Aug 1, 2014

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman: Book Beginning

Visit Book Beginnings at Rose City Reader for other books chosen for this meme.

Title: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Published July 15, 2014; Atria Books

Book beginning: A Man Called Ove Buys a Computer That Is Not a Computer
Ove is fifty-nine.
He drives a Saab. He is the kind of man who points at people he doesn't like the look of, as if they were burglars and his forefinger a policeman's flashlight. He stands at the corner of  a shop where owners of Japanese cars come to purchased white cables. Ove eyes the sales assistant for a long time before shaking a medium-sized white box at him.
"So this is one of those O-Pads, is it?" he demands. 
Page 56: 
You miss the strangest things when you lose someone. Little things. Smiles. The way she turned over in her sleep. Even repainting a room for her.
Publisher description: "In this bestselling and delightfully quirky debut novel from Sweden, a grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

Meet Ove. 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."

Would you keep reading the book based on the beginning and the excerpt?

16 comments:

  1. Though I usually like it when a book slowly brings the reader in, I find the beginning of this one intriguing.

    I love the O - Pad!

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  2. Both of those quotes caught my interest. If my TBR pile was not so high I would pick it up.

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  3. I am definitely intrigued by the premise...and the excerpts offer a glimpse of the character. Thanks!

    Here's mine: “WE ARE NOT OURSELVES”

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  4. I like the way the author introduces Ove from the very first sentence. This sounds like a delightful story.
    Here's the link to my Friday post: A COLLIE RESCUE.

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  5. Yes, I would read it because of the Friday 56.

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  6. Based on the beginning yes, but the cover and synopsis not so much :)

    My BB & 56

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  7. Both the excerpts definitely caught my attention - especially the 56!

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  8. I'd definitely go on reading. I've been seeing this one mentioned a lot lately, and it does look intriguing. Hope you love it!

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  9. Yes, I'd read more. Ove sounds grumpy but good-hearted.

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  10. I'd keep reading. I think it would be a nice story to read about Ove warming up.

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  11. I definitely would! The beginning is intriguing and I really want to find out more about Ove. What an unusual name -- is it Oh-VE? Or Ohv, I wonder?

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  12. I definitely would! The beginning is intriguing and I really want to find out more about Ove. What an unusual name -- is it Oh-VE? Or Ohv, I wonder?

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  13. Sounds good. I turned this title down for a review because I didn't have time.

    I may eventually read it.

    So cute how he called it an O-pad. :)

    The missing someone quote is very sad for me since my father passed away in March.

    THANKS for sharing.

    ENJOY your weekend and your book.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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  14. I've seen a few post about this book lately and I'm intrigued. Will look forward to hearing more!

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