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These lovable curmudgeons will warm your heart
Get your fill of #grumplit with these cantankerous yet charming characters.
Published on June 16, 2023
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Fredrik BackmanThis is the story of a small-town curmudgeon named Ove. He is a man of staunch principles, strict routines, and terrible anger. But, of course, beneath Ove’s rough and unfriendly exterior lies a story of true sorrow and loss. The book explores the comical and heartwarming relationship between Ove and his ill-fated new neighbors. While we can’t quite imagine Tom Hanks as a curmudgeon, he stars in this book’s film adaptation titled “A Man Called Otto,” which is streaming on Netflix.
Millard Salter's Last Day
Jacob M. Appel“Heartwarming” and “suicide” don’t often go hand in hand but Appel makes it work in “Millard Salter’s Last Day.” After losing countless patients at the hospital he works at and seeing loved ones pass on, Dr. Salter is determined to avoid the slow and messy process of declining into old age. He intends to wrap up loose ends and right old wrongs on his 75th birthday before he ends his life. Of course, things don’t go quite as planned as he goes about his last day.
Norwegian By Night
Derek B. MillerSheldon Horowitz is 80-something, grouchy, and newly transplanted to Iceland (a far cry from his native New York City). But when a neighbor boy needs help, Sheldon stops at nothing to protect him. “Norwegian by Night” is a crime thriller with a curmudgeonly protagonist, but it’s also a commentary on war, nationalism, and the lengths we go to atone for past mistakes.
Two Old Women, [Anniversary Edition]: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival
Two Old Women, [Anniversary Edition]: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival
Velma WallisFacing a brutal winter famine and quickly dwindling food supplies, an Alaskan chief makes a gut-wrenching decision: The tribe must leave the elderly behind. Two old women, known to complain more than they contribute, are left to fend for themselves in a harsh and unforgiving environment. Fueled by the betrayal, the women vow to survive at all costs and in doing so rediscover their inner strength and determination.
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk: A Novel
Kathleen RooneyAs 85-year-old Lillian Boxfish embarks on a long trek through New York City, she reflects on her life as a wife, mother, and grandmother (despite her insistence at one point that she would remain a spinster for life) and her career as a successful poet and top advertising agent for Macy’s. As she journeys through a Manhattan that’s grittier and more dangerous than it was in the days of her youth, Lillian visits her favorite haunts and shines a light on what it meant to live as a career woman in New York City in the 20th century.
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
Gabrielle ZevinCantankerous A.J. Fikry laments the death of his wife, the declining sales at his independent bookstore, and the peppiness of a new sales rep. But he’s determined to live a grand narrative, and his life is reinvigorated after a rare book is stolen and a child is abandoned in his shop. This heartwarming story is for every curmudgeon lover out there (which is clearly you, dear reader).
An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good
Helene TurstenIrritable old Maude just wants to be left alone. Those that disrupt her peace and quiet are in for a ghastly (or should we say deadly?) surprise. This darkly funny collection of short stories, all featuring Maude, proves that one should never underestimate their elderly neighbors.
The Hippopotamus: A Novel
Stephen Fry“The Hippopotamus” opens with Ted Wallace hitting peak curmudgeonly: He’s months behind on alimony and has just been let go from his job as a theater critic. Disgraced and unemployed, Ted retreats to a friend’s country mansion to drown his sorrows l and instead ends up in the middle of a mystery involving strange happenings and miracles.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Sir Arthur Conan DoyleNo detective is more famous than sharp-tongued, eagle-eyed Sherlock Holmes. There are a million-and-one adaptations and original properties reimagining the iconic curmudgeon (the number is only a mild exaggeration), but nothing can beat the original character created by Doyle.
The Great Unexpected
Dan MooneyLyrical, warm, and full of eccentric and memorable characters (some curmudgeonly, others charming), “The Great Unexpected” follows a back-and-forth narrative of the adventures of a pair of young girls in America and a pair of sisters in Ireland who have become estranged. Magic and mystery abound in Creech’s award-winning YA story about connection, friendship, and forgiveness.
The Great Unexpected
Dan MooneyLyrical, warm, and full of eccentric and memorable characters (some curmudgeonly, others charming), “The Great Unexpected” follows a back-and-forth narrative of the adventures of a pair of young girls in America and a pair of sisters in Ireland who have become estranged. Magic and mystery abound in Creech’s award-winning YA story about connection, friendship, and forgiveness.
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper
Phaedra PatrickAfter losing his wife, Miriam, protagonist Arthur Pepper lives a lonely life ruled by routine. One day, Arthur finds a mysterious charm bracelet hidden among Miriam’s things — a discovery that sparks his desire to learn more about his late wife (and himself). The ensuing scavenger-hunt adventure is both heartwarming and thrilling.
Pride and Prejudice
Jane AustenDark and mysterious Mr. Darcy is everyone’s favorite Regency curmudgeon. In this classic love story, Darcy’s surliness is all the more endearing once you discover he’s burning with desire for outspoken and independent Lizzy Bennett.
Florence Gordon
Brian MortonAt 75, Florence Gordon has accomplished quite a lot as a feminist spokesperson and author. Now all she wants is blessed silence to write her memoir. Unfortunately for Florence, her family has different ideas. In “Florence Gordon,” Morton brings an authentically flawed cast of characters (including our titular protagonist) to life with witty dialogue and all-too-relatable family drama.
Anne of Green Gables
L. M. MontgomeryNo other literary character inspires a love of life — and a flare for the dramatic — quite as much as Anne Shirley. Along for the ride (but not always happy about it) is Marilla Cuthbert, Anne’s adoptive mother. Her formidable exterior hides a heart of gold, as proven by her loyalty to Anne.
The Hunger Games
Suzanne CollinsIn a series about kids being forced to kill other kids, it’s no wonder these curmudgeons (notably, Katniss and her mentor, Haymitch) are younger than you’d expect. Still, these characters are so lovable that lots of people are willing to throw themselves in harm’s way to save them (particularly precious Peeta).