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

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MODERN / POPULAR READS

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What Members Thought

Sep 25, 2021 Kasia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021-mount-tbr-challenge

Sometimes the courage to go on is greater than success or failure which is neither permamnet or fatal, this book was a trip. I found a lot of myself in Ove and the cat bits were truly balm for the soul. Like so many others I had a good cry reading this but also some amazing laughs that woke me up. I feel like my bf caught me every time I had a cry and said "this book isn't for you is it" and I said " No, it's exactly for me, I love it." and it's true.

In my mind Ove looks like a super cranky Wal ...more

20 likes · Like · see review

Jun 13, 2021 Amber Lea rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, bookclub

This book isn't easy to review. I heard a lot of positive things about it when it first came out, and then I remember hearing complaints along the lines that it's "a boring book about a very unpleasant man."

I think I would describe it more as a "feel good book about a very cranky man but it takes a while to get to the feel good part."

I know a lot of people who describe Fredrik Backman as "one of their favorite authors" so I have incredibly high expectations whenever I read one of his books, desp This book isn't easy to review. I heard a lot of positive things about it when it first came out, and then I remember hearing complaints along the lines that it's "a boring book about a very unpleasant man."

I think I would describe it more as a "feel good book about a very cranky man but it takes a while to get to the feel good part."

I know a lot of people who describe Fredrik Backman as "one of their favorite authors" so I have incredibly high expectations whenever I read one of his books, despite any negative reviews.

(My review from here on out might be a little spoilery if you know nothing about this book.)

However, one of my favorite authors is William Blake and I couldn't help but compare this book to Stoner. I feel like this is a very shiny almost Disney-like version of that. Stoner (the man) isn't nearly as unpleasant as Ove, but he's a flawed man who did everything he was supposed to do to have a good life and it didn't work out like it was supposed to. It's one of my favorite books of all time.

I think the thing that really bothers me the most about this book is that his wife is PERFECT. And I kind of resent that he's such an incredible stick in the mud who's so judgmental and critical, and she's the human equivalent of a daisy. Especially after (view spoiler) I'm not here for the "perfect woman loves deeply flawed man" trope. I would have liked this book so much more if she was a real person with flaws of her own and they learned to love EACH OTHER. Like I get it, Ove is like her father and she's used to it and "he has eyes only for her and it's soooo sweet" but like, come on.

I also would have liked it more if Ove was a little less terrible. Like he was SO MEAN to that cat. Why on earth would that cat like him and follow him around? Ove is also homophobic and fatphobic to people's faces, and that alone isn't a problem because he's an old man and old men are like that sometimes, it's just the fact that no one minds. It feels WEIRD that it's never an issue. No one ever turns to him and is like, "Bruh, not cool." Parvaneh is the only one who confronts him, but I feel like it doesn't even count because she's a jackhammer of a character who exists to twist Ove's arm and keep the story moving along.

So he's a jerk and he's surrounded by people (strangers) who are unconditionally accepting of him. Which is sweet, but also not very realistic. And I hate lopsided stories where the protagonist is terrible but everyone else is super friendly and loving, because some people read stories like this and get it in their heads that people should unconditionally love them while they act really poorly, therefore their personal growth is everyone else's responsibility. I know the message is MEANT to be that people shouldn't isolate themselves and they should make friends and create a community, but Ove also never has to confront his shittiness and everyone just lets it slide which also sends a message. I feel like it would have been so easy for someone to NICELY mention to him that he's being hurtful. I wanted Ove to reflect on his behavior and he never really does. And I'm sure you could argue that he's too old to change and self-reflection isn't his style and maybe any kind of confrontation would have made him shut down further and this is what he needed to become a better man, but the story as is just doesn't feel right. It's not true to life. It's possible to write a feel good story that feels real.

Issues aside, I did chuckle at Ove's ridiculousness. And I did see people I know in Ove. And it did get me right in the feels. It's an OKAY story. I just feel like it could have been so much better. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Apr 06, 2019 Becky rated it it was amazing

Shelves: thanksgiving-book-discussion

A man called Ove sneaks into the cracks and crannies of your heart and soul, and settles down there belligerently while he reminds you that you can’t park your car there, or you’re an idiot- and you know it’s just his way of showing his love, just don’t tell him that’s what you think! He’s every curmudgeon you’ve ever met in movies or books, rolled into one reluctant hero- and what a hero he is! A treasure of a novel!

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 15, 2019 Franzi rated it it was amazing

Funny and heartbreaking, without ever getting too sappy. Ove is the grumpy old fart you love to hate. Full of flawed characters living in a run-of-the-mill Scandinavian small town. I shed a few tears, I laughed a lot, I liked this much more than Bear Town.

1 like · Like · see review

May 28, 2017 Shelley Shoemaker rated it liked it

A good story about how kindness can change lives. Ove thinks he's a crotchety old bugger, but with some hard-headed kindness and getting involved with helping others, he realizes that there is something to live for. ...more

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