After reading “Anxious People” By Fredrik Backman almost two years ago and hating it, I vowed to never read another book by this author. Well ever since I read that awful book I have been seeing people rave about “A Man Called Ove”. I kept pushing off reading this one due to the author but I finally caved and started to listen to it at the beginning of this month, man oh man did Ove tear my heart apart!
“People said Ove saw the world in black and white. But she was color. All the color he had.”
Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Ove
About The Book
Author: Fredrik Backman
Publisher: Atria Books
Published Date: July 15th, 2014
Page Count: 337 Pages
Main Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Humor
GoodReads Rating: 4.37
“He went through life with his hands firmly shoved into his pockets. She danced.”
Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Ove
Synopsis
Ove is a grumpy widow who only wants to join his wife in death. However, his neighbors have different plans for him. To Ove it seems that no one in his neighborhood can actually fend for themselves, he gets interrupted time and time again to fix things for others or help someone in an emergency because if he doesn’t who will? Even though he might be a grumpy old man you will find he has a heart of gold that will make you melt and a past that will leave you sobbing.
“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.”
Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Ove
Rating
“Ove had never been asked how he lived before he met her. But if anyone had asked him, he would have answered that he didn’t.”
Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Ove
Review
I was in literal tears through most of this book. I promise, you will need a box of tissues to read this book.
I don’t know how he did it but Fredrik Backman had me hooked from the first chapter and I never once looked back. This is a super heavy book that has changed my life and will probably forever hold a place in my heart.
I loved all the characters despite the fact I typically hate grumpy characters in books. Ove is easy to hate at the start but once you start hearing about his background you fully understand why he is the way he is and you will end up loving him.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone but I would also like you to understand before reading this that there are some major trigger warnings to be aware of. First and most importantly, suicide. The mention of suicide is in basically every chapter. They also go into details about several different ways one can kill themselves, so if you are not mentally and emotionally in a good place please don’t pick this up till you are ready. Second is death of a loved one, besides suicide death is mentioned over and over in this book and if you have lost a spouse, child or close loved one recently please take care of yourself. Lastly, somethings that were briefly mentioned; Cancer, car crash and vulgar language.
If you are on the edge of reading this please do! However please take care of yourself while reading this book.
“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’.”
Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Ove
QOTD: What is the saddest book you have ever read?
World of Bai 
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