Award-Winning Actor J.K. Simmons to Narrate New Audiobook Edition of Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove

Academy Award-winning actor J.K. Simmons will narrate a brand-new edition of Fredrik Backman’s blockbuster bestselling debut novel A MAN CALLED OVE.  Simon & Schuster Audio will publish the audiobook on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

“Narrating this audiobook was an absolute joy,” said Simmons. “Fredrik Backman has created a story that is simultaneously specific and universal; timely, and timeless.  It was my great pleasure to spend time with these characters.”

“A MAN CALLED OVE is one of the most beloved novels of our time. J.K Simmons’ emotionally charged performance is remarkable,” added Chris Lynch, President & Publisher of Simon & Schuster Audio.  “He inhabits the voice of Frederik Backman’s indelible character.”

J.K. Simmons has appeared in a diverse range of projects spanning motion pictures, television, and the stage.  He is known for his Academy Award-winning performance in Whiplash, as well as his roles in Law & Order, Sam Raimi’s Spider Man trilogy, Juno, and more.  Recently, he has been seen in Brian Kirk’s thriller 21 Bridges, the Starz series Counterpart, Jason Reitman’s The Front Runner, Universal’s The Snowman, the Warner Bros. comedy Father Figures, and Justice League.

A feel-good story that has captivated listeners since its publication in 2012, Backman’s novel about Ove, the angry old man next door, is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others.  At best, he is a curmudgeon—he has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse.  But behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness.  So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heart-warming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul.  “If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist, starred review).  A MAN CALLED OVE was made into a feature film in Sweden and an English-language adaptation has also been announced, with Tom Hanks producing and starring as the title character.

ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER AUDIO:  Simon & Schuster Audio is a leading publisher of general interest audiobooks including bestselling fiction, nonfiction, business/finance, self-improvement, inspiration, language learning programs, original audiobook productions, and children’s titles. In addition to a list that includes such unparalleled authors as Mary Higgins Clark, Vince Flynn, Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, Michael Lewis, and David McCullough. Simon & Schuster Audio has produced audiobooks that have won eight Grammy Awards and earned forty-four Grammy nominations since 1989. For more information about Simon & Schuster Audio, visit our website at www.audio.simonandschuster.com.

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world’s most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Pocket Books, Touchstone, Adams Media, Threshold Editions, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Simon & Schuster Audio and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom, and proudly brings the works of its authors to readers in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com