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A review by sergek94
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“We always think there's enough time to do things with other people. Time to say things to them. And then something happens and then we stand there holding on to words like 'if'.”
Sometimes, it's difficult knowing how to start a review, because the emotions a book could trigger the reader to feel can be so overwhelming, it feels like there really is no way to convey them in words. I am in such a situation now, but what helped me start this review, is imagining Ove, standing right in front of me, with his hands in his pockets, looking at me like I just crossed by him on the street wearing something ridiculous like a giant panda suit (no judgment if you like wearing that sort of thing), and telling me "and just bloody get on with it". At which, I most humbly say "okay Ove, I will".
“And time is a curious thing. Most of us only live for the time that lies right ahead of us. A few days, weeks, years. One of the most painful moments in a person's life probably comes with the insight that an age has been reached when there is more to look back on than ahead. And when time no longer lies ahead of one, other things have to be lived for. Memories, perhaps.”
This was my first Fredrik Backman novel, and damn, it tugged at my heartstrings so intensely. I always had a soft spot for elderly people, seeing how cruel life can be as one ages and as youth drains away, leaving behind a battered and tired person, full of memories of all the people they lost, without much prospects for a future. After all, isn't that what we all fear as human beings? To get to that fragile state? We know time is cruel, and given enough time, time will spare no one. I should've guessed that I would be sobbing while reading this book, before I got into it. But that's just because of my own personal hyper-soft spot for the elderly. I was lucky enough to have my grandmother living in the house with me for the first 21 years of my life, and I still remember her to this day, and how devastated I felt when she passed away, but she instilled in me a love and respect and appreciation for everyone who ventures into senior territory, because that part of life also has its own precious flavour.
“We fear it, yet most of us fear more than anything that it may take someone other than ourselves. For the greatest fear of death is always that it will pass us by. And leave us there alone.”
This is precisely where this book shines. Our dear Ove starts out this book in a very dark place, with so much behind him, but with so little in front of him. Just as Backman himself mentions, we all get to a point where we don't see any future ahead of us, not because we are in a depressive state, but because our biological timer is slowly running out. In that situation, we cling to all that we have lost, all that is behind us, and we find solace in them, but in that solace, we also find pain, knowing that the moments we left behind us, are just that, behind us, never to be within our reach. Ove is at that point in his life, and he's pretty much determined to end it, but with a twist of fate, the clouds clear from the sky, and the sun shines, in the form of new neighbours moving in next door, and from that day on, Ove's life is never the same, since people insist on never leaving him be.
This is a story about legacy, memories, love, and community. Backman has a very unique writing style that I enjoyed reading, and despite this being a translated work, it really does feel like it's written in the original language, since his unique prose shines through, even with the language barrier. He manages to bring tears to your eyes without you being sure if they're tears of sadness or tears of laughter. He so seamlessly manages to mix humour and sadness into a single sentence, triggering all sorts of emotional reactions in the reader. To be fair, there did come a point where I was kind of weary of the "grumpy old man being mean to everyone" situation, but around the end, Ode had my whole heart. This story is a perfect example of the phrase "still waters run deep",and shows the highly significant role memories and early experiences play in the development of a person.
“Ove feels an instinctive skepticism towards all people taller than six feet; the blood can’t quite make it all the way up to the brain.”
This story warms our heart with a beautiful love story, and we not only fall in love with Ove, but with sweet, lively and extremely loving Sonja. We understand why Ove is crazy about her, and we feel it too.
I'm glad I started my 2022 reading year with this lovely 5 star book, where I felt for Ove with every inch of my heart, considering his defeats my defeats, and his victories as my own victories. This was an excellent introduction for me to Fredrik Backman's works. I definitely recommend this book to everyone, and I would as far to say that this should be considered a modern day classic!
“She just smiled, said that she loved books more than anything, and started telling him excitedly what each of the ones in her lap was about. And Ove realised that he wanted to hear her talking about the things she loved for the rest of his life.”
Sometimes, it's difficult knowing how to start a review, because the emotions a book could trigger the reader to feel can be so overwhelming, it feels like there really is no way to convey them in words. I am in such a situation now, but what helped me start this review, is imagining Ove, standing right in front of me, with his hands in his pockets, looking at me like I just crossed by him on the street wearing something ridiculous like a giant panda suit (no judgment if you like wearing that sort of thing), and telling me "and just bloody get on with it". At which, I most humbly say "okay Ove, I will".
“And time is a curious thing. Most of us only live for the time that lies right ahead of us. A few days, weeks, years. One of the most painful moments in a person's life probably comes with the insight that an age has been reached when there is more to look back on than ahead. And when time no longer lies ahead of one, other things have to be lived for. Memories, perhaps.”
This was my first Fredrik Backman novel, and damn, it tugged at my heartstrings so intensely. I always had a soft spot for elderly people, seeing how cruel life can be as one ages and as youth drains away, leaving behind a battered and tired person, full of memories of all the people they lost, without much prospects for a future. After all, isn't that what we all fear as human beings? To get to that fragile state? We know time is cruel, and given enough time, time will spare no one. I should've guessed that I would be sobbing while reading this book, before I got into it. But that's just because of my own personal hyper-soft spot for the elderly. I was lucky enough to have my grandmother living in the house with me for the first 21 years of my life, and I still remember her to this day, and how devastated I felt when she passed away, but she instilled in me a love and respect and appreciation for everyone who ventures into senior territory, because that part of life also has its own precious flavour.
“We fear it, yet most of us fear more than anything that it may take someone other than ourselves. For the greatest fear of death is always that it will pass us by. And leave us there alone.”
This is precisely where this book shines. Our dear Ove starts out this book in a very dark place, with so much behind him, but with so little in front of him. Just as Backman himself mentions, we all get to a point where we don't see any future ahead of us, not because we are in a depressive state, but because our biological timer is slowly running out. In that situation, we cling to all that we have lost, all that is behind us, and we find solace in them, but in that solace, we also find pain, knowing that the moments we left behind us, are just that, behind us, never to be within our reach. Ove is at that point in his life, and he's pretty much determined to end it, but with a twist of fate, the clouds clear from the sky, and the sun shines, in the form of new neighbours moving in next door, and from that day on, Ove's life is never the same, since people insist on never leaving him be.
This is a story about legacy, memories, love, and community. Backman has a very unique writing style that I enjoyed reading, and despite this being a translated work, it really does feel like it's written in the original language, since his unique prose shines through, even with the language barrier. He manages to bring tears to your eyes without you being sure if they're tears of sadness or tears of laughter. He so seamlessly manages to mix humour and sadness into a single sentence, triggering all sorts of emotional reactions in the reader. To be fair, there did come a point where I was kind of weary of the "grumpy old man being mean to everyone" situation, but around the end, Ode had my whole heart. This story is a perfect example of the phrase "still waters run deep",and shows the highly significant role memories and early experiences play in the development of a person.
“Ove feels an instinctive skepticism towards all people taller than six feet; the blood can’t quite make it all the way up to the brain.”
This story warms our heart with a beautiful love story, and we not only fall in love with Ove, but with sweet, lively and extremely loving Sonja. We understand why Ove is crazy about her, and we feel it too.
I'm glad I started my 2022 reading year with this lovely 5 star book, where I felt for Ove with every inch of my heart, considering his defeats my defeats, and his victories as my own victories. This was an excellent introduction for me to Fredrik Backman's works. I definitely recommend this book to everyone, and I would as far to say that this should be considered a modern day classic!
“She just smiled, said that she loved books more than anything, and started telling him excitedly what each of the ones in her lap was about. And Ove realised that he wanted to hear her talking about the things she loved for the rest of his life.”