Fiction | Book Chatter

A Man Called Ove
By Fredrik Backman
Washington Square Press, Paperback, 9781476738024, May 2015, 368pp.

The Short of It:

A grieving man touches the hearts of many in this sweet story.

The Rest of It:

After the death of his wife, Ove is no easier to get along with than he was before her death. He’s particular about how things are done and whether they are done right. He’s gruff, lacks patience and is easily frustrated by stupidity. Especially that of his neighbors. But there is a sadness to Ove and that is what makes this story very special.

This book was very popular when it came out and due to the movie release it’s still popular today and I can see why. It’s definitely a “feel good” read. It’s charming and Ove is quite the character and one you will probably remember for a very long time. But this book is made even better by its cast of supporting characters. They all had a purpose, even the cat.

My book club will be discussing it this Thursday. It reminded me quite a bit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry but I think that one had more to discuss. We shall see, but as a “feel good” read, I highly recommend it.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

My Husband’s Wife
By Jane Corry
Pamela Dorman Books, Hardcover, 9780735220959, January 31, 2017, 384pp.

The Short of It:

History repeats itself.

The Rest of It:

The title of this story is a little misleading and it’s not fully explained until the last third of the book but what started off as a rocky start, turned out to be quite a page turner.

Lily is married to Ed. Their marriage is riddled with problems. Ed doesn’t have a full-time job because he’s an artist trying to make a name for himself. Lily, resents having to be the sole breadwinner but when she takes on her first murder case everything takes a backseat including her marriage.

Carla is the little neighbor girl who lives next door with her mother. She’s alone much of the time because her mother chooses to entertain her “boyfriend” Larry in order get the things she needs like rent money, clothes and tuition for her daughter. After Lily and Ed offer to watch Carla, a bond grows between Carla and Ed as Carla becomes Ed’s artistic muse.

This book could be split into two separate novels. Carla’s childhood is interesting enough but once Carla is grown, the story takes a different direction as we follow her into adulthood and see how her mother’s actions impact her later in life. In addition to Carla’s story, there’s Lily’s story and how a murder case from the past affects her years later.

As you might have guessed, Carla and Lily’s stories are intertwined due to Ed but the way they come together is not smooth and dare I say it, a tad awkward. The transition between childhood and adulthood needed a little finessing in my opinion and some of the plot points weren’t realistic but the last third of the book had me flipping pages left and right to see how the story would end.

I think this book tried too hard. It tried to be many things ( a murder mystery, a psychological thriller, a book about relationships, etc.) It lacked focus even though the last third of the book was pretty riveting. All in all this book was just okay for me. It missed its mark.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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