A Man Called Ove in Crazy Challenge Connection

Feb 04, 2017 Book Concierge rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio, relationships, funny, love, library, concierge, sweden, quirky

Audiobook performed by George Newbern

Ove is the quintessential “cranky old curmudgeon” of his neighborhood, a one-man enforcement agency of the Residents’ Association rules. He lives an orderly life, inspecting his property each morning, maintaining a clean home, fixing little things before they become big problems, and keeping his distance from all the “idiots” around him. Then a family with two young daughters move in across the street, flattening Ove’s mailbox with their U-haul, and his order ...more

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Jul 30, 2016 D.G. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed, audiobook, fiction, funny, favorites, around-the-world, cried

I cried/laughed from the first page of this book to the last one, even in public. I think some people in the subway thought I was going through a manic depressive episode because sometimes I'd be laughing out loud while tears where running down my face.

This book touched me doubly because my husband lived some of the situations in this book. (view spoiler) Ove also reminds me of some of t ...more

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Dec 11, 2018 Carrie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mgr, humor, tear-jerker, favorites, beautifully-moving, inspiring, literary-fiction, heartbreaking

I wish I could give it more stars......

Truly a wonderful story that no matter genre you read you will love this.

I cried, ugly cried, I was moved so much. I laughed so much. It is now a favorite of mine and I will be going out to buy my own copy so I can relive Ove again and again.

If this book doesn't move you or you don't learn something or take away something from this book, then I am truly sorry for you. ...more

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Feb 21, 2018 Suzanne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: outside-us-england, debut

This is one of the BEST books I've EVER read!! Seriously, it's going in my top 3. I laughed and cried, often at the same time. I can't believe this is a debut novel - the characterization of Ove is just absolutely stellar! I can't believe I haven't heard more about this novel. I'll soon change that, though. I will be shouting the news to everyone I know. :) ...more

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Nov 03, 2017 Krissy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, buddy-read, 5-motherfucking-stars, lawlz, pgs-300-399, mother-daughter-buddy-read

Buddy read with my oldest daughter. I loved it! The audiobook narrator did a great job.

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May 22, 2016 Rachel N. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2016, humor, friendship, grief, sweden, love

I totally love this book and wish Ove was my neighbor. Ove is a man living on his own after his wife's death. He comes off rather curmudgeonly at the beginning of the book but the gruff exterior is hiding a man who was absolutely devoted to his wife and to working hard and doing the right thing. This book had me alternately crying my eyes out and laughing heartily. Along with Ove I love his neighbors Parvaneh, her kids, Jimmy, Anita and Rune and the mangy cat who I would totally adopt. If you ha ...more

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Jan 30, 2019 Marla rated it really liked it

Shelves: with-reservations, adult, lgbt, zz-2019, made-me-cry, made-me-laugh, girl-power, book-club, book-discussion, award-winner

4.5 stars. Great story of a grumpy old man who feels useless and his friendly, needy neighbors. I would've given it 5 stars, (view spoiler) It was amusing that Ove thought nothing of being insulting but was honest and loyal to a fault.

I had a tough time deciding which elements I liked or disliked, so bear that in mind when reading my list.

Likes:
* Ove had been a grumpy old man since he started elementary school.
* If you can't depend o ...more

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Jul 09, 2015 Kimberly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, movie-tv-adaptation

Meet Ove. He loves routine, is a strict rule follower, a quick complainer and is the epitome of a curmudgeon. He is also a widow, incredibly lonely and ready to end his life. On the day he decides to go through with it, his plans are interrupted by the new, loud and incredibly nosey neighbors who run over his mailbox. And so starts the cycle, every time Ove makes another attempt on his life, his plans are thwarted in one way or another.

This is a book about friendship in unexpected places. It wi ...more

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Jun 29, 2017 Beth rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: towerv, wobble

OK, so the ending is a round of joyful singing with kumbayas and grandkids and marriages, but to get there we spend a lot of time with a suicidal depressed man who is recalling all the worst moments of his life. I mean, it's funny the way all his suicide attempts fail because of happenstance; oh wait, it wasn't funny. Maybe I've spent too much time with depression.

It's a good little book; you know where it's going all the time and it gets you there just fine. But there's a lot of grief along the ...more

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