A Man Called Ove (Review)

“Death is a strange thing. People live their whole lives as if it does not exist, and yet it’s often one of the great motivations for living. Some of us, in time, become so conscious of it that we live harder, more obstinately, with more fury. Some need its constant presence to even be aware of its antithesis. Others become so preoccupied with it that they go into the waiting room long before it has announced its arrival. 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.”

— Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Ove

The vibe

Book / Jacket / Cap / Collar / Dish / Clown / Shoes

The review

The thing about this book is it would make literally everyone who reads it feel their feels. And I love it for that. 

Somehow, after this book being on my TBR for SO DANG LONG, I still went into it pretty blind. I think you should to. 

The basis of this book is Ove recently lost his beloved wife and was forced into retirement by his company. He doesn’t have much left in his life and he’s bitter — which is a bit of an understatement. Frankly he’s mad. And he has been a lot throughout his life. He’s always done right, yet he’s endured some tragic losses. 

Now a curmudgeon, he’s been recently inconvenienced by his new neighbors — a young family of an idiot, a foreign lady, and their two young daughters. Plus, a cat that doesn’t seem to know the meaning of “shoo!”

As annoyed as Ove is, he can’t let these idiots continue to make their stupid decisions. If you want something done right, you need to do it yourself!

The book is full of peak Bachman novelties (pun intended). Incredibly real characters, sadness mixed with laugh out loud commentary, and jumps from time to time. You see Ove as a newlywed, as a figure in the community, and, of course, as an old man. 

JK Simmons narrates the audiobook and I cannot recommend it enough! Though I had to keep reading the physical copy to really get into my feels.

Tom Hanks makes for an incredible Ove — or, Otto — for the movie. There are quite a few differences in the movie but all of them add to it rather than take away. It was such a joy to see this book brought to life in such a beautiful way!

Annnnddd yes I absolutely cried my face off both reading and watching this beautiful story!