Midbar Kodesh Book Club: A Man Called Ove

In "A Man Called Ove," a bestselling and charming novel by one of Sweden's most successful authors, Fredrik Backman, a grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door. Midbar Kodesh Temple's book club, facilitated by Ileen Spoor, will meet in the Hazak Library Judaica to share insights about the novel on Sunday morning, November 20 at 10:00 a.m.

Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.” But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time? Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness.

This comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats and unexpected friendships change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association in this feel-good story about the angry old man next door. It is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. Booklist's review says “if there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down."