The A Man Called Ove book has been on my radar for a while as I’d heard such great things about it. All of Fredrik Backman’s books seem to be hugely popular.
A Man Called Ove was a New York Times bestseller with over 3 million copies sold. It has also been made into a major motion picture titled A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks. I believe there’s also a 2015 Swedish film also based on the book.
I knew I’d want to watch the film so I decided to read the book first.
Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Plot
Ove appears to be the grumpiest man in the world. He dislikes most things and believes himself to be surrounded by idiots. His neighbours are a particular source of annoyance for him, especially the perpetrators of the coup d’etat that ousted him as Chairman of the Residents’ Association. He still persists in making his daily inspection rounds of the local streets to ensure everything is as it should be.
Ove finds that life itself has become tiresome. When his new neighbours arrive, Ove, most reluctantly, finds himself thrust into their lives whether he likes it or not. His routines are thrown into chaos by Parvaneh and her family and she becomes determined to get to know this lonely old man.
A Man Called Ove Book Review
Ove is definitely a hard character to like at the beginning of the novel. He is bordering on bigoted and rude and it can make it hard to sympathise with him. However, as the story went on and the more I learnt about Ove’s life, the more I warmed to him.
It reminded me of Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune in that the main character is pretty unpleasant but embarks on a journey where his beliefs are challenged and altered.
I definitely warmed to Ove and his general grumpiness (without the prejudice!) was quite endearing when you knew the reason behind it. There were several amusing moments throughout and I loved his interactions with Parvaneh. Parvaneh was a great character and I thought the unlikely friendship between the two of them was beautifully written. I loved how she challenged him and infuriated him but ultimately also cared for him.
I found it to be really sad and touching in places, yet also hopeful and uplifting in others. The relationship Ove had with his wife was so lovely it brought me to tears.
Overall, I really enjoyed A Man Called Ove and would definitely recommend it. It’s a story of redemption, showing how one person’s compassion and understanding can transform the lives of those around them.
What books are like A Man Called Ove?
While the premises are certainly different, I personally found the following novels had a similar vibe to a Man Called Ove:
- Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior
- Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce
- The Storied Life of A.J. Filkin by Gabrielle Zevin
- The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
What to read next
Fredrik Backman has written several other novels and novellas so I’d definitely recommend reading those. I’d particularly recommend reading the whole Beartown series and I also really his novella, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer.
This book is featured on the following list:
Related Books
