"He was a man of black and white. And she was color. All the color he had."
Ove was a unique character, with tons of crankiness and an honest-filled heart. His wife Sonjia was the only person he ever loved and connected in Ove's life, so he saw no meaning in wanting to live when she died. Grumpy Ove keeps to himself, doesn't like small talk, and follows an everyday routine. The old man Ove is as blunt as one can be, yet you wonder why he's so special, and slowly the story develops with some background story of his past.
Ove tries multiple ways to reunite with his wife and they all lead to an unwanted outcome that somehow prolongs his days on earth. I loved how much his neighbors saw past his grumpy self and were able to give his days a new meaning. The story carries tons of personal wisdom, as Ove is a man of principles and rule-followings. I'd admit, I paid as close attention as possible to see if there is some mention of having autism due to Ove's obliviousness of certain social contexts that may have been obvious to others but not to him.
As the book was coming to an end, I felt a strong feeling like I didn't want the book to end nor did I want for Ove to die. I believe this story will help others see life with a different meaning.
Rating: 5
Author: Fredrick Backman
Format: Audiobook
Category: Contemporary
Published year: 2019
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