A Man Called Ove

Ove is a cantankerous, inflexible Swede who believes in hard work and following rules. After the death of his wife, he feels he has nothing to live for--but his many suicide attempts are thwarted by various people who simply refuse to mind their own business! Narrator George Newbern captures the deep sadness, as well as the humor, in this emotional story, perfectly portraying every character: a pregnant Iranian woman and her family, a young gay man, a newspaper reporter, Ove's neighbors, and even a stray cat. As Newbern reveals the events that made Ove into such a curmudgeon, with too big a heart, his straightforward, tender performance will have listeners laughing through their tears. M.M.G. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

Starred review from May 5, 2014
In this Swedish bestseller, Ove is a lovably miserable neighborhood curmudgeon—think a cross between Up’s Carl Fredricksen and Parks and Recreation’s Ron Swanson—who spends his days inspecting his community and criticizing others, judging each by how closely he follows rules and his choice of automobile (Ove cannot reason with BMW drivers). After his handicapped wife dies and he is forced to retire from his job, Ove decides he’s ready to leave the world behind. But every time he tries to off himself, he’s interrupted—first by his new neighbor, the pregnant Parvaneh; then by Parvaneh’s clumsy husband, Patrick; Anita, the wife of Ove’s former best friend; Jimmy, Ove’s overweight neighbor; Adrian, the neighborhood mailman; and finally a mangy feline Ove calls “Cat Annoyance.” Ove continuously pushes his demise from one day to the next, and, as time passes, these characters slowly weave themselves into his life, offering Ove a chance at rebirth. The debut novel from journalist Backman is a fuzzy crowd-pleaser that serves up laughs to accompany a thoughtful reflection on loss and love. Though Ove’s antics occasionally feel repetitive, the author writes with winning charm.