A Man Called Ove (novel) explained

A Man Called Ove
Title Orig:En man som heter Ove
Translator:Henning Koch
Author:Fredrik Backman
Country:Sweden
Language:Swedish
Genre:Novel
Publisher:Forum (Swedish)
Publisher2:Atria Books (English)
Pub Date:27 August 2012
English Pub Date:15 July 2014
Media Type:Print
Pages:368 pp (US)
347 pp (SWE)
Isbn:9781476738024

A Man Called Ove (Swedish: En man som heter Ove, in Swedish pronounced as /ɛn ˈmanː sɔm ˈhěːtɛr ˈǔːvɛ/) is a debut novel by Swedish writer Fredrik Backman published in Swedish by Forum in 2012.[1] The novel was published in English in 2013 and reached the New York Times Best Seller list 18 months after its publication and stayed on the list for 42 weeks.

It has been adapted into two films: A Man Called Ove, which premiered in Sweden on 25 December 2015, with Rolf Lassgård in the leading role,[2] and A Man Called Otto, released on 30 December 2022, with Tom Hanks in the leading role.[3]

Inspiration

Backman got his inspiration for this book after reading an article about a man named Ove who had a fit while buying tickets at an art museum. Backman instantly related to this man as he claims to be "not great at talking to people".[4] He started writing blogposts under the heading, "I am a Man Called Ove", where he wrote about his pet peeves and annoyances. Eventually, he realized that his writing had potential for the creation of an interesting fictional character.

Characters

Reception

Overall, A Man Called Ove was received well, with the review aggregator website, Bookmarks, rates its overall reception as "rave" based on five reviews with three being "rave" and two being "positive".[5] Kirkus Reviews gave a positive review of the novel, describing how, "the back story chapters have a simple, fablelike quality, while the current-day chapters are episodic and, at times, hysterically funny. In both instances, the narration can veer toward the preachy or overly pat, but wry descriptions, excellent pacing and the juxtaposition of Ove's attitude with his deeds add plenty of punch to balance out any pathos."[6] Publishers Weekly called the novel "a fuzzy crowd-pleaser that serves up laughs to accompany a thoughtful reflection on loss and love. Though Ove's antics occasionally feel repetitive, the author writes with winning charm."[7]

Adaptations

Film

The novel was adapted into A Man Called Ove, a Swedish film released on 25 December 2015,[8] written and directed by Hannes Holm and starring Rolf Lassgård as Ove.[9] The film was nominated for six awards, winning two, at the 51st Guldbagge Awards in 2016.[10] [11] It was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film and Best Makeup and Hairstyling categories at the 89th Academy Awards.[12] [13] [14] [15]

An English-language film adaptation called A Man Called Otto was also released, with Tom Hanks starring and producing.[16]

Theatre

In January 2015, a stage version of the book, starring Johan Rheborg in the leading role as Ove, premiered in Stockholm.[17]

Audiobook

In July 2014, Dreamscape Media released an audiobook version of this book, read in English by the American actor George Newbern.[18] In November 2019, Simon & Schuster released an audiobook version read in English by American actor J.K. Simmons.[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LIBRIS – En man som heter Ove / . 12 January 2016.
  2. Web site: En man som heter Ove (2015) . MovieZine . 12 January 2016.
  3. Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . 2022-10-17 . Tom Hanks Movie 'A Man Called Otto' Shifts To Christmas . 2022-12-22 . Deadline . en-US.
  4. News: Alter . Alexandra . 2016-10-28 . The Man Behind A Man Called Ove, Sweden's Latest Hit Novel . en-US . The New York Times . 2021-03-24 . 0362-4331.
  5. Web site: Bookmark Book Marks . 2024-02-29 . en-US.
  6. Book: A MAN CALLED OVE Kirkus Reviews . en.
  7. Web site: 15 July 2014 . A Man Called Ove . March 21, 2021 . Publishers Weekly.
  8. Web site: 25 December 2015 . En man som heter Ove . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305015154/http://www.sfi.se/sv/svensk-filmdatabas/Item/?itemid=79650&type=MOVIE&iv=Basic . 5 March 2016 . 30 September 2016 . . . sv.
  9. Web site: A Man Called Ove (2015) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160407224555/http://www.sfi.se/en-GB/Swedish-film-database/Item/?itemid=79650&type=MOVIE&iv=Basic . 7 April 2016 . 12 January 2015 . . Swedish Film Institute.
  10. Nominations for the 2015 Guldbagge Awards . 4 January 2016 . . Göransson . Jan . 5 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304141543/http://www.filminstitutet.se/en/about-us/press-service/press-archive/2016/nominations-for-the-2015-guldbagge-awards/ . 4 March 2016 . dmy-all.
  11. Web site: Norman . Isabel . Nykänen . Joni . 18 January 2016 . Glädjevrålet på Guldbaggegalan . The Joy of the Guldbagge Awards . 19 January 2016 . . sv.
  12. Web site: McNary . Dave . 15 December 2016 . Oscars: Nine Films Advance in Foreign-Language Race . 15 December 2016 . . Penske Business Media.
  13. News: Samuelson . Kate . 24 January 2017 . Here Are the 2017 Oscar Nominations . . 24 January 2017.
  14. Web site: Tillgren . Jenny . 22 December 2016 . "En man som heter Ove" kan få Oscar för make up och hår . A Man Called Ove Nominated for Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar . 22 December 2016 . . AB Kvällstidningen Expressen . sv.
  15. Web site: Kit . Borys . 21 September 2017 . Tom Hanks to Star in, Produce A Man Called Ove Movie . 27 August 2018 . . Prometheus Global Media.
  16. Web site: Tom Hanks to Star In, Produce A Man Called Ove Movie . 29 April 2019.
  17. Web site: TeaterStockholm.se – Din guide i teaterdjungeln . dead . 12 January 2016 . https://archive.today/20151021071738/http://teaterstockholm.se/2015/01/27/premiar-for-en-man-som-heter-ove/ . 21 October 2015.
  18. Book: Backman, Fredrik . A Man Called Ove . Newbern . George . 2014-07-29 . Dreamscape Media . 9781629239842 . MP3 Una . English . .
  19. Book: Backman, Fredrik . A Man Called Ove . Simmons . J.K. . 2019-11-26 . Simon & Schuster . 9781797108261 . audiobook . English . .

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