Book Review | A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A heart-wrenching story of the importance of love, friendship and understanding, A Man Called Ove is a must-read.

I re-read the last chapter again, wondering if I dreamt that all up. My heart swells, tears stream down my face. Slowly, I close the book, delicately as if it was a fragile item that might break if handled too harshly.

I cherished the moments I spent with a man called Ove; a man I disliked in the beginning but grew fond of over time.

About A Man Called Ove

Pronounced as "Oo-veh", Ove is the grumpiest person you'll ever meet. This 59-year-old Swede has strict routines and a strong will, something many people find unpleasant when they first meet him.

One November morning, Ove's world turns upside down when his new neighbours announce their arrival by driving their trailer over his mailbox. What a way to make a first impression, right?

What follows is a tale filled with unkempt cats, unlikely friendships and a community's unexpected reassessment of the one person they thought they had all figured out.

A Man Called Ove Review

A Man Called Ove is an eye-opening read that is emotional, funny and hopeful.

Backman's use of the language, and Henning Koch's ability to translate his words, is so beautiful. His writing is simple but the words he puts out are sweet on the lips. There was no difficulty for me to understand the language or context used in the story. I was able to dive headfirst into this Swedish suburb where motor vehicles were not allowed in the residential area.

Though the story is filled with how grief affects the main character, the humour laced around it is perfectly done. Ove's snarky remarks (which oftentimes end up being quite hilarious) complements the story, and it doesn't take away from the message of the book.

Alms from the church were out of the question, God should be bloody clear about that. Ove said as much to himself while he stood there in the changing rooms, maybe as much as his own benefit's as God's. "If you really had to take both Mum and Dad, you can keep your bloody money!" he yelled up at the ceiling.

A Man Called Ove is mostly character-driven, which is not my favourite to read honestly, but it worked splendidly for this story. Even though Ove is a cantankerous man who can be tough to get through, his pure intentions keep me rooting for the best for him. It's also a lot easier as a reader to have some empathy for him since we learn about his life growing up and how it has come to this current point.

Speaking of being character-driven, I'm so proud of Ove for his strong, positive character development. He was one of my most disliked characters at the beginning of the novel as his pessimistic behaviour was such a turn-off. But as I learned more about him, he is actually quite the charmer.

Supporting him is a wonderfully diverse cast of characters from different ethnicities and socio-economic class.

My Recommendation

★★★★★ (5/5)

As the book covers heavy topics such as grief, loss, suicide and miscarriage, A Man Called Ove is ideal for adults.

And if you go into this book, be prepared to have a stack of tissues with you because I guarantee you will be crying in almost every chapter. Backman has a particular knack for writing especially sad scenes then hit you on the head with his humour. It's the perfect balance.

There are truly no words to express how much I adored this book.

Fredrik Backman, you are not a complete idiot 😀

About Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman is a Swedish author, blogger and columnist. A Man Called Ove is Backman's debut novel and became the number one bestseller across Scandinavia. It has sold over one million copies worldwide and has been made into an acclaimed Oscar-nominated film. Backman's books have been read and loved by people all around the world.