Play Book Tag discussion

5 stars and added to favorites
Quote from the book synopsis. "A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door."

I can't get over how much I enjoyed this book. It made me laugh out loud, angry, sympathetic and had me shed tears.

I will say I have seen and loved the movie, and it is all in there, but the book has much more. It has a different feel that I just can't explain. Ove is a man you don't like/hate, grown to tolerate, like, sympathize with, understand and then hits with love. My emotions were all over the place with this well written and deeply touching story.

I am a huge Backman fan. I know you didn't like Beartown so I am happy that you were able to connect and enjoy this story. I also recommend the Swedish movie. It's the same but different and just as wonderful.

I haven’t seen the new film, but I loved the Swedish film. The relationship between Ove and his former best friend was very poignant. The acting performance by the man playing his friend was especially good. I can still picture a key scene after many years.

I read the book before, and I enjoyed revisiting it, but I didn’t feel any urgency to finish it until right now. Thanks for the great review and the reminder of why I loved the book to begin with.

I disliked Beartown as well (in fact I pretty much hated it!) but I love this book. I also really enjoyed ‘My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry’.

I liked Beartown, but of course grew up in the country that invented ice hockey and where it's the unofficial national sport. This isn't so much why I liked the book, but it didn't hurt.

My favourite Backman novel is My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry. It was my first book by him, but when I reread it, it stood the test of time and is still a full 5 stars for me.

As for this book, I wouldn't care for the American one since, as Jason once told me it's more American in it's interpretation, but I also don't like watching films with subtitles unless the subtitles are for a comedic effect.

I did greatly enjoy the audiobook reader for the library copy I listened two for my second time--he was BRILLIANT as Ove. JK Simmons and it's the copy with the movie picture on it.

Karin wrote: "I liked Beartown, but of course grew up in the country that invented ice hockey and where it's the unofficial national sport. This isn't so much why I liked the book, but it didn't hurt.

My favou..."

This is the audio i have too. When I first started listening to the JKSimmons version, all I could hear (and picture) was Juno’s father from the movie about a pregnant teenager (played by Ellen Page, who is now known as Elliot Page.). Then I listened to the other version, and that narrator sounded far too young, so now I’m back to the one with JKSimmons. It usually takes just a little while for my brain to adjust, and attach the familiar voice to a new character.

Thank you everyone for your comments. Looks like I will be watching the Swedish movie and reading ‘My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry’.
It is good to know others did not like Beartown.

I have a hard time with any movie with subtitles. The words move to fast for me to focus. It is one of the few times my Dyslexia feels like a pain in the butt to deal with. Then if the color blends with the background, game over I just read it at all.

SouthWestZippy wrote: "Thank you everyone for your comments. Looks like I will be watching the Swedish movie and reading ‘My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry’.
It is good to know others did not like Beartown..."

I don’t think the subtitles were very difficult, but my eyes were better then. My husband loved the film and he usually hates subtitles. I hope it works for you.