Grumpy isn't always funny

I was really hoping I'd like this book as much as I liked A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman because I could totally get behind that kind of a grumpy, old, stubborn man who doesn't think he has anything else to live for.

"His hostility has become second nature, a way of life, of survival, even. Yes, survival, because Ferdinand resents growing old. Solitude, the decay of the body, all that is slowly killing him. The only activity Ferdinand has found to stave off boredom is being nasty so no one misses him when he goes."

But, this wasn't nearly on that level at all. I couldn't connect with the main character on ANYTHING in the first half of the book. The story dragged and I thought about not finishing it at all (I do not DNF books, ever). But once the secondary characters came into the story more, then I actually started to enjoy it. In all reality, I'd give the first half of the book a star or two and the second half gets all five, so I decided to round it out.

The narrator was okay. There were a few instances where I wasn't able to decipher what voice he was narrating at the time.

2 people found this helpful

Cute Story of Internal Growth

This was a nice story that featured an old cranky man that hated the world and everything in it except his beloved dog. After tragic events, he no longer had any reason to live (even though he has a daughter and grandson). The story moved through many mini stories that eventually made the old man reevaluate his life's choices. It's a story of personal growth, perseverance and gratitude despite his stubbornness,

As I stated in my title, this was a cute book and I would recommend it. There isn't anything about it that makes it a page turner that you "just can't put down", but a sweetness about it that makes you think about your life and what you may be grateful for.

2 people found this helpful

I hated the narrator

I don't know if I like the book because I hated the narrator so much. His voice is for cartoonish and with just over the top. the story itself black good character development and that's. the ending was as if the author got bored and decided to be done

Come Alive

Ferdinand is an awful old crank, making the grumpiest old grandpa seem mild and pleasant. He loathes chat, neighbors and all females except his beloved Great Dane, Daisy. When Daisy is not by a car he's through with life. Life, however is done with him. Vr

Charmingly delightful ~

I couldn’t put it down; this was a warm, lovely, witty and fun/funny study of ordinary aging folks in a close community . Well written PLUS the performance by this Audio Actor is superb; both thumbs WAY UP! Bravo!

Story line good idea but overall only okay

What disappointed you about Out of Sorts?

Kept thinking I had missed parts of a chapter, but when I went back and listened again none was missed. The fluidity between chapters was lacking. Character development was also somewhat lacking in some characters.

If you’ve listened to books by Wendeline A. Hardenberg - translator and Aurélie Valognes before, how does this one compare?

N/A

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Narration was a bit flat.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

The book sparked sadness at the appropriate times but the ending did not spark as much happiness as it probably intended to do. All the reactions I felt were somewhat muted due to the the flatness of the narration.

ok

front end long. back end short.
to much setup of Ferdinand for what was left. predictible.

A different kind of coming of age.

Ferdinand is an octogenarian curmudgeon resigned to a dreary obstinate life alone in an apartment complex full of people who don't understand him. But things start to happen that bring him a new perspective on life. The story is charming, intelligent, funny and loving. I adored it, didn't want to stop listening to it. The reader has a straightforward delivery that makes perfect and gently perceptive sense. And the story has some surprising twists. Very much a satisfying read.

1 person found this helpful

Yay narrator

A 10 year old child does not speak like Juliet does. Even a precocious one. Other than that the story was ok but the narrator is the one who really sells it.

Sweet tale

A lovely sweet tale about an apartment building in France and the people who occupy it.