From the Bookshelf of EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club…

A Man Called Ove

Fredrik Backman

Start date: June 1, 2023

Finish date: June 30, 2023

Discussion: MODERN / POPULAR READS

Why we're reading this: June 2023 - Bookshelf Catch-Up
Bookshelf Catch-Up Sept ‘18
Popular/Modern Classic Poll Winner for Aug '16…more
[close] June 2023 - Bookshelf Catch-Up
Bookshelf Catch-Up Sept ‘18
Popular/Modern Classic Poll Winner for Aug '16

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 226 topics — 6,095 comments total

MODERN / POPULAR READS

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous - *SPOILERS*
By spoko · 8 posts · 51 views

last updated Aug 26, 2025 11:57AM

The Alchemist — *SPOILERS*
By Joanna Loves … · 105 posts · 512 views

last updated Aug 25, 2025 02:19PM

showing 10 of 53 topics view all »

What Members Thought

May 30, 2020 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-popsugar-reading-challenge

Getting to read this book the first time was a treat: it kept me guessing!

Underneath that stubborn exterior is a man full of humanity. Ove leverages his principles to explain why he does things the way he does. However, Ove holds other values closer to his heart that he does not verbalize.

From the beginning of the book, there were instances where Ove's actions are not quite what he describes. He prefers consistency, so he sticks with a Saab, but he updates his cars ever so frequently. He was a ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jul 17, 2017 Marci rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, 5-stars

I don't typically read books of this sort but I think, after reading A Man Called Ove, that I will be reading a lot more. This is simple story about a simple man. But it teaches us so much. It's a story about grief and life and love and friendship and integrity. So small and yet so big.

Even when we feel so insignificant or like we don't matter, there's a reason we are here. Maybe we are where we are to be in a place to help someone through one of the trials in their life. Maybe they are there f ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 06, 2018 Donna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club, ebooks

No idea why a person of Ove's age was made out to be so old; the author's constant references about his age would have made more sense for a much older adult (unless in Sweden 60 is the end of the road for all things vibrant and dynamic).

There were occasions when I hollered and laughed, especially the driving lesson. The neighbor and her daughters were my favorite characters, and I wish they had been given more depth and development.

I enjoyed the last part of the book, and the community that c ...more

Like · see review

Oct 01, 2018 Sue rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-to-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like · see review

Jun 18, 2017 Batty rated it it was amazing

This was just an amazing novel! Please drop everything and go read this book. It was kind, sad and beautiful. Perhaps I was reading it at a time when I really needed a novel like this but I think it would still have been amazing even if it didn't speak to my soul. Ove is the type of character that you want to hate but can't because we have all known a man such as he. This novel made me laugh, cry, ugly cry and restored my faith in humanity. This book will give you perspective and a means for und ...more

Like · see review

Feb 28, 2017 Indira Giovany rated it it was ok

Not bad for my first book of the year (I started late, I know)
It is predictable and cheesy but still sweet as well. Ove is like the grand dad I never had.

Like · see review