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Title details for A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - Available

A Man Called Ove

by Fredrik Backman
George Newbern
Audiobook
11 of 14 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
11 of 14 copies available

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 neighbor from hell.' But 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 heartwarming 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.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 31, 2014

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781629239828
      • File size: 263757 KB
      • Duration: 09:09:29

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      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
    • Publisher's Weekly

      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.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator J.K. Simmons could read the Cheesecake Factory menu and make it entertaining. So taking on Ove, the grumpy but hurting old man in this novel, allows Simmons to mine the vein of deep emotions embedded in this novel. Ove, the epitome of a curmudgeon, is brought out of his grief-induced shell by a colorful cast of lovable neighbors. Simmons imbues this international bestseller with both a playful tone and the pain of heartbreak as circumstances challenge Ove's strict rules and principles. Simmons delivers Ove's emergence from his shell with an arched eyebrow and a knowing tone. Backman's exploration of how one life impacts those of countless others provides insights into the human potential for growth and love. R.O. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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