A Man Called Ove

[a:Frederik Backman 19692362 Frederik Backman https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] has absolutely mastered the art of character development. It's impossible not to feel each character's joy–their sorrow, their frustration, and their love towards Ove. You get to experience the cold exterior of Ove's heart melt away through his many brief, but meaningful interactions with others. Ove is a modern day Grinch, a character who is extremely committed to maintaining their image of a gruff and abrasive person, while also having a pure heart–one that is capable of growing many sizes (maybe even one size too big). A Man Called Ove has many themes that you hope will one day feel outdated, but right now are still incredibly important and relevant. You initially understand Ove's resilience to act sympathetically to queerness, to immigrants, to those that don't conform to typical gender roles (e.g. men who can operate a computer, but not hang drywall) as just an example of someone whose beliefs are outdated. He is old enough that you almost want to excuse him as it can be so difficult to change your ways with age; but Ove always come out on top of these situations and learns to accept these things because it's just the right thing to do.Ove shows us that anyone is capable of loving and caring for others, of acceptance and tolerance. We might have initial reservations of accepting people who are different or act differently, but ultimately it's just easier to love others. Everyone just wants to be happy and succeed in life, and it does no good trying to stop others from living their lives. (An exception to this might be bankers and scammers, who are never redeemed in the eyes of Ove.)Ove's character continues to inspire me after reading. There are so many opportunities each day to just help people because it's right; to accept others for who they are. It's hopeful to think that one might achieve their own happiness by living with the ideal of serving others when they can. Maybe one day I too will die and people will be happy to have known me, and grateful for what I had done for them. And I will die grateful to have met so many others and for the kindness and compassion they had given me in return. When I die I will definitely have been grateful to have read this book, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to others. Naysayers may feel that this book presents an idealized world that is too simple and kitschy, and maybe the truth is that the world really is that simple: just tell the truth and be kind to others.