A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman – 354 pages
ARC from publisher
Book Blurb:
In this bestselling and delightfully quirky debut novel from Sweden, 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 the bitter neighbor from hell. 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 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.
My Review: 2.5 stars
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It’s very rare I don’t finish a book especially when it’s an ARC. Sadly, the main character, Ove, was so extremely predictable, boring and cliché in his grumpiness that I just couldn’t get on past the half way mark of the book. The story was told at an odd pace and even the minor characters bugged me. I was interested in reading something by this Swedish author but this book wasn’t the right fit for me. It got great reviews from others…I’m in the minority on this one. NOTE: I will try this one again to see if it was just the wrong time to read it. When I do, I’ll update this review if necessary.
