Book Review: A Man Called Ove by @Backmanland

A Man Called Ove

by: Fredrik Backman

Publisher: Atria Books

Format: Paperback

Source: personal

SUMMARY

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. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.

MY REVIEW

This meme really sums up how I felt when I was done reading A Man Called Ove. It has been awhile since I’ve cried all the way through a book! Backman introduces us to an elderly gentleman who just recently lost his wife. I don’t want to give anything away but from the beginning you realize what Ove is planning and the floodgates open up. Think of a mixture of Grand Torino and the Notebook. Fate plays a hand and Ove is thwarted from his plans at every turn of the page. I will just leave you with some of my favorite quotes from the book (I know you will want to read it after this!)

He was a man of black and white.

And she was color. All the color he had.

“I miss you,” he whispers.

There’s a quick gleam in the corner of Ove’s eye. He feels something soft against his arm. It takes a few seconds before he realizes that the cat is gently resting its head in the palm of his hand.

PURCHASE

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Book Review: The Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews

Red Sparrow

Author Jason Matthews

Series: The Red Sparrow Book 1

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publication Date: 2/20/2018

Format: Media Tie-in

Source: Purchased from Barnes and Noble

SUMMARY 

In contemporary Russia, state intelligence officer Dominika Egorova has been drafted to become a "Sparrow" -- a spy trained in the art of seduction to siphon out information from their marks. She’s been assigned to Nathaniel Nash, a CIA officer who handles the organization’s most sensitive penetration of Russian intelligence. The two young intelligence officers, trained in their respective spy schools, collide in a charged atmosphere of tradecraft, deception and, inevitably, a forbidden spiral of carnal attraction that threatens their careers and the security of America's valuable mole in Moscow. 

MY REVIEW

I will be the first to say that books about Russian espionage are not my first pick to read, that is usually my mom’s type of book. I will say the reason I picked this book up was because of the previews for the movie version. I just had to read the book before I see the movie, it is how I roll.

The beginning grabbed me right away, I was pulled into the lives of Dominika and Nash. It was a more slow pace to start, which I liked because it eased me into some very heavy reading. After the two meet the book really takes off and I was taken on a roller coaster ride of emotions. There were moments in the book that I was cheering them on and then the next I was raging against one of them for being asinine. The many other characters beef up the story. The author peppers a variety of evil and good men and woman throughout the storyline that creates an almost dizzying affect for me. I couldn’t tell most of the time who were the good guys and who were the bad guys! Which means I was staying up late just to read one more page that turned into one more chapter!

As a bonus, at the end of each chapter was a little recipe for something one of the characters ate. I did mark a few to try just because the way the author described the savory meal made my mouth water.

The author’s expertise is very prevalent in his writing. As I was reading, I wondered if his career with the CIA was as exciting as Nash’s. This was definitely not a book I would have picked up just out of the blue, but I am so glad I did. The ending of this book is really just the beginning and left me craving to read the next!

PURCHASE

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

I'M BACK!!

Hi Everyone!!! I'm finally back! It has been awhile but I'm ready to start posting and reviewing again. There's been a lot of changes in my life, personal and career, the last few years. Now I'm armed with a new computer (that won't constantly crash on me) and a fresh outlook on reviewing. I most likely won't post AS much as I use to. I am going or more quality then quantity. I've really missed the book blogging world so I am looking forward to this adventure again,,,:-)