A Man Called Ove

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ove is a man who just wants to kill himself in peace. Is that too much to ask?? Apparently it is, as his efforts are thwarted time and again by new neighbors who can’t back up a trailer, use ladders safely, drive, or read proper signs; a mangy, half-dead cat; a lifelong frenemy being forced out of his home against his will; a man who collapses into the path of oncoming train; and young men who need help fixing a bicycle to impress a girl, or get kicked out for Coming Out. Each time, Ove has to apologize to his wife for not joining her yet, until finally he finds himself firmly enmeshed in the lives of the living.

Like Parvaneh, I grew to love Ove fiercely. He is now one of my all-time favorite characters, and my commutes are not going to be the same without him.

However, I am so glad I listened to the last few chapters of this book at home because amidst the laughter, I cried the Ugly Cry of Uncontrollable Sobs—something I would not want to do while driving, which is how I normally listen to audiobooks.

I’m also glad I listened to the audiobook instead of reading the ebook, because I never would have guessed Ove’s name was pronounced “OO-vuh.” Plus the narrator did an outstanding job with the pacing and the conveyance of Ove’s taciturn grumbles. Ove reminds me of Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino, although with entirely different prejudices (i.e. against French cars, bus drivers, men in white shirts, etc). Ove is only 59, but it’s like he was born an old man...or at least became one as a boy when first his mother and then his father died.

For readers’ advisors: STRONG character doorway and very leisurely pace. It takes most of the book to learn Ove’s history, which is told much of the time in alternating chapters. (The book has a non-linear structure.) No sex, but a smattering of grumpy-old-man swearing. One gay character toward the end, and a mix of at least 3 languages/cultures, not counting the Spanish of Ove & Sonja’s vacation to Spain.

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