A marvel of dark humor and emotion

This first novel by Sweden's Fredrik Backman is a wonderfully creaky humor and emotion, which arouses much laughter than tears. Ove is a man as one does not take it anymore: hardworking, honest, faithful, strong ... but as stubborn as a mule, closed to progress, totally psycho obsessed with its fuel consumption and the driving ban in the subdivision where he lives. First exasperating gruff retired gradually reveals character traits that make it such a nuanced character deeply endearing. He lived a beautiful love story with a woman who was his opposite in everything, and that gave him the impression of "running barefoot in his heart." It maintains a tumultuous 40-year relationship with its neighbor Rune, alternating moments of silent complicity and fierce clashes. And the day he decides he has nothing more to do in this world, several meetings are responsible for disabuse him without that he would never lose his immense bad faith or his inimitable repartee. I wish this novel never ends.