A man called Ove

 "chain se marane bhi nahi dete hain" (these people do not let me die in peace) this thought keeps bugging Ove again and again. The book is 'A man called Ove' by Fredrick Backman.

Ove is middle aged Engineer who appears to others as grumpy old man. He has decided to die as there is no one who understands him, or  who needs him now. After his wife died six months ago. 

The office where is spent one third of his lifetime, asks him to take retirement - to make way for younger people. 

What will he do alone whole day? What is the purpose of his existence?  He better go and join his dear wife Sonja. 

So he plans methodically, elaborately for his death - just like he plans everything else. 

He fixes a hook on the roof, ties a rope with a noose to the hook. He covers the floor with mat as he doesn't want the police who will come later to spoil his floor. 

Then he stands on a stool, ties the noose around his neck and kicks the stool.

The end? No. Unfortunately  not. He immediately falls on the floor. The rope is broken. He starts cursing and saying  this new society can't even make a basic thing as rope properly in a typical old people way.  

He tries several more times using other innovative, elaborate methods, but each time failing miserably. He is disturbed in his endeavors by new neighbors - very pregnant Parvaneh , and her incompetent husband Patrick. 

First day, unable to reverse his trailer, Patrick crashes his car onto Ove's mailbox. Not able to see this utter incompetence, Ove takes the key from him and parks the car for him . 

To say thanks and to compensate for the mailbox, Parvaneh sends her daughters with a casserole of saffron rice with chicken. 

Next day, they come again to borrow his step ladder to open a stuck window. 

But Patrick falls down from the ladder and should be taken to hospital. As there was no room in the ambulance, Parvenah comes running to Ove for his help.

So this is how life, which he didn't want, goes on for Ove. He unwillingly helps Adrian to fix the bicycle and gives shelter to his boss - a gay son of an orthodox shopkeeper. 

And he reluctantly gets a daughter and two - no, three grandchildren in exchange. 

I liked the book for its satirical tones full of wise quips. And the story is good too. 

But towards the end, it feels slightly unreal. A wife on wheelchair was OK. But she had to have cancer too?

The the book is not bad. And it is funny  and  an easy read.  What more do you need?

And I am not going to lie - the movie based on the film 'A man called Otto' is quite good with Tom Hanks in the lead role.