The story of a grumpy not-so-old man (59) who 've just lost his beloved wife and seeks to meet her in heavens as soon as he can. And then life gets in the way...
Backman takes a theme that could be very easily presented as something really dull, sugary or just boring, and creates instead a deep story, full of humor, profound understanding of the human condition, social and national commentary, and even suspense. And all of these in a marvellous and vivid prose that doesn't seem pretentious even when the writer uses some of the most peculiar similes I've ever read.
In the end, of course is a "feel-good" book, but if all feel-good books were like this one, then the label would have less negative connotations surely.