Curmudgeons and grumblers are present in many stories, but it’s not often that the story is told from their perspective. Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove is a surprisingly refreshing tale told through the lens of Ove, an old man who fits the dictionary definition of “grumpy.” Through anecdotes about Ove’s life, both past and present, readers will begin to understand how experiences shape our emotions, and how one might never see the full picture.
A Man Called Ove is as heartbreaking as it is bizarre—you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll want to do everything you can to make sure the characters get the justice they deserve. Backman’s writing is astonishing, and readers can immediately find themselves imagining the situations Ove gets himself into, and wondering how he manages to get out of them. If you’re looking for a story that will stick with you, A Man Called Ove is the perfect candidate.