Book review: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Author: Fredrik Backman
Publisher: Washington Square Press (Simon & Schuster Imprint)
US Pub Date: August 27, 2012
Format: Paperback
Genre: Contemporary/ Fiction

In Two Sentences:

Ove is the grumpiest old man ever, with his strict beliefs and routines. One day a new family comes in and unlikely friendships come about.

My Thoughts:

I was expecting a heartwarming tale and that’s kind of what I got… but I also got a ton of laughs and tears. The first time I realized this was not going to be a completely happy book was the end of chapter four.

Ove starts every day with a walk around the neighborhood to make sure there isn’t any vandalism or theft. He’s convinced the one day he doesn’t check is the day there will be. He’s the man that’s grumpy at the youth and technology and it’s easy to see him as a grandpa, but he isn’t.

Throughout the novel the new neighbor comes and bothers him for little things. It also alternates between the current time and the story of him growing up and how he met his wife, and their life together. It was perfectly placed and the perfect cast of characters, with new characters being introduced at the right time.

With all of this happening I was surprised it didn’t seem like it was overwhelming at any point in time. It was very obvious what time period it was and his personality did not change a ton between the two. Just as much as expected.

I own a couple other books by him so I’m looking forward to reading them. A Man Called Ove was such a roller coaster of emotions I’m waiting a bit before reading the next one.