The grump is 80 and very set in his ways. This leads to a book full of quirky habits, funny anecdotes and clashes with his family.
It's translated from Finnish so there are a few "local" references that go a bit over the head of a reader from another country but these are few and far between.
As a reader it was far more interesting to look at the grump's character and recognise things that I might well do myself in years to come (and things my Dad probably already does). The generation gap between a highly practical elder man and his younger relatives is charming to behold. When he tries to use a 20 odd year old voucher for a hotel you can't help but admire his dogged insistence that it states no expiry date on it.
This is typical of the funny moments that fill the book - you certainly admire him when it transpires his frugal living habits have resulting in unknown savings/property (meticulously bequeathed in a will that MUST be written on paper with a fountain pen and ink).
Even when he has a stroke he refuses to bow to his family's wishes and continues to live life in his own indomitable style.
A joyous portrait of a grumpy old man!
It's translated from Finnish so there are a few "local" references that go a bit over the head of a reader from another country but these are few and far between.
As a reader it was far more interesting to look at the grump's character and recognise things that I might well do myself in years to come (and things my Dad probably already does). The generation gap between a highly practical elder man and his younger relatives is charming to behold. When he tries to use a 20 odd year old voucher for a hotel you can't help but admire his dogged insistence that it states no expiry date on it.
This is typical of the funny moments that fill the book - you certainly admire him when it transpires his frugal living habits have resulting in unknown savings/property (meticulously bequeathed in a will that MUST be written on paper with a fountain pen and ink).
Even when he has a stroke he refuses to bow to his family's wishes and continues to live life in his own indomitable style.
A joyous portrait of a grumpy old man!