A Man Called Ove

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How did your impression of Ove evolve throughout the novel? Did you find him to be a sympathetic character, or did his gruff demeanor make it challenging to connect with him?
• What was your reaction to the novel’s satirical and sometimes darkly humorous tone, considering its subject matter?
• Did you find the novel’s ending a satisfying completion of the story and Ove’s arc?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• How did you respond emotionally to a story about a character who no longer wants to live? What did Ove’s journey teach you about the meaning of life and the importance of human connection?
• Reflect on Ove’s experience with loss and grief. Compare your experiences with grief to those of Ove, particularly with regard to coping mechanisms.
• Do you think Ove’s feeling of being isolated and alone reflects a universal human experience? Why or why not?
• Ove’s life is built around the solace of routine. What routines and rituals bring you comfort?
• How does the story reveal the power of small acts of kindness? When have you experienced this in your life?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• What is the novel’s message about valuing and caring for the aging population? What are some specific societal interventions that could benefit this demographic?
• How does Bachman address the decline of traditional community structures and its effects on the individual? Where else do you see this impacting contemporary societies?
• How does the novel address “othering,” especially with regard to immigration? What solutions does it propose? 

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• How does Ove’s past, particularly his grief over Sonja, shape his present?
• Analyze the novel’s critique of societal perceptions of aging and masculinity through Ove’s character.
• How does the novel’s structure, particularly its use of flashbacks and pacing, encourage empathy for Ove’s character?
• Trace Parvaneh’s plan to give Ove purpose in life. What larger truth does Ove learn through completing the small tasks she assigns him?
• How does the cat function as a plot device and a symbolic presence in the story?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• View the 2020 film adaptation called A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks as the lead. If you were adapting this novel, would you have made the same casting and stylistic choices as the director?
• Imagine you moved into Ove’s neighborhood. How might you react to a person like Ove? List some practical ways your neighborhood could be more inviting and inclusive in building healthy communities. 
• Rewrite a scene from the novel from Parvaneh’s perspective, considering how she might think and react to Ove.

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