LoveReading Expert Review of A Man Called Ove
59-year old Ove is quite possibly one of the grumpiest people you’ll meet but, he has been an upstanding pillar of the community for decades. The last six months have taken their toll and he decides perhaps that life is not worth living. Ove lives in a residential area of which he is fanatical about maintaining and keeping to the rules. A family of a pregnant mother, two daughters and an IT consultant dad move in next door. Ove resents them. He resents everything and everyone and so he plans his death but each attempt is thwarted mostly by people needing help. Ove is a very practical man and so he helps, yet he remains exasperated that other people’s lives are beginning to intrude upon him. Quirky, uplifting, charming, sad, life-affirming and totally irresistible, this is a perfect gem that will leave you with a spring in your step. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
One of the Top 10 books in the Lovereading Readers’ Choice Book of the Year 2014.
One of our Books of the Year 2014.
Explore our '80+ Books That Deliver a Hug' listicle for more feel-good or uplifting books.
A Man Called Ove Synopsis
There is something about Ove. At first sight, he 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...
About This Edition
| ISBN: | 9781871510560 |
| Publication date: | 25th June 2015 |
| Author: | Fredrik Backman |
| Publisher: | Large Print Bookshop an imprint of Rooster Books Ltd |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 370 pages |
| Collections: | |
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
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A Man Called Ove Reader Reviews
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title.
- Gavin Dimmock - 'A truly beautiful tale of the grumpiest man you're likely to meet in the pages of a book. Miss this and miss a remarkable tale. Ove will enchant you.' Read full review >
- Suzanne Bellingham - 'A laugh out loud book, sometimes though with a tear in your eye. A story of great loss but also of great gains. Ove is a hero for today.' Read full review >
- Ian Harvey-Brown - 'It’s difficult not to break into clichés about this book. For me it was an unexpected pleasure.' Read full review >
- Lisa Faulkner - 'A real gem of a book, beautifully written and a story that stays with the reader long after it is finished. This book is destined to be a summer winner!' Read full review >
- Siobhan McDowell - 'This is one of the most moving books that I have read...EVER!!! It was also one of the funniest, most charming books I have ever read.' Read full review >
- Glynis Elliott - 'A quirky book which put warm arms around me and hugged. I couldn´t put it down even when my eyes were sore from reading.' Read full review >
- Katy Noyes - 'I knew from the first page that this was going to be a winner. I am predicting this 'Victor Meldrew' redemption tale is the next sleeper European hit.' Read full review >
- Alan Brown -'If you put this book on the back burner or do not read it on your summer holidays then whether you are a man or woman your 2014 will be a year that is not completely fulfilled.' Read full review >
- Nicola Foster - 'I loved this quirky, wonderful book. Loved it. In fact, I loved it so much that I want everyone I know to read it too, just so we can talk about it. It’s undoubtedly going to be one of my top reads of 2014.' Read full review >
- Sophia Ufton - 'Brilliant book, kept me going page after page. Couldn't put it down...This story really got to me and I'm now re-reading it. Please read this it's amazing.' ' Read full review >
- Sue Burton - 'can highly recommend this book to other readers...the book is written with sensitivity, humour and most importantly with feeling.' ' Read full review >
- Angela Rhodes - 'A Man Called Ove is one of those books you don't want to end!' ' Read full review >
- Emma Smith - 'An emotional, heartwarming and funny discovery of A Man Called Ove...My favourite book of 2014 so far! I can't recommend it enough.' Read full review >
- Rebecca Cockeram - 'Quite simply, I love this book, it's truly heartwarming. Read it, you'll be happier for it.' Read full review >
- Sally Doel - 'I really enjoyed reading this story and would definitely look at other books by this author as it was a very good tale of emotions and feelings and shows that 'no man is an island' very clearly!' Read full review >
- Katie Hoare - 'This is a charming and amusing book, as well as being very well observed. There will be elements of someone that a reader knows in Ove and his encounters, and it is very difficult not to like this rather not so cheerful character.' Read full review >
- Teresa O'Halloran - 'A wonderful moving story of a grumpy old man with great heart. If you don't read this book you will definitely be losing out.' Read full review >
Other editions of this book
ISBN: 9781871510560
Publication date: 25/06/2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781444775815
Publication date: 07/05/2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781444775792
Publication date: 03/07/2014
Format: Hardback
About Fredrik Backman
Fredrik Backman is a Swedish blogger, columnist and author. His debut novel A Man Called Ove was a number 1 bestseller across Scandinavia, has sold over one million copies worldwide, was a Richard & Judy summer read in the UK and an instant New York Times paperback bestseller, and has been made into an acclaimed film. Fredrik's subsequent novels, My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises and Britt-Marie Was Here, also went straight to number 1 in Sweden on publication. Author photo © Edvard Koinberg
More About Fredrik Backman
