A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

4.8 (16)
$17.99

Product Details

Web ID: 2334016

In this New York Times bestselling and charming debutant (People) soon to be a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks from one of Sweden's most successful authors, a grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door. Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him and the bitter neighbor from hell. and But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time? Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations. A feel-good story in the spirit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Fredrik Backman's novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others.

  • Product Features

    • Suggested age range- Adult
    • Format- Paperback
    • Dimensions- 5. 2" W x 8. 2" H x 1. 2" D
    • Genre- Fiction
    • Publisher- Washington Square Press, Publication date- 05-05-2015
    • Page count- 368
    • ISBN- 9781476738024
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8/5

16 star ratings & reviews

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3 months ago
from Austin, TX

Grumpy Old Man or Great Man?

I avoided this book for a long time as I heard it was about a grumpy old man and I didn’t want to read an entire book with a sourpuss as the lead. This was true despite Backman being my favorite author. Why? Why did I not have faith in my Fredrik that this would be another banger? Thankfully the book stared me in the face long enough that I eventually read it and I found it a delight. The character work is Backman level, meaning outstanding, and the central tensions of the book are relatable to most humans. Strongly recommend to anyone I meet.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago

Curmudgeonly crank brings good tears

Oh, don’t you love curmudgeonly cranks with hearts of gold? The angry Ove is brilliantly funny in his quickdraw reactions and excessive rigidity. He’s a man of principle and bemoans others (especially younger generations) who have grown up not knowing how to fix a car engine for instance. However, Ove is far from being a blindly inflexible grump. Through adept flashbacks we learn about the loss of his parents, the imprint of values given by his good father, the struggles and misfortunes and tragedy that have haunted his footsteps. But, above all, we see how the love of his life, Sonja, is his bright anchor and star and how she influences and understands him. This setup leads the story straight into the arms of a nutty nest of neighbors and an epic struggle against the “white shirt” nameless bureaucracy. All of this serves to lead Ove forward not exactly out of all his grumpiness but certainly into begrudging acceptance of a little love. And I cried at the end. A sure sign that THE MAN CALLED OVE is a special read! Repost of review on goodreads.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Punxsutawney, PA

Charming, sensitive story

Ove is a man on the outskirts of society. He doesn't understand -- or accept -- what others do or don't do. He lives as he always has. When he becomes involved with his neighbors (which he doesn't want to do), it changes plans he's been making. Sometimes it made me laugh; sometimes, when I could see what was happening even though Ove couldn't, I would say aloud, "Oh, no, Ove!"; sometimes I felt the tears forming in my eyes. This is not a story with big events. It's a story that will pull on your heartstrings.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Pensacola Beach

Excellent

I loved this story! I could empathize with Ove and I experienced many emotions while reading his story. The cast of characters were very colorful, including the cat. Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Bermuda Dunes, CA

Get ready for tears!

At first it was a slow read, but slowly but surely Ove began to grow on me. Next thing you know, I’m shedding the tears. Really enjoyed this book!

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Northern Ky.

A True Mensch!

I dedicate this to all men of a certain age (myself included) who have been woefully misunderstood.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago

Great Read!

This book provides a tremendous insight into a grumpy curmudgeon and how there is so much more to him than meets the eye. This book gives literal meaning to the phrase “Never judge a book by its cover.”

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

4 years ago

Wonderful

I don't know why it took me so long to read this book, but I'm so glad that I finally did. It was wonderful. It made me laugh and cry in places, and was such a wonderful book. I will definitely be reading other books by this author.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com