All Ove asks for is a little peace and simplicity. He likes order. It's
not his fault if his neighbors think he's grumpy. Why can't they all
just follow the rules in their residents' association? Ove is
misunderstood by his neighbors, who don't realize his sad back story.
He's lonely, and so he fills his time with trying to fix things around
him, since in the end he was unable to save the person most dear to him.
When a boisterous young family moves in next door, Ove may just find
himself opening up his heart again, in spite of himself. A stray cat
added in the mix doesn't hurt, either.
This is a wonderful book,
from a Swedish author, Fredrik Backman. The writing is beautiful. The
author shows us Ove, both through Ove's own memories and perceptions,
and the observations of his new neighbors, including two energetic
little girls. It is both heartbreakingly sad, and yet heartwarming as
Ove finds healing -- and true peace. I loved the author's wry sense of
humor. I found the book easy to relate to because I live near a large
retirement community. Once in a while, one of the older locals will
share a bit of their past with you, making a connection. This book
accomplished that for readers. It is definitely one of my favorites.
No comments:
Post a Comment