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A Man Called Ove

By Fredrik Backman

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Book review written by Head of Science, Mr Brent Cummack 

The Goodreads website describes this book as follows:

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 neighbour 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 a 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 heart-warming 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.

From me:

This book is brilliant, a 5-star read. It was given to me, maybe because the person who suggested it to me thinks that I am a little “Oveish”. But in fact it is not about a grumpy old man, it is about a man with a big heart who influences those around him and in turn is influenced by them. Extremely well written, it left me with a tear in my eye.

Backman, F. (2013). A Man Called Ove.

Book review written by Head of Science, Mr Brent Cummack