Book Review (A Man Called Ove)

Title   ::       A Man Called Ove

Author ::       Fredrik Backman

Genre  ::       Fiction

Rating ::       5.0 / 5.0

To confess, I was a bit sceptical to start a book titled, “A man called Ove” having a coverpage of an elderly figure. I started reading the book and realized how wrong I could be. I bet one can’t put down the book once started. You are so glued to the book not for its story but for the Man Called Ove. Unlike any other old person (mostly found around across any typical alley or nukkad) Ove, is a grumpy 59 year old widower, very much in love with his own company, routine, rules and job. And this job is taken away from him. Amidst the process of making peace with this jobless life, the solitary world of Ove is turned topsy-turvy with the entry of a boisterous chatty family across the street.

Through the chain of small incidences happening between Ove and the family, and toggling the story line between the past and present, Fredrik has gracefully canvassed the character of Ove from being grumpy to a good humoured one or from being a self centric to a social person or a kind soft hearted person toughened with cranky exterior you simply just can’t resist in falling in love with Ove. This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions; at one point it appears very hilarious and on the very next page the corners of your eyes are misty.

The book seemingly appears to be a biographic type but for me it’s a subtle passionate love story of Ove-Sonja, setting a very high standard of couple goals. Opposites attract and yes it’s validated in this story also. He loves machines and her interest lies in literature, he hates animals whereas she longs for a pet, he is conservative while she is contemporary and many more such traits are revealed in the book but no behavioural contrast seems to shackle their marriage. Life was not a cake walk for the duo, but their love enabled them to strive across.

Alongwith an essence of romance, this book is a discovery of some of life’s simple facts showcased via Ove’s journey;

• The past doesn’t just stay in past. It certainly does define you

• Habits or personal traits could change with time and surroundings

• Generation gap does exist and always an inertia (though initially) is seen in the elder generation while embracing it

• Goodness lies in the world and it definitely acts a cohesive force for survival of humanity 
  

Book Review

Title :: The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time
Author :: Mark Haddon
Genre :: Mystery
Rating :: 4.0 / 5.0

Story is narrated in a very simple and straight forward fashion without any unnecessary and irrelevant drama and description. Perhaps this, to the point narration is the USP of the book.

Protagonist, Christopher Boone, a fifteen year old kid, is the narrator of the book as well.  Story unfolds with Christopher finding a dog dead in the neighbourhood and him being mistaken as a suspect. Inspired with the strategical murder solving nerve of Sherlock Homes, Christopher begins his investigational stint.  Traversing the path of a detective, Christopher eventually happens to confront different places, people and situations with an unexpected encounter with his own family secret (To know it, one has to read the book). And exactly how a 15 year old autistic kid handles his own journey is what the book is all about.

For anyone to pick this book or to include in one’s wishlist or shelf includes;

• The beautiful and subtle description of an autistic kid (Christopher) throughout the book without emphasising or capitalising about his disorder.

• Mark with great responsibility has penned down this character, in such a way, that not even for a single moment readers develop sympathy towards the character (or its disability) but instead are entitled with an opportunity to experience the life and thinking process via Christopher’s vision and version.

• Narration of the story by Christopher himself is the best decision author had made.

• Throughout the book Mark has conveyed the varied adaptive ways followed by Christopher to adjust in a “Normal” society. For example recalling squares and cubes of 2 as a process to calm himself down under chaotic situations or figuring out beforehand a timetable to straighten up the everyday chores or use of logical flowcharts for solving problems indicates his ingenuity and an upper edge over the disorder.

• Alongwith the mainstream detective story, Mark has woven a very convincing Teacher- Student and Parent-child relationship that a reader cannot fail to notice.  

In a nutshell, the book definitely is worth and perfect to start and finish with in this Lockdown period.