A Man Called Ove has a plan. He has his tools and supplies together, he’s left instructions for the caring for the house, and he’s ready to go. Actually, he’s desperate to go and see his wife, but these pesky new neighbors keep interrupting him! All he wants to do is leave and the new family keeps asking him for favors: loan a ladder, take care of a cat, a lift to the hospital. Ove’s grief at losing his wife turns into anger and frustration with these neighbors, until little by little, he starts to care for these annoying new people who can’t do anything right. Ove is surprised to find the neighbors give him a reason to stay and a sense of belonging he hasn’t had since his wife’s death.
Fredrik Backman’s novel A Man Called Ove confronts the loneliness and grief that comes from losing a loved one, as well as the value the community can play in moving forward. Originally released in Swedish under the name En man som heter Ove in 2012, the book made a splash in the English language market in the following year and spent 18 months on the New York Times Bestseller list. Told through a quasi-dual timeline with flashback episodes that give the history of the entire group. With beautiful humor and witty dialogue, this is a book about human connection and learning to live with our grief.
I give A Man Called Ove 5 out of 5 stars. I had put off reading this book because of the almost cult-like following it developed in my book groups – I can’t go a week without seeing a post about it. These super hyped books are typically a disappointment for me, but this was the complete opposite! Grief after loss is not something our society feels is appropriate to discuss usually. The way Backman approaches Ove’s grief feels human and real and relatable. I appreciated the gruff exterior the author gives Ove and that he doesn’t lose that quality, even towards the end of the book when Ove connects with his neighbors. I also appreciated the slow reveals throughout the book. I didn’t catch that Ove’s wife was dead for several chapters and really enjoyed the way Parvaneh didn’t immediately reveal she understood that Ove wanted to take his life. Backman approaches Ove’s suicidal thoughts with humility and care that makes the reader care about Ove, but also understand why he feels like this is a necessary step.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed books like Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures or Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone. However, I would caution readers who may be triggered by the discussion of suicide, pregnancy loss or car crashes. Typically, all of these would make a book difficult for me to read, but I found no trouble with this book. With that said, I will remind you that not every book is meant for every reader, and not every reader is meant for every book.
I chose A Man Called Ove for the Booklist Queen Reading Challenge prompt “a 5-star book” – and this did not disappoint! I laughed so hard throughout the book, and shed tears at Ove’s loss and later death. After finishing the book, I watched the recently release movie “A Man Called Otto” staring Tom Hanks that was based on this book. I liked the movie, but it didn’t convey the snarky nature of Ove the same as the book. The movie makers also changed several of the details to make it more relatable for the American audience and it felt like it changed the overall meaning of the book. Also – I chose the audiobook version narrated by JK Simmons of Farmers Insurance commercials, “The Closer”, and Law & Order fame. His voice really brings Ove’s grumpy nature to life while still doing the same for Parvaneh’s hopeful and mothering nature, too. I think you will love the book, regardless if you choose the print or audiobook!
If you or someone you love are dealing with grief like Ove’s, or other mental health challenges, let your community help you the way Parvaneh and the neighbors helped Ove. There are professionals available to you 24/7. If you are in the US, dial 988 to speak to someone right now. You can also reach out to the National Alliance on Mental Heath 10AM-10PM Eastern via text by sending “HelpLine” to 62640 or emailing them at helpline@nami.org.
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: The Rules of Magic, Alice Hoffman
- Current audio book: Casalvento, Gudrun Cuillo
- Book I’m most looking forward to: The Book of Magic, Alice Hoffman
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