Since I work at a bookstore and am constantly wanting to read
everything, I thought that it would be fun to have a monthly read-a-long
for the Ravelry Group. This month I picked “A Man Named Ove” (pronounced Ooo-V-A) by Fredrik Backman. It will be coming out in
paperback on 5/5/15, so there’s no need to worry that you have to spend
yarn money on a hard cover book.
Here’s an overview:
In this bestselling and “charming debut” (People) from one of
Sweden’s most successful authors, a grumpy yet loveable man finds his
solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves
in next door.
Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people
he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window.
He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People
call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.” But must Ove be bitter just
because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all
the time?
Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So
when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young
daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it
is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats,
unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All
of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’
association to their very foundations.
A feel-good story in the spirit of “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of
Harold Fry” and “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand”, Fredrik Backman’s novel
about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the
profound impact one life has on countless others. “If there was an award
for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish
blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist,
starred review).
This first Read-A-Long will run from May 5 till June 1, 2015. Please join the Ravelry Group and join in on the book discussion, I can't wait to hear everyone's opinion on this book! ^_^
