Warm, funny, and almost unbearably moving' Daily Mail
'Rescued all those men who constantly mean to read novels but never get round to it' Spectator Books of the Year
At first sight, Ove is almost certainly the grumpiest man you will ever meet. He thinks himself surrounded by idiots - neighbours who can't reverse a trailer properly, joggers, shop assistants who talk in code, and the perpetrators of the vicious coup d'etat that ousted him as Chairman of the Residents' Association. He will persist in making his daily inspection rounds of the local streets.
But isn't it rare, these days, to find such old-fashioned clarity of belief and deed? Such unswerving conviction about what the world should be, and a lifelong dedication to making it just so?
In the end, you will see, there is something about Ove that is quite irresistible...
The word-of-mouth bestseller causing a sensation across Europe, Fredrik Backman's heartwarming debut is a funny, moving, uplifting tale of love and community that will leave you with a spring in your step - and less ready to judge on first impressions a man you might one day wish to have as your dearest friend.
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This book was both heartwarming and bittersweet. It really put my emotions through the wringer. The book follows Ove, a 59-year-old Swedish man who has recently lost his wife and his job. We follow the character journey of a grumpy old man who, throughout the book we come to know and love. With each chapter that passes we begin to see who he is past his cranky exterior and come to sympathise with this man who finds his solitary life turned upside down by those around him.
The story was intelligently crafted, with Fredrik Backman brilliantly balancing both the comedic and tragic parts of Ove’s story. This is a novel of profound grief and loss, a heartbreaking past and of the importance of continuing to show kindness and form relationships with those around you. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good character read and doesn't mind getting a bit emotional! - Sabrina (QBD)
Guest, 21/11/2020
