Read this when
A Man Called Ove
He had a plan to leave. His new neighbours kept needing a ladder. 🐈 Sometimes what saves you isn't a pep talk but being needed.
Who it's for
Ove, a rule-bound 59-year-old widower who has just lost his job, is grieving his wife Sonja and repeatedly tries to end his life, only to be interrupted by the chaos of new neighbours who need his help.
Feelings it meets
What it is
Fredrik Backman's debut novel, published in Swedish in 2012 and translated into English by Henning Koch in 2014, centres on Ove, a 59-year-old widower who has recently lost his job after more than three decades. Grieving his wife Sonja, he repeatedly plans to end his life, and each time he is interrupted by the needs of the people around him.
Where to find it
In print; widely available from libraries (Libby/Hoopla) and as an audiobook. Not public domain.
Before you start
Heads up: Repeated suicide attempts.
Age: Ages 14+
It is the tears of the earth that keep her smiles in bloom.Rabindranath Tagore, Stray Birds, no. 4
