Is there a book called a Man Called Ove?
A Man Called Ove (novel) A Man Called Ove (original title in Swedish: En man som heter Ove) is a 2012 novel by Fredrik Backman, a Swedish columnist, blogger and writer. It was published in English in 2013.
What is the plot of a Man Called Ove?
A Man Called Ove Summary. The story moves back and forth between Ove's childhood and his life as a fifty-nine-year-old man in Sweden. Ove's mother died when he was eight, so Ove lived with his father and began working at the railway with him. One day, Ove is sent to clean out a railway car with Tom, a mean and selfish coworker.
Is there a movie of the book Ove?
It was adapted into a film of the same name, which premiered on 25 December 2015, with Rolf Lassgård in the leading role. Backman got his inspiration for this book after reading an article about a man named Ove who had a fit while buying tickets at an art museum.
What kind of character is Ove in Ove?
It is also one of those books where you don’t dare go into detail about the main character, the setting, or the plot because that would ruin the experience for others. Suffice it to say that the man whose name is Ove is a curmudgeon. He’s grumpy.
Is Ove based on a real person?
I was surprised to discover Backman is only 33. He is a self-described “college drop-out” who says he based the character of Ove, on an argument he had with his own father. We're told Ove is 59, he would have been more believable for me, as an older man.
What is the message of A Man Called Ove?
Memory and Grief Ove attempts to make his memories of Sonja perform the same actions as she did while she was alive—motivating and inspiring him to do the right things—and though Ove's memories of Sonja are powerful, they aren't enough to pull Ove out of his grief.
How is Ove pronounced in English?
0:000:42How Do You Say "Ove"? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOh like love ova ooh say oh oh obey groove move aah ube.MoreOh like love ova ooh say oh oh obey groove move aah ube.
What does the cat symbolize in A Man Called Ove?
I agree that the cat was an anchor for Ove - it gave him something to care for and a reason to live. The cat also brought the neighbours together when it was discovered in the snowbank. Parvaneh knows instinctively that Ove needs something to care for.
Why A Man Called Ove is sad?
You start to realize that Ove is more than just a mindless misanthrope who simply loves to complain; he's a man shaped by a life of disappointment. He's been conned and ripped off, and when his wife—who was his bridge to other people—is lost to him in a senseless accident, he decides it's not worth fighting anymore.
What does Ove mean in Swedish?
OveNameOveMeaningEdge of a Sword, Full of TerrorGenderBoyNumerology6
How do you pronounce Ove in Sweden?
The way you pronounce it is OOVER. Leslie In Swedish, the letter O is pronounced ooh, as in ooh-la-la. The E at the end is soft, "eh". It's Ooh-veh, or Ooh-weh, depending upon the Swede pronouncing it - some turn all Vs into Ws, some make an effort to pronounce the V as we do in English.
How old is ove in A Man Called Ove?
60-year-oldPlot. 60-year-old widower Ove Lindahl lives in a townhouse neighborhood, where he used to be the chairman of the neighborhood association, until he was replaced by Rune, his former friend.
Who is the author of A Man Called Ove?
ISBN. 9781476738024. A Man Called Ove (original title in Swedish: En man som heter Ove) is a novel by Swedish writer Fredrik Backman published by Forum in 2012. The novel was published in English in 2014 and reached the New York Times Best Seller list 18 months after its publication and stayed on the list for 42 weeks.
When was the movie A Man Called Ove made?
Film. The novel was adapted into A Man Called Ove, a Swedish film released on 25 December 2015, written and directed by Hannes Holm and starring Rolf Lassgård as Ove. The film was nominated for six awards, winning two, at the 51st Guldbagge Awards in 2016.
How old is Ove in the movie?
Characters. Ove — A grumpy, 59-year-old man who has recently been forced to retire. Sonja — Ove's deceased wife. Parvaneh — Ove's neighbour, a pregnant woman of Iranian descent, and a mother of two. Patrick — Parvaneh's husband. Rune — Ove's former friend who has become a nemesis and neighbour, he now has Alzheimer's.
What is the name of the man who wrote "I am a man called Ove"?
Backman instantly related to this man as he claims to be "not great at talking to people". He started writing blogposts under the heading, "I am a Man Called Ove", where he wrote about his pet peeves and annoyances. Eventually, he realized that his writing had potential for the creation of an interesting fictional character.
Is A Man Called Ove a good book?
Overall, A Man Called Ove was received well, with the review aggregator website, Bookmarks, giving the book a "rave" review. Kirkus Reviews gave a positive review of the novel, describing how, "the back story chapters have a simple, fablelike quality, while the current-day chapters are episodic and, at times, hysterically funny. In both instances, the narration can veer toward the preachy or overly pat, but wry descriptions, excellent pacing and the juxtaposition of Ove’s attitude with his deeds add plenty of punch to balance out any pathos." Publishers Weekly called the novel "a fuzzy crowd-pleaser that serves up laughs to accompany a thoughtful reflection on loss and love. Though Ove’s antics occasionally feel repetitive, the author writes with winning charm."
How many pages are there in A Man Called Ove?
This Study Guide consists of approximately 55 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of A Man Called Ove.
What does the "terrace" mean in the novel?
The "terrace" is the setting for many of the novel's confrontations, in both past and present: there is the strong sense that, at least in Ove's mind, the "terrace" is a community within a community, the sense of connection, relationship, and respect...
What is the language of the novel?
This is the country / culture in which the novel is set. Swedish is the novel's original language, the translation (which is primarily British in its vocabulary) still retains aspects of its original Swedish context: the currency with which the characters operate, for example is the "crown", rather than the British pound or the North American dollar. Being a northern country and having a northern (i.e. colder) climate weather, and particularly snow, plays a significant role in defining the circumstances of the narrative.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Create your FREE Amazon Business account to save up to 10% with Business-only prices and free shipping. Register today
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Who is Ove introduced to?
Ove is officially introduced to Mirsad, Adrian's boss. When Ove notices makeup on Mirsad’s face, he uses offensive words to ask Mirsad whether he's gay. Ove brews his own filter coffee and helps Adrian fix the bike. Adrian asks Ove to not tell Amel, the owner of the cafe, that Mirsad is gay.
Who convinces Ove to keep the cat?
Parvaneh convinces Ove to keep the cat, and Ove takes it to visit Sonja's grave the next day. Later that week, a journalist named Lena pesters Ove for an interview about saving the man at the train station. Ove ends up briefly locking Lena in his garage, but is discovered by Parvaneh. Parvaneh tells Lena to call her.
What does Parvaneh ask Ove to do?
She asks him to take her and her daughters to the hospital to see Patrick, who fell off the ladder. At the hospital, Ove argues with the parking attendant about the price of parking. Parvaneh leaves Ove to watch the children, and Ove punches the hospital clown who tries to do a magic trick with one of Ove's coins.
What happened to Sonja and Ove?
When Sonja and Ove have been in a relationship for three years, Sonja's father dies and Sonja is distraught. Sonja's childhood cat, Ernest, dies a week after her father. Sonja tells Ove she is pregnant and insists they buy a house. They move into a row house on the same day as a couple named Rune and Anita.
What does Ove kick the cat in?
The next morning, Ove kicks the cat while he’s inspecting the neighborhood as usual. As he's walking back to his garage, a man in a white shirt drives a Škoda (a type of car) drives through the residential area, almost hitting Ove—who yells at the car as it drives off.
What happens to Ove after his house burns down?
Ove rents a room in town. Days after his house burned down, Tom confronts Ove at work and steals his father's watch. Ove punches Tom, takes his watch back, and Tom never bothers Ove again. Ove tries to sign up for the military but is denied entrance when he learns he has a congenital heart defect.
What does Patrick notice on Ove's floor?
Patrick notices wheel marks on Ove's floor, and Anita tries to explain to Patrick that Sonja had been in a wheelchair, but Ove yells at Anita. Ove slams the door and tries to hang himself, but his rope breaks. The next morning, Ove kicks the cat while he’s inspecting the neighborhood as usual.

Overview
Adaptations
The novel was adapted into A Man Called Ove, a Swedish film released on 25 December 2015, written and directed by Hannes Holm and starring Rolf Lassgård as Ove. The film was nominated for six awards, winning two, at the 51st Guldbagge Awards in 2016. It was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film and Best Makeup and Hairstyling categories at the 89th Academy Awards.
An English-language film adaptation has also been announced, with Tom Hanks set to star and pr…
Inspiration
Backman got his inspiration for this book after reading an article about a man named Ove who had a fit while buying tickets at an art museum. Backman instantly related to this man as he claims to be "not great at talking to people". He started writing blogposts under the heading, "I am a Man Called Ove", where he wrote about his pet peeves and annoyances. Eventually, he realized that his writing had potential for the creation of an interesting fictional character.
Plot summary
"Ove is a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him 'the bitter neighbour from hell.' However, 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 …
Characters
• Ove — A grumpy, 59-year-old man who has recently been forced to retire
• Sonja — Ove's deceased wife
• Parvaneh — Ove's neighbour, a pregnant woman of Iranian descent, and a mother of two
• Patrick — Parvaneh's husband
Reception
Overall, A Man Called Ove was received well, with the review aggregator website, Bookmarks, giving the book a "rave" review. Kirkus Reviews gave a positive review of the novel, describing how, "the back story chapters have a simple, fablelike quality, while the current-day chapters are episodic and, at times, hysterically funny. In both instances, the narration can veer toward the preachy or overly pat, but wry descriptions, excellent pacing and the juxtaposition of Ove's attitu…
External links
• Fredrik Backman's Website
• A Man Called Ove at IMDb