review

This novel tells a bittersweet story about a man who is much more bitter than sweet. In fact, he’s a curmudgeon, a stickler, a simple man who thrives on routine. He is opinionated, negative, fair-minded when it suits him, and lonely. He needs to feel in control. In my mind, he looks and acts like the old man in Pixar’s movie “Up”. The story was more slow-paced than I like but it was heartwarming in several ways. The story highlights the difficult grieving process for a solitary man with no family nor real friends. It gives hope that, deep down, people are good and that those in need, no matter how cold on the surface, might be able to find support and love in unexpected places while, in turn, bringing joy to others and meaning to his own life.

The author, Fredrik Backman, has a good sense of humor and I even laughed out loud a couple times! I was happy with the way the story ended which made up for the slow pace. But, I was frustrated with the implications regarding the Swedish government (of which I know nothing). If there are really governmental departments with the power to alter your lifestyle in ways that are not in accord with your wishes and act against your personal freedoms, I’m not sure why Sweden gets so much praise. But, I’m assuming there must be some truth to this situation since the government is the “bad guy” in this novel.

Lynnie's Review

By all accounts, you shouldn't like Ove who is a cantankerous, spiteful, angry older man. His life is driven by routine, even when the routines don't make much sense to the people around him, he's opinionated- unwavering in his ideas of right and wrong, and he does not bother to hide his disdain when he deems your actions "wrong" by his standards. The expression "he does not suffer fools gladly" was written with Ove in mind.

And yet, there is something about Ove that made me look forward to reading more about him. I adored watching his world get turned topsy turvy as his neighbors made him part of their lives and made themselves part of Ove's life, sometimes against his will. It was funny, charming, and remarkably moving to watch as Ove rediscovers life, love, and community.