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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
Fantastic characters, well written, heartwarming story. Stick with the first few chapters as I wasn't sure if it was "my thing" but I loved it!!

BEST BOOK EVER!!!!

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What made the experience of listening to A Man Called Ove the most enjoyable?

Joan Walker's performance compliments the style of the book perfectly.

What did you like best about this story?

Loved the way the author slowly builds the character of Ove up. Opening up his story gradually so he becomes less of the "grumpy old man" and into the neighbor you'd love to have

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

This is first of Joan Walker's performances I've heard but think she done an amazing job narrating this book and her style reminds me very much of Victoria Wood.

Any additional comments?

This book will delight and surprise you. Guaranteed.

Want to recommend to everyone!

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I feel like I am married to a man like Ove. Angry choleric on the outside, soft and terribly romantic on the inside.
Lovely and heart warming story about a man who after his wife's death, struggles to find a reason to live other than keeping the order in his housing community and having to help his useless new neighbours.

The character of Ove is being uncovered in small steps, while the story of his past and presence unfolds.

Nice Sunday listen

I am married to Ove

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Any additional comments?

'A Man Called Ove' is another one of those The-Unlikely-Pilgrimage-of-Harold-Fry, The-Hundred-Year-Old-Man-Who-Climbed-Out-of-the-Window-and-Disappeared and The-Universe-Versus-Alex-Woods-books which are really easy to listen to, humorous, sometimes uplifting and make you think about life a little more. The lesson to learn from Ove's life is that humans are not always as they seem to be on the outside. Ove might give the impression to be a grumpy old man, but you can't dislike him. Behind his moody facade there's a man whom it might take a little while to let people into his heart, but who's also going to be a friend for life once he did.

For fans of the 100-Year-Old-Man and Harold Fry

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This was great black comedy of an angry Saab driving Swedish man. However peel away the layers and there was a very sensitive man with great morals who you could not help but love.

The crux of the book is that Ove's wife had died, she was his "raison d'etre" and he did not see the point of life without her. However others around him especially his few friends and neighbours saw the man he was, through some laugh out loud and tearful chapters

It was lovely to have snip-its of his young life and his meeting of Sonja on the train and their lives reflecting on the present day.
Great quotes.....Ove saw the world in black and white and she was the colours, Ove went through life with his hands firmly shoved in his pockets and she danced. It was no wonder he missed her so much.

Fabulous read.

Misunderstood Ove

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