SFGate.com
"An eclectic cast of characters, fairy-tale wisdom, and a little mystery… one of our favorite novels of the year so far."
People Magazine
Winsome, bittersweet...Wise and heartbreaking, Backman’s slim novella celebrates the joy of connecting even in the midst of letting go.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
PRAISE FOR MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE'S SORRY
“[...] Believable and fanciful. Backman’s smooth storytelling infuses his characters with charm and wit. . . Engaging. . . A delightful story.
REALSIMPLE.COM
"Beautiful, dreamlike, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. Bring tissues. Bring all the tissues.
CBS Local
"A light hearted, deeply moving novel about a grumpy but loveable curmudgeon who finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door. This quirky debut is a thoughtful and charming exploration of the impact one life has on countless others—and an absolute delight."
People
PRAISE FOR A MAN CALLED OVE
“A charming debut...You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel new sympathy for the curmudgeons in your life. You’ll also want to move to Scandinavia, where everything’s cuter.
Lisa Genova
"I read this beautifully imagined and moving novella in one sitting, utterly wowed, wanting to share it with everyone I know."
BookBrowse.com
"An inspiring affirmation of love for life and acceptance of people for their essence and individual quirks. A Man Called Ove is a perfect selection for book clubs. It's well written and replete with universal concerns. It lacks violence and profanity, is life-affirming and relationship-driven. The book is bittersweet, tender, often wickedly humorous and almost certain to elicit tears. I contentedly wept my way through a box of tissues when I first read the novel and again when I savored it for a second time.
LaSalle News Tribune
The saddest, sweetest book ever... It is heartbreakingly sad, but also beautiful and uplifting in the end.
Booklist
"Britt-Marie’s metamorphosis from cocoon to butterfly seems all the more remarkable for the utterly discouraging environment in which it takes place."
San Francisco Chronicle
A novella to be savored and reread about a boy, his dad and his grandpa as they learn to say goodbye. It’s a little book with a big message."
Starred Review Booklist
"Readers seeking feel-good tales with a message will rave about the rantings of this solitary old man with a singular outlook. 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)
Every bit as churlish but lovable as Backman’s cantankerous protagonist in his debut, A Man Called Ove (2014), precocious Elsa will easily work her way into the hearts of readers who like characters with spunk to spare. A delectable homage to the power of stories to comfort and heal, Backman’s tender tale of the touching relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter is a tribute to the everlasting bonds of deep family ties.”
Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"A Man Called Ove is exquisite. The lyrical language is the confetti thrown liberally throughout this celebration-of-life story, adding sparkle and color to an already spectacular party. Backman's characters feel so authentic that readers will likely find analogues living in their own neighborhoods."
Shelf Awareness
A brilliant mix of belly-laughs, profound insight and captivating events delivered… with Backman's pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature."
People Magazine
Winsome, bittersweet...Wise and heartbreaking, Backman’s slim novella celebrates the joy of connecting even in the midst of letting go.
San Francisco Chronicle
Even the most serious reader of fiction needs light relief, and for that afternoon when all you want is charm, this is the perfect book."
Booklist
"Britt-Marie’s metamorphosis from cocoon to butterfly seems all the more remarkable for the utterly discouraging environment in which it takes place."
JANUARY 2017 - AudioFile
Read any work by Backman, particularly A MAN CALLED OVE, and the first word that comes to mind is “charming.” Listen to this particular work by Backman, and that charm is only magnified, made more endearing by narrator David Morse. In this novella, Backman’s magical descriptions and character portrayals are captured in Morse’s gentle voice. And with the story of a grandfather’s memory loss, the charm veers sharply to heartbreak at times. As the listener is transported into Grandpa’s confusion, his struggles and those of his family become even more real and challenging. Morse’s performance is well wrought, with some understandable lapses into preciousness as Grandpa interacts with his grandson, “Noah-Noah.” But these don’t detract, and, overall, this audiobook is well worth a listen. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
