I’m so thankful to be part of a book club. We met this week and discussed Fredrik Backman’s book.
Winner of cutest dessert at book club! While I did not host book club this week I did manage to leave my mark. My efforts to “help” led to a dessert spilled all over the inside of the fridge (my fault) a small kitchen fire (also my fault) and a dessert that while it was adorable wasn’t the best tasting (kinda my fault) it was definitely the cutest and most thoughtfully designed dessert (I get no credit).
But back to the book – Essentially it is about a grumpy old man with a bad case of OCD. A grumpy old man who keeps trying to kill himself. A grumpy old man, that as it turns out, has plenty of reason to be grumpy. A grumpy old man who’s story slowly unfolds. A grumpy old man who initially I did not like. A grumpy old man named Ove that I began wishing was my neighbor….
This book has many layers to it. It was eye opening. I’m easily put off by people’s gruff manner. My protective walls go up and I pull away. But there is something about Ove’s story that reminded me that it is ok to be direct and kind with people when they step on your toes. That sometimes those that are “grumpy” are still beautiful, resourceful, helpful and even kind people tucked behind their grumpy exterior.
I also enjoyed the way the author put his words together. The author describes Ove’s wife’s laughter “…as if it was pouring out of her, without the slightest possibility of stopping it, like she was being wrestled to the ground by her own giggling. She laughed and laughed and laughed until the vowels were rolling across the walls and floors,…”
One of my favorites came near the end of the book
“Death is a strange thing. People live their whole lives as if it does not exist, and yet it’s often one of the great motivations for living. Some of us, in time, become so conscious of it that we live harder, more obstinately, with more fury. Some need its constant presence to even be aware of its antithesis. Others become so preoccupied with it that they go into the waiting room long before it has announced its arrival. We fear it, yet most of us fear more than anything that it may take someone other than ourselves. For the greatest fear of death is always that it will pass us by. And leave us there alone.”
What I loved about book club is that while I enjoyed the book as I listened to others discuss it I realized I loved it more than I initially thought. The value of hearing others discuss something you have taken in and processed is very high in my opinion! I love the opportunity to share and gather insights from others.
I say read it! 😀
Project 365
My Morning
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I love to begin {my morning} with a hot cup of chai! Fresh flowers in the house is a bonus!
Sweet 
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It is very exciting to watch the process happening in our yard right now. Things are growing and blooming and now ripening! This is our first red raspberry and soon we will be happily munching on those {sweet} berries!
I hope your day is filled with sweetness and don’t let the grumps get you down. They are probably sweethearts down deep inside!
-S
Next: An arrow, My passion
