A Man Called Ove
This novel about a Swedish curmudgeon teaches many life lessons, besides being side-splittingly funny at times and an unapologetic tearjerker at others.
Ove has just been forced to take early retirement. Worse yet, his wife, Sonja, the only person who has ever understood him has died. He sees no reason to live. And he's surrounded by idiots. A new couple move in across the street. The husband tries to back up a trailer, which should be in the parking area of the housing development, into the street, and smashes Ove's mailbox. Ove eventually does it for him, but unknown to him at the time he's met his match. Her name is Parvaneh, the neighbor's wife. She's Iranian and she gives him the look Sonja used to give him when he was being overbearing. The couple have three-year-old and seven-year-old girls. The three-year-old thinks Ove is funny. The seven-year-old eventually calls him “Grandpa”.
But Ove is planning to kill himself; he tries it four times. Ironically the first time the rope breaks when he tries to hang himself. That's typical for Ove; he thinks things just aren't made the way they used to be. Ove also drives a Saab; anybody who doesn't drive a Saab is an idiot. That includes his one time friend, Rune, who became an ex-friend when he bought a BMW.
Every time Ove tries to kill himself, his neighbors unintentionally interrupt, and he goes on to save a guy who fell onto the train tracks. Sonja was a ten; none of her friends can tell what she sees in Ove. She says he's the kind of guy who runs into a burning house to save people while others are running away. A reporter comes to see Ove. She wants to write an article about what a hero he is. He chases her away, but she's instrumental when social services try to take his friend Rune, who's gone senile, away from his wife.
The life lessons are pretty obvious. Don't judge a curmudgeon by its cover and try to get to know those immigrants you hate so much. There may be a Parvaneh among them.
Ove has just been forced to take early retirement. Worse yet, his wife, Sonja, the only person who has ever understood him has died. He sees no reason to live. And he's surrounded by idiots. A new couple move in across the street. The husband tries to back up a trailer, which should be in the parking area of the housing development, into the street, and smashes Ove's mailbox. Ove eventually does it for him, but unknown to him at the time he's met his match. Her name is Parvaneh, the neighbor's wife. She's Iranian and she gives him the look Sonja used to give him when he was being overbearing. The couple have three-year-old and seven-year-old girls. The three-year-old thinks Ove is funny. The seven-year-old eventually calls him “Grandpa”.
But Ove is planning to kill himself; he tries it four times. Ironically the first time the rope breaks when he tries to hang himself. That's typical for Ove; he thinks things just aren't made the way they used to be. Ove also drives a Saab; anybody who doesn't drive a Saab is an idiot. That includes his one time friend, Rune, who became an ex-friend when he bought a BMW.
Every time Ove tries to kill himself, his neighbors unintentionally interrupt, and he goes on to save a guy who fell onto the train tracks. Sonja was a ten; none of her friends can tell what she sees in Ove. She says he's the kind of guy who runs into a burning house to save people while others are running away. A reporter comes to see Ove. She wants to write an article about what a hero he is. He chases her away, but she's instrumental when social services try to take his friend Rune, who's gone senile, away from his wife.
The life lessons are pretty obvious. Don't judge a curmudgeon by its cover and try to get to know those immigrants you hate so much. There may be a Parvaneh among them.
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