There are 2 kinds of people, one who despises the airline message
“In case of emergency, put your oxygen mask first” and the rest for whom this
message makes total sense. Logic aside, I belong to the first category, and I am
definite Ove falls in the same as well.
Suggested to my brother Manu, by his lovely fiancée Ponnu, that’s
how ‘A man called Ove’ by Frederik Backman, found its way to me. Thought I have
heard of its film adaptation “A man called Otto” starring Tom Hanks, I wanted
to read this first before trying the movie. Just halfway through the first page
and the I felt like ‘There’s a little bit of Ove in everyone, there is a little
bit of Ove, surely in me’ and throughout the book it stood true.
A beautiful book about Ove, his principles in life, and
Sonja, the love of his life, and how this crafted a sense of purpose in Ove’s
life.
What I liked:
-
Character Connection: It has been a while since
I felt a strong connection and affinity for a literary character, but Ove
unquestionably earned a place on that list.
-
Realistic Characterization: The character
portrayal is truly realistic and elaborate at the same time. Its like watching
a movie, defining even the tiniest of details. The selfless man Ove is, the
patient loving person Sonja is, the genuine kind neighbor Parvaneh is, the
stubborn friend turned fiend turned friend Rune is, all these and many more
have been described perfectly.
-
Engaging plot: The way the plot unfolds is
engaging, an element of surprise and curiosity stands out throughout the book.
-
Elegant Simplicity: The language is beautifully
simple yet elegant, a testament to Backman's storytelling prowess.
-
Love Story: The love story of Ove and Sonja may
seem slightly exaggerated, but the author is careful not to let the imagination
run havoc rooting it to ground as much as possible.
-
Rich Relationships: Not just the characters, the
relationships are also painted in colour – Ove and his father, men of few
words, but the deep connection that existed between them, Ove and Sonjas father,
Ove and the white-collar people, Ove and his beloved car Saab, Ove and the wretched
cat, a faithful companion.
What I did not like:
There is not much that I did not
like about the book
-
In the beginning, I felt a bit bored, and the
story seemed somewhat predictable, and I tended to lose interest, but soon that
phased out and I got connected again.
Collectibles:
-
Scenario: Ove repairing his parents’ home : slowly,
the house took shape. Screw by screw, and floorboard by floorboard. No one saw
it, but of course there was no need for anyone to see it. A job well done is a
reward in its own right, as his father always used to say.
-
Scenario : A life changing incident in young Ove’s
life : a time like that comes for all men when they choose what sort of men
they want to be and if you don’t know that story, you don’t know that man.
-
If you want something done, you have to do it
yourself.
In short "A Man Called Ove" is a superbly crafted
novel that presents vivid, relatable images drawn from the tapestry of life.
You are almost guaranteed to find a character within its pages to which you can
relate. Frederik Backman's ability to make the ordinary extraordinary result in
a profound reflection on life's beauty and meaning.
