Hey friends! It's been a while. I've been knee-deep in life and have been remiss in taking you along for the ride. I hope to do better on that in the coming months. In the meantime, I hope you all are doing well and enjoying your summer. I also hope you've been reading! I know I have been. And that's why I'm here today...to share the best of what's been on my bedside table of late. This is the first in a series of "Book Love" posts so you can make the most of summer reading time before it runs out. Let's jump right in...
Up first is the best audiobook I've listened to in ages. I am IN LOVE with this book, people.
IN. LOVE.
It's Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove.
Now, I have no idea how much my love for this book is influenced by the fact that I listened to it rather than read it. I would guess at least a little bit, because George Newbern did an amazing job with the narration. He made me feel like I was actually one of Ove's neighbors...plus he taught me the correct way to pronounce the Swedish name Ove (It's Oo-va).
But on to the book...
This is some seriously great writing. Hats off to Fredrik Backman. If you've read my book reviews before, then you know that I'm a sucker for great characters, and Backman creates one of my favorites in Ove. His character development and writing voice are amazing. So amazing, in fact, that I have plans to read everything else he's written (at least what's been translated into English). Plus he can turn a phrase like a boss-- some of the best metaphors I've ever read.
If you've read my other reviews you also know that I don't like to talk much about "what the book is about"...I'd rather you discover that once you open the book (or press play on the audio). What I do want to convey is how the book made me feel. And this book made me feel like I'd found a new group of friends in its characters. It made me appreciate a different kind of person. It made me feel like I just might understand my grandfather a little more than I did before. It reminded me that there are a lot of ways to show love and live a good life-- that it's a good thing that "it takes all kinds" in our world. And it kind of made me want to adopt a stray cat (don't tell my husband).
I write this blog post just days after finishing A Man Called Ove, and I miss the characters terribly. I believe this is one of the highest praises I can give a book: I was sad when I finished it because I didn't want it to end.
I also cried.
Now I want everyone to make friends with Ove.
Amazing book. Highly recommend.
Until next time, happy reading!
P.S. Thank you to my sister-in-law, Linda, for sending me the A Man Called Ove audiobook!!
P.P.S. This audio book is available on Amazon's Audible. For my local peeps: you can also borrow the audio book from our local libraries!
IN. LOVE.
It's Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove.
Now, I have no idea how much my love for this book is influenced by the fact that I listened to it rather than read it. I would guess at least a little bit, because George Newbern did an amazing job with the narration. He made me feel like I was actually one of Ove's neighbors...plus he taught me the correct way to pronounce the Swedish name Ove (It's Oo-va).
But on to the book...
This is some seriously great writing. Hats off to Fredrik Backman. If you've read my book reviews before, then you know that I'm a sucker for great characters, and Backman creates one of my favorites in Ove. His character development and writing voice are amazing. So amazing, in fact, that I have plans to read everything else he's written (at least what's been translated into English). Plus he can turn a phrase like a boss-- some of the best metaphors I've ever read.
If you've read my other reviews you also know that I don't like to talk much about "what the book is about"...I'd rather you discover that once you open the book (or press play on the audio). What I do want to convey is how the book made me feel. And this book made me feel like I'd found a new group of friends in its characters. It made me appreciate a different kind of person. It made me feel like I just might understand my grandfather a little more than I did before. It reminded me that there are a lot of ways to show love and live a good life-- that it's a good thing that "it takes all kinds" in our world. And it kind of made me want to adopt a stray cat (don't tell my husband).
I write this blog post just days after finishing A Man Called Ove, and I miss the characters terribly. I believe this is one of the highest praises I can give a book: I was sad when I finished it because I didn't want it to end.
I also cried.
Now I want everyone to make friends with Ove.
Amazing book. Highly recommend.
Until next time, happy reading!
P.S. Thank you to my sister-in-law, Linda, for sending me the A Man Called Ove audiobook!!
P.P.S. This audio book is available on Amazon's Audible. For my local peeps: you can also borrow the audio book from our local libraries!
Excellent book and excellent movie. The Traverse City Film Festival showed it last year and I was very impressed on how closely it followed the book.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda! I haven't seen the movie but will add it to my list. Thanks! We normally come to town right at the end of the film festival each summer, but we won't be able to make the trip this year--I'm so sad not to get my TC/SB time this year. Hope you guys are enjoying beautiful weather up there!
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