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Fiction

A MAN CALLED OVE

Fredrik Backman

Published: 2012 (first edition) 2015 (paperback)

Publisher: Sceptre

Pages: 295, Paperback

Every once in a while you come across a book that just simply bowls you over. ‘A Man Called Ove’ does that and you want to reread it as soon as you turn the final page because Ove, despite being a cranky 59-year-old Swedish widower who tries and fails to kills himself, leaves you charmed. You have to admit you are a little bit in love with this oddball and actually find his grumpiness endearing. The book by Swedish author Fredrick Backman became an instant bestseller in Sweden, selling more than 840,000 copies. The translation rights have been sold in 38 languages, including Arabic, Turkish, Thai, and Japanese. It was also adapted into a successful stage production and the movie went on to get the Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. Moreover, an English adaption of the film starring Tom Hanks is scheduled for release in 2019.

The book is one of Sweden’s most popular literary exports since Stieg Larsson’s ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’. However, A Man Called Ove flew under the radar when the English translation first came out in 2013. It was only after the paperback was released in May 2015 that the novel became wildly popular, and it was mostly because of word-of-mouth recommendations.

In the book, you will meet Ove six months after his wife’s death, and he is planning to commit suicide. He’s all set for it too. He has switched off the radiators, canceled the newspaper subscription, and drilled a sturdy hook into the ceiling from where he plans to hang him­self. But his plans are foiled by prying neighbors every single time he thinks he will finally be able to join his wife wherever she is. In between attempts to end his life, he visits his wife’s grave and takes her favorite flowers and tells her he misses her. He manages to take his pregnant neighbor, with whom he has unwittingly struck up a friend­ship of sorts, to the hospital, babysit her kids, and give shelter to a home­less cat too. You get the sense that beneath the cranky façade is a kind and generous heart.

In A Man Called Ove, you also get a taste of urban Swedish life. You see how knowing your neighbor and cultivating a strong community are valued a lot but you also get the sense that immigration is slowly changing the landscape. This part of the story, if you let it, will also leave you contemplating about life and its many complexities. But that takes the backseat as Ove tugs at your heartstrings. There is no surprise element in the book. You can always guess what is going to happen but you will still enjoy slowly peeling off the layers of Ove’s life.

Backman, with his wit and lyri­cal language, tells a touching story that’s both sardonic and hopeful. It’s laugh out loud funny and it’s tragic. The best part about it is that each chapter reads like a per­fectly crafted short story and all the chapters come together beauti­fully to bring to you an uplifting and life-affirming tale of how there’s a lot more to life than you think, and that love and kindness lie at the crux of it. It’s an important book because Ove teaches you to love your life and the people in it despite their many imperfections.

How many restaurants in Kathmandu can boast of a legacy of 50 years of regular operations? A handful, perhaps. One of them is The Ringmo Restaurant at Lazimpat (Opposite City Hotel). The restaurant has been in continuous operation for the past 50 years with the same staff and menu and the same group of regular patrons who swear by its offerings of fast food, Continental, Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Located in one of the oldest buildings in Lazimpat, the white doors and windows of the small eatery are easily missed unless one knows of the restaurant inside or unless someone has recommended it. Inside, the seating arrangement is homely and cozy. The customers get to choose from a fairly priced menu and be served with a smile by “Chyangba dai”, a sexagenarian waiter who has been with the restau­rant since its starting days.

THE MENU

Chef’s Special:

- Syouga Yako

- Grilled Pork Chop

- Cream Caramel

Opening hours

8 am - 9 pm

Location

Lazimpat, Ktm

Cards

Not Accepted

Meal for 2:

Rs 1,000

Reservations:

01-4415327

Non Fiction

THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Gretchen Rubin

Published: Dec 25, 2015(Revised Edition)

Publisher: Harper Paperbacks

Pages: 368

For some, happiness means a cold glass of beer on a hot sum­mer day. For others, it might be a good cup of coffee and a book to the pitter-patter of rain outside. Sleeping in late during the week­ends is also said to make quite a lot of people extremely happy. What makes you happy today might not do so tomorrow, and what makes one person happy might have no effect whatsoever on someone else. But one thing is certain: We are all in our own little quests for happiness, and the pursuit of happiness is a never-ending one. That is where The Happiness Proj­ect by Gretchen Rubin can come to your rescue. This book is a great read to, in a way, understand hap­piness and try to devise your own pathway to bliss. Rubin, an author, wife and mother of two, felt she had lost her ability to find happiness in day-to-day life despite having everything she could ever want—a loving husband, wonderful kids, good health, and a career she was content with.

However, one day she had an epiphany of sorts when she was on a bus. She felt she was just going through the days without truly enjoying them. Rubin wanted to know what it was that was stopping her from being truly happy, and she decided to devote a year to what she called ‘The Happiness Project’.

The book is the outcome of Rubin’s own experiments in trying to improve her life, one resolution at a time while putting to test classic advice on happiness, from Thoreau to Oprah, to find out what works and what doesn’t. From boosting energy and making time for love to pursing a passion and being lighthearted, Rubin tackles one aspect of her life every month and works on it before moving on to another. This allows you to reflect on your own life and take in little nuggets of wisdom, learning from Rubin’s experiences. You are saved the hit and trail run that Rubin had to go through.

The memoir style writing is what makes The Happiness Project an engaging read and, because Rubin is never preachy, it’s unlike any other self-help book you have ever read. She never tells you what to do.

She just shows you what she did and how it affected her life, and implores you to identify areas in your life that you would like to work on (just like she did) and create your own happiness project in the process. Her book is just a rough guideline to get you started. And, believe us, it works.

For more of Rubin’s advice, you can visit her website that has podcasts and blogs as well. Her other works on happiness include The Four Tendencies, Better than Before, and Happier at Home.

My friend wanted to check out Booze Belly, which opened in February across from Roadhouse, Jhamsikhel. The main reason being in the evening the upper floor is lit in such a fashion that she assumed it was a large bar. And, of course, the name itself implies as much.  When we got there at 5.30 on a Tuesday it looked much less interesting. The heavy wooden front door was shut and we wondered if the bar was closed.

On entering there is a less than welcoming square hallway. As it was our on first visit we had no idea where to go but the most obvious was stairs leading to the assumed rooftop bar.  However, the first floor was not a bar but a terrace on two sides of a glass enclosed area with black sofas. We did not check if it was air-conditioned (which would be nice) because it was not appealing in daylight. Back downstairs we found a lovely outside space, which had a bar at the back. The rustic wooden sofas and tables were very welcoming and well spaced out so it’s possible to have a private conversation without being overheard.

On further investigation I found a cosy little library with old items such as one of the owners grandfather’s TV (circa 1980s in Nepal but 1950s elsewhere!) and old cassette recorders. Another long, narrow room housed a large aquarium and very small dining tables. My suggestion would be long tables so this could be for friends or family to come together, particularly in the winter.

On talking to the owners they said their target audience was ‘everyone’. For this reason there are so many types of furnishing in the different areas. But overall they say they are going for a rustic feel.

As it was World Cup time, they had a Special Events Menu with limited snacks and drinks.  We ordered the Vegan Combo (which it was not, due to the mozzarella sticks). This was a great combination of mushroom chilli, peanut sandeko, onion rings, chips chilli and French fries. More than enough for two or three people for under Rs 1,000. The non-veg option was basically the same price with chicken, sausages, pork, and potato sandeko. Wanting to try BBQ items we ordered pork BBQ (Rs 500). The portion was big enough for two and the pieces very generous. 

The taste was wonderful! Needing some carbs we tried the veg pizza on the special menu, which was heavily cheesed, very much to our taste! From the limited special menu we ordered a bottle of Sol de Chile. Under Rs 2,000, we thought value for money.

Looking around we noticed the other customers had ordered from the main menu.  However, I was told this was an interim menu and the final one would be mainly focussing on Mexican food.

My recommendation would be not to try and reach ‘everyone’ but to focus on one theme.  Once the new Mexican menu is up and running it will fit very well with the rustic theme of the outside (covered) area. The library is cute, encouraging people to come for coffee and pick up a book. We didn’t like the upstairs area much. We had to climb through plants to reach the toilet as the space is narrow. 

The central, glass enclosed upstairs area—I’m not sure who that’s attracting. Not me.   When we left and I looked back, the lights indeed made it look like a bar, and perhaps they should convert the first floor into a proper bar, in-keeping with the name. Regarding the name, despite having a lovely outdoor area, suitable for children, the name does not sound very family friendly. Yes, I am a bit confused on what they are trying to achieve, but overall we really enjoyed our evening at Booze Belly!

Name: Booze Belly Restro and Bar

Location: Jhamsikhel

Contact:  985-1174522

Opening Time: noon till 10pm

Breakfast: No

Live Music: Yes

Ambiance: Relaxing

Cost: Lower to mid range

Service: Polite and friendly but lacking knowledge (7/10)

Overall value: 8/10