English teacher Sara Sedgwick recommends the book “A Man Called Ove”

In the last few years Boomer has come to be a term of disgrace meant to signify that a person is too grumpy and old fashioned.  

As “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman opens, Ove seems to define the term to perfection as he tries to purchase an iPad, and spends most of the time complaining to the clerk in the store.  And honestly, Ove spends most of the book complaining about a wide range of events, most of them involving his neighbors.  

After having recently lost his wife, Ove finds himself feeling alone and useless.  He spends most of his days thinking about his wife, judging people, and, really, just wishing for his life to be over.  

But when a small accident involving his mailbox occurs, Ove is forced into having an active part in the world again.  

Ove turns from a curmudgeonly Boomer to a beloved companion, although he may drag his feet about this change the entire time.  

This book is driven by the characters rather than by the plot, and Ove is one of the most memorable characters I have met in my time as a reader.  

The book does deal with serious topics including depression, thoughts of suicide, and the death of loved ones, but seeing Ove transform from a hermit to a vital part of the community. 

This book shows us that life wants us to keep living, no matter how old and grumpy we may be.