Book Review: A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman

   When coming across an elderly individual, the vast majority of today’s younger generation, including myself, express a complete lack of regard for them, perhaps even ignoring them completely. We just view them as uptight, grumpy individuals that find today’s trends and cultural events unfathomable and ridiculous. For the most part, they do view today’s society with contempt and scornfulness but don’t you ever feel that there might be a reason for that?



We only see their ageing skin and slowing minds, never really thinking about what it might have felt like to be them, growing up half a century or more before us. Did the older generation back then also feel scornful about them? And if so, is this a never ending generational cycle? 

As the world is continuously turning more darker and evil, I felt like it was more appropriate to read a homely, light hearted yet heart touching novel. Since this world is blessed with Fredrik Backman and his amazing works, I felt it was time for me to pick up this novel. After reading "Anxious People", I absolutely fell in love with the writing and story telling style of Fredrik Backman. Through tales of ordinary lives, he brings out an extra ordinary feeling of homeliness in all his writings. And "A man called Ove" wasn't without any surprise, an exception. 

"Love is a strange thing. It takes you by surprise."

This would be one sentence taken from the novel that would perfectly sum up the story line. Much like other Backman works, the novel takes time to establish the characters and before you know it, you feel nothing but love and affection for them, almost as if they were your family members. Your heart sings with them when they are happy and it tugs little chords when they go through  tragic memories.  

Much like comfort foods and comfort shows, I would shelf this book under the category "comfort novel". It warms our heart and gives us a big hug. In a world filled with selfishness, this novel exists as a beacon of hope; a silver lining that shows that,  in people with even the toughest exterior, there can exist a humane and fragile heart. Written in a witty yet touching way, this novel gave me a river of happy tears and a feeling of wholesomeness that will remain in my thoughts for a while. 

-Rithin. 

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