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A Man Called Ove

The global bestselling phenomenon

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A Man Called Ove

By: Fredrik Backman, Henning Koch - translator
Narrated by: Joan Walker
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The international phenomenon: quirky and bittersweet, heartbreaking yet outrageously funny. Perfect for fans of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of a Window and Disappeared.

The million-copy bestselling phenomenon: Soon to be a major film starring Tom Hanks.

Fredrik Backman's heartwarming debut is a funny, moving, uplifting tale of love and community that will leave you with a spring in your step.

'Warm, funny, and almost unbearably moving' Daily Mail

At first sight, Ove is almost certainly the grumpiest man you will ever meet. He thinks himself surrounded by idiots - neighbours who can't reverse a trailer properly, joggers, shop assistants who talk in code, and the perpetrators of the vicious coup d'etat that ousted him as Chairman of the Residents' Association. He will persist in making his daily inspection rounds of the local streets.

But isn't it rare, these days, to find such old-fashioned clarity of belief and deed? Such unswerving conviction about what the world should be, and a lifelong dedication to making it just so?

In the end, you will see, there is something about Ove that is quite irresistible...

'Rescued all those men who constantly mean to read novels but never get round to it' Spectator Books of the Year

(P)2014 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2014 Fredrik Backman Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Feel-Good Heartfelt Funny Tear-jerking Witty Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

Delightful ... the perfect holiday read.
It's the most enchanting, beautiful tale. (Ben Fogle)
A warm and tender story about love, loss and second chances, peppered with memorable characters, wonderful set pieces and some beautifully black humour. Ove is a joy from start to finish. (Gavin Extence, author of The Universe versus Alex Woods)
An uplifting, life-affirming and often comic tale of how kindness, love and happiness can be found in the most unlikely places.
A charming debut.
All stars
Most relevant
Ove is one of those characters you wish existed in real life. This is one of those books that you want to never end. Highly recommended if you want to read something funny, sad but most of all uplifting.

All you need is Ove

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I heard about this on the radio, and when I started listening, I thought I'd made a mistake. Ove is cranky. He is difficult. But listen a little longer, and you can't help but get engrossed in his life, the people he "adopts" (whether they want to be adopted or not), his relationship with his wife (so sad) and so much more.

This is a story about a man living to die, to join his wife, but he just can't seem to get around to dying, thanks to all the weird and wonderful people who come into his life, usually unexpectedly.

I loved this so much that I bought 7 copies for friends and family.

From a narration point of view, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the book (important for me as I know only too well how an unappealing narrator can ruin an otherwise good book).

A wonderful. heartwarming, funny book

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What other book might you compare A Man Called Ove to, and why?

Haven't read anything to compare. All of human life is here, brilliantly described and read.

Have you listened to any of Joan Walker’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No but I will be looking for more now.

Any additional comments?

I have enjoyed this book as much as any other I have read. I know these people in fact I'm married to one. Human nature is so well portraid and the amusing side of life brought out to keep us smiling.

Brilliant

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Amazing book .A must for heartwarming read .Would highly recommend for anyone who wants a book with beautiful put storyline , humour and believe in humanity

Don't remember when I cried and laughed same time

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The beginning of this book is very sad and a little hard to read. However, the story just gets better and better. The reward at the end is very sweet indeed. Frederik Backman writes colourful and lively characters and Joan Walker reads them to life. It's a match made in heaven.

Keep Reading!

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