Cannonball Read Bingo Square: Cold
I”m late to the game on this 2012 book about Ove, who I would dub the King of all Curmudgeons. Picking this book for the “cold” bingo square was a no-brainer because his character first presents as the chilliest of all cold characters, with rarely a kind word to say about anyone. I personally would crown Ove as the King of all Curmudgeons. But of course, he would bristle at the honorific, belittling the idea that a) someone would pay him enough attention to crown him with anything and b) he could be summed up so succinctly, without attention paid to the whole truth.
This story unfolds gently as we see Ove struggling in the wake of his wife’s passing. He patrols his property, looking for rulebreakers and cussing at the stray cat that he can’t seem to shake. But behind closed doors, he is cautiously making plans for what he hopes are his final days. Without his beloved, he doesn’t see a point in sticking around. Some reviews of this book found Ove to be too dour, too grating, but I found his pain and gruffness to be believe, and was charmed by this grouchy old man.
I was interested to learn that Ove is at least semi-autobiographical. In an interview, Backman said, “I’m not very socially competent. I’m not great at talking to people. My wife tends to say, your volume is always at 1 or 11, never in between” and that is the underpinning of our title character. But, as time passes and he (very) begrudgingly begins to make connections with those around him, he questions that maybe it isn’t all over, maybe there are things worth living for.
Not only is his present loneliness gutting, his life story brims with injustices, large and small, and burdens that he carried over the course of his life without another soul to turn to for comfort or support. He strives to be a good man and do no harm, but rarely catches a break until he meets Sonja, and even then, he didn’t really see himself of worthy of her kindness and shining light. My heart broke a little each time something happened that caused him put up another wall. Did I cry? You betcha. This book will give you a dose of “you don’t know the struggles that others are going through” and leave you with a smidge more patience and consideration for your fellow mankind.
With his taciturn replies, fierce independence, devotion to logic, and penchant for malitiance compliance, Ove also reminds me of my favorite introvert, whom I happen to be married to. Some of my reading was spent sniffling on the sofa, next to my husband, while he gave me a watchful eye. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.