A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, delves into the life of the protagonist, Ove, a grumpy and solitary man who has lost his sense of purpose. The central message of the story revolves around human connection, empathy, and the transformative power of unexpected friendships, as Ove’s life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters new neighbors, ultimately challenging his worldview and revealing the warmth beneath his curmudgeonly exterior. The narrative invites readers to explore the depths of Ove’s character and the profound impact of compassion on even the most seemingly unapproachable individuals.
A Man Called Ove | Summary
Chapter 1 Summary
In the opening chapter, the narrator acquaints us with Ove, a 59-year-old gentleman behind the wheel of a Saab, who finds himself in an Apple store, clutching a box and wearing an irritable expression. He inquires, with a measure of suspicion, about an “O-Pad” from a young sales clerk. The clerk attempts to clarify that it’s actually an iPad, but Ove’s quest to understand its nature proves unsatisfactory. His demand for a “normal bloody computer” is met with the clerk’s suggestion of a MacBook, which Ove mistakes for an e-reader. As frustration mounts, a coworker is summoned to aid in showcasing laptops, prompting the initial clerk to make a hasty exit, perturbed by Ove’s demeanor.
Ove’s inquisition continues as he searches for a retractable keyboard, only to be informed that the iPad lacks one. This leads Ove to conclude that it must be an additional purchase. Despite further coaxing towards a MacBook, Ove’s stubbornness prevails, and he departs the store, exclaiming his disdain for the preoccupation of youth with lunch.
Chapter 2 Summary
The readers gain an understanding of his personality as a rather grumpy and regimented man. His day starts like clockwork at 5:55 am, and he immediately clashes with a stray cat he encounters. Every morning, Ove brews coffee and used to enjoy it with his wife. Ove’s daily routine involves inspecting his residential area, which he believes is inhabited by people he deems disreputable. He kicks a sign prohibiting cars in the residential area, checks his neighbors’ garages for signs of robbery, scrutinizes license plates for parking violations, and even ensures proper recycling in the trash room, despite his personal indifference to recycling.
The narrative reveals Ove’s principled nature, exemplified by his past attempt to have cameras installed in the trash room during his tenure as the Residents’ Association chairman, which he eventually voted against due to his distrust of the Internet. His neighbor Anders, who owns an Audi and a mortgaged house, is a source of disdain for Ove, whom he considers a self-employed fool. Ove’s boss recently asked him to retire, but Ove is resistant, feeling that he still has a purpose. He observes a new family moving in across the street and plans to impress real estate agents with improvements to his house.
Chapter 3 Summary
Ove observes a heated altercation outside his window between a diminutive foreign woman and a tall, blond man attempting to maneuver a small Japanese car with a trailer. Ove intervenes, reprimanding the woman for driving in the residential area, noticing her pregnancy. The man, whom Ove dubs “the Lanky One,” remains unperturbed and dismisses the house scraping as a minor mishap. Their exchange escalates as Ove points out the trailer’s intrusion into his flowerbed, leading to mutual exasperation. Ove reluctantly assists the Lanky One in parking the trailer, albeit with disdain for the automatic transmission, frustrated by his explanations Ove grudgingly helps.
Later, a three-year-old and a seven-year-old girl arrive at Ove’s door with food, revealing that they are Ove’s neighbors. Ove accepts the offering and watches them return to the Pregnant Foreign Woman’s house across the street. He contemplates the darkening day and his postponed task of installing a hook.
Chapter 4 Summary
Ove, a man who values routine and principles, reflects on his daily life without his late wife, Sonja. He is determined not to give in to the power company’s winter heating demands, instead opting for a diesel generator and fan heater. Ove contemplates sharing his encounters with the persistent cat but decides against it.
Dressed in his beloved navy suit and his father’s watch, Ove adheres to his old-school methods of unlocking his garage and Saab using physical keys, the intent of his journey is to go to the florist. Upon arriving at the shopping center, he is disappointed to discover that the Lanky One, the Foreign Pregnant Woman, and their three-year-old daughter, Nasanin, occupy the adjacent spot.
Inside the florist’s, Ove engages in a spirited argument with the manager over a coupon, eventually getting a discount but then encountering a surcharge for using his debit card. He returns home with two plants and tells his late wife about his day, the chaotic street, and the new neighbors. He replants the two new plants alongside the one he planted last week, gently expressing his longing for Sonja. Despite her passing six months ago, Ove still checks the radiators to ensure she hasn’t secretly turned up the heat, a habit that reflects his enduring love and routine-driven life.
Chapter 5 Summary
Sonja’s choice to marry Ove puzzled her friends, who saw him as antisocial and bitter, incapable of engaging in small talk. Ove, in turn, questioned the modern emphasis on buying rather than building or fixing things, wondering about the true value of such items.
Ove is depicted as a man of simplicity and routine, contrasting with Sonja’s vibrant and colorful personality. His early life was marked by the loss of his mother and a close bond with his father, who imparted valuable lessons about engines and life. Ove’s father, a skilled mechanic, earned respect for his work, including fixing a car for the director’s daughter, leading to a gift of a Saab car.
Tragedy struck when Ove lost his father at the age of 16, plunging him into sorrow. He adamantly refused charity from the church and sought to return his father’s wages to the railway company. Instead, he was offered a chance to earn money through work. Ove abandoned school and dedicated the next five years to working for the railway. Ove’s life took a dramatic turn when he met Sonja on a train.
Chapter 6 Summary
Ove prepares for his death and hopes to avoid encounters with his neighbors. He acknowledges a friendly wave from his overweight neighbor but is met with an altercation with a teenager named Adrian. He reflects on his disdain for his neighbors, particularly Jimmy and Rune. He witnesses an aggressive confrontation between a woman named “Blond Weed” and a cat and chides her for her behavior. Ove plans to electrify his paving stone to deter further canine intrusions. He contemplates ending his life due to exhaustion from daily life’s challenges.
Chapter 7 Summary
Ove hangs himself and installs a hook in the ceiling. He receives a visit from the Lanky One, the Pregnant Foreign Woman, and Patrick. Patrick asks Ove what he’s doing and Ove replies that he’s drilling. Ove notices Anita in his yard and asks her about her radiators. Anita explains that she’s retired and Parvaneh is on maternity leave. As the dispute escalates, Ove takes off his jacket and goes to his shed.
Chapter 8 Summary
Sonja held strong beliefs in destiny, a notion that Ove neither embraced nor rejected outright. For him, destiny was more about “someone” rather than a mere “something.“
He became an orphan at 16, after his initial two weeks of work on the railways, he left the changing rooms feeling despondent. Despite his eccentricities, Ove’s exceptional kindness and mechanical prowess endeared him to his coworkers. Over time, Ove grew quieter, shunning friendships and amassing only one true adversary, Tom, who was determined to make Ove’s life miserable.
A significant event occurred two years after Ove’s father’s passing when money disappeared from a train carriage, and only Ove and Tom were present as witnesses. Although nobody believed Ove was the culprit, he refused to testify against Tom, citing his aversion to telling on others. Two of Tom’s co-workers accused Ove of theft, leading to his unjust firing by the foreman. Ove felt ashamed, having lost the job his father once held. In a surprising twist, the director ultimately offered Ove a position as a night cleaner, acknowledging his innocence and not wanting to be responsible for dismissing the son of an honorable man. This change in job title would eventually lead Ove to cross paths with Sonja as he concluded his night shift one morning.
Chapter 9 Summary
Ove’s longstanding feud with Rune, though ostensibly centered on a new heating system for their neighborhood houses, was actually a complex conflict that spanned 37 years and encompassed various issues, including automobiles. Initially, Ove and Rune became friends due to their wives’ instant bond, eventually forming the Residents’ Association. Ove served as the chairman while Rune was his assistant. Together, they successfully opposed the city council’s plan to cut down a nearby forest and construct more houses.
Rune’s subsequent purchase of a BMW was met with disdain from Ove, who viewed it as an act of disloyalty. He wonders if Rune even still has the BMW, given his illness and confinement to his home, yet he finds himself missing Rune.
The abrupt breakage of the rope jolts Ove to the ground, and he expresses frustration at the perceived decline in manufacturing quality. Determined, he tidies up his plastic sheeting and tools, retrieves his watering can, and heads to Anita and Rune’s door, where he gruffly inquires about the radiators, lamenting that his day has already been ruined.
Chapter 10 Summary
After turning 18, Ove acquired his driver’s license, sold his father’s Saab, and bought a slightly newer blue Saab. Letters from the council started arriving, indicating that Ove’s house sat on the edge of a municipal boundary, and he understood that the burgeoning middle-class housing developments threatened his home. To sustain himself, Ove secured a job at a construction site, working during the day and cleaning trains at night. He received invaluable lessons in construction skills from his colleagues. On one occasion, Ove discovered a toolbox filled with used tools, accompanied by a note addressed to “the puppy.”
An old man’s act of feeding birds inspired Ove to paint his fence and give him an apple pie. Ove restored his house and discarded the council’s letters. He found solace in working on houses and appreciated their predictability. A man posing as an insurance agent promised to set up a policy for Ove’s house, but never returned. He never returned to discuss renovation leading to disappointment.
Ove’s neighbors accuse him of theft and threaten him, but he remains nonchalant. He rescues his elderly neighbor’s grandson from a burning building and discovers his house is also on fire. The fire spreads to his house, but bureaucratic obstacles hinder fire department efforts. Ove’s house is lost and his insurance policy is fraudulent.
Chapter 11 Summary
As Ove steps out of his house for his daily inspection, he’s greeted by a snow-covered landscape and the persistent presence of the cat near his door. His attempts to scare the cat away with loud noises and stomping prove futile. Frustrated, he throws a clog at the cat, a gesture that would have angered his late wife, Sonja. Returning from the shed, Ove finds the cat once more. This time, he notices the cat’s numerous bald patches and hurls some snow at it in an unsuccessful attempt to drive it away. He takes a moment to appreciate the sunrise before resuming his preparations for his impending death.
Donning his best suit and getting his house ready, Ove retrieves a plastic tube from his shed, planning to use it in his garage. Unexpectedly, a white Škoda breaches the residential area, infuriating Ove. He approaches the driver, who hastily rolls up his window and drives away. Anita, Ove’s neighbor, informs him that the man is from the council and possesses special permission, he gives in when he learns Rune is away due to an illness.
Ove’s unease grows, and he worries about the cat. In his garage, Ove contemplates his Saab and connects a plastic tube from the exhaust to a rear window, intending to end his life. However Parvaneh intervenes with a nosebleed and needs a ride to the hospital because Patrick fell from a ladder. Ove grudgingly agrees to drive her and the children, despite his aversion to kids. He momentarily reflects on how Sonja might have reacted to this situation.
Chapter 12 Summary
Ove and Sonja were an unlikely pair. She had a love for abstract concepts, while Ove preferred tangible, practical things. Sonja saw a hidden dancer within Ove, a notion he resented as he preferred clear rights and wrongs rather than the ambiguity of dance. After the devastating house fire, Ove found himself sleeping in his car. Ove reluctantly signed the required documents to sell his house and sought shelter in a rented room from an elderly lady in town.
His return to work was marred by a confrontation with Tom, who accused Ove of theft. Ove’s father’s watch vanished from the changing room. In the hospital, Tom claimed it was an accident, and Ove decided not to be deceived again. Ove left his construction job, but his coworkers gave him a toolbox as a farewell gift. He later attempted to join the military but was disqualified due to a heart condition, leading him to live in monotony. This routine continued until he crossed paths with Sonja, changing his life forever.
Chapter 13 Summary
Nasanin and her seven-year-old sister accompany Parvaneh to the hospital where Patrick is. Ove, irritated by a parking dispute with an attendant, begrudgingly follows them. Inside the hospital, Ove grumbles about having to pay for parking when going to the hospital to die and refuses Parvaneh’s offer to cover it, claiming it’s a matter of principle.
The children lead Ove to the waiting room where Nasanin asks him to read a book. Ove reluctantly compiles but argues with the seven-year-old about the book’s quality. When a clown approaches and tries to perform a magic trick, Ove becomes frustrated, feeling that he’s being conned. The situation escalates, and he ends up hitting the clown. Parvaneh returns to find Ove and her daughters in the company of security guards. Parvaneh asks Ove for help fixing a radiator in her house, emphasizing that Patrick isn’t handy. Ove reflects on what Sonja would think if he left the girls in the cold, and agrees to help with the task, deciding to put off ending his life the next day.
Chapter 14 Summary
Ove’s life took a significant turn when he first encountered Sonja on a train platform. Although he was initially traveling in the opposite direction, he changed his plans, borrowed clothes from a conductor, and sat beside her. Their conversation began with Sonja sharing her love for books, even though Ove claimed he didn’t enjoy reading. Ove was captivated by her passion and wanted to listen to her talk about the things she loved for the rest of his life. Their connection grew as they continued to meet during her daily commute to school.
Despite making a lengthy journey in the wrong direction, Ove accompanied Sonja on her trips for three months, eventually leading to Sonja asking him out for dinner. Sonja’s influence on Ove’s life was profound. She encouraged him to pursue his dream of building houses, providing him with brochures for an engineering qualification course. They got married, moved into a row house near the forest, and decided to have children.
Chapter 15
Ove is at the train station, engaged in a dispute with a tattooed man over a malfunctioning ticket machine. The man rubs Ove’s card, making it work, but Ove is displeased because he prefers using cash, unlike Sonja, who insists on a prepaid debit card.
Having prepared his house for his planned demise, Ove walks to the train station to avoid any interference with his plan. He reflects on Sonja’s tendency to deviate from plans and remembers her forgetfulness, like leaving behind the coffee thermos. The train is about to arrive, and Ove stands near the platform’s edge, contemplating the symbolism of ending his life by train. Suddenly, a middle-aged man on the platform collapses onto the tracks. Ove, furious, jumps down to assist him and calls upon the youths to help rescue the unconscious man. He locks eyes with the young train conductor and decides not to end his life in front of him. Rescuing the fallen man, Ove becomes an accidental hero.
Ove sees a woman in a white Škoda and nearly hits it. Social Services plans to put him and Rune in care homes. He finds a cat-shaped hole in the snow and feels breathless.
Chapter 16
Before her marriage to Ove, Sonja cherished three loves in her life: her father, books, and cats. While she had many suitors, none saw her the way Ove did. Her friends warned her about Ove’s perpetual grumpiness, but she adored his strong belief in justice and hard work. Sonja recognized that men like Ove were increasingly rare, and she relished the moments when she could make him smile. Despite Ove’s refusal to read Shakespeare, he crafted exquisite bookcases to house her beloved books.
Ove’s interactions with Sonja’s father were limited. He lived alone in the northern region, accompanied only by a large farm cat named Ernest, named after Sonja’s favorite author, Ernest Hemingway. Sonja introduces Ove to her father, who initially disapproves of him for being a town-dweller and not liking cats. Ove asks about her father’s Scania truck and mentions Saab’s involvement in the merger with Saab, causing a heated response from her father. However, Ove becomes enthusiastic about Scania vehicles after examining the truck and asks about its condition, leading to a growing connection between the two men. When Sonja’s father returns, he mentions that Ove needs to learn how to fish. The two men eventually become friends.
Chapter 17
Parvaneh rescues a cat from a snowdrift and brings it to Ove’s house. Ove dismisses her responsibility for saving the cat and insults her. Jimmy joins them and introduces himself. A heated argument ensues over the cat’s survival, and Jimmy offers condolences for Sonja’s passing. Jimmy also claims to be allergic to the cat, which they take to the hospital. Despite being banned from the hospital, Ove agrees to pay for parking at the hospital with Jimmy’s help.
Chapter 18
Ove’s initial aversion to cats stemmed from his general mistrust of them. However, for the sake of Sonja’s unwavering love for their cat, Ernest, he learned to coexist with the feline. Ove and Sonja’s father bonded over time as Ove was taught to fish, helped repair the farmhouse’s roof, and even tended to Sonja’s father’s beloved Scania truck. Their harmonious routine was disrupted when Sonja’s father passed away three years later. In the aftermath, Sonja grieved intensely for three days before immersing herself in a frenzy of housecleaning.
Tragedy struck again when they received news that Ernest had been fatally struck by a car. Despite skepticism about it being an accident, they took Ernest to the vet, where he passed away. Sonja asks Ove to love her more deeply. Ove promises to do so. Together, they buried Ernest by the lake and returned to town. Sonja reveals that she is pregnant, Ove is elated and they decide that they need a house and a Saab station wagon for their child’s upbringing.
Chapter 19
Despite Ove vehemently declaring the previous day that he wouldn’t keep the cat, the feline now resides in his house, and Ove himself is very much alive. Parvaneh had taken the initiative to call a vet, who left Ove with a detailed list of care instructions, emphasizing the cat’s need for exercise. He confronts a task involving four tiny socks the vet provided for the cat, struggling to coax the feline into wearing them.
Ove finds a discarded cigarette butt and takes the cat with him on errands. They have a minor disagreement over a newspaper and the cat bumps its nose against the dashboard. During a visit to a florist, the cat licks the steering wheel and Ove’s seatbelt. Ove scolds the cat and it bites him.
Their journey continues to the cemetery, he collects flowers and carries them to Sonja’s grave. There, Ove offers the pink blooms to her memory, introducing her to the newly arrived “cat annoyance.” He conveys his longing for her, kneeling before her gravestone, and the cat, perhaps sensing the moment’s gravity, rests its head in Ove’s hand.
Chapter 20
Ove spends twenty minutes in his Saab, reflecting on his friendship with neighbor Rune, who moved in with his wife Anita. Initially, Ove hesitated to befriend Rune due to his Volvo vehicle, but they bonded over borrowed tools and discussions about lawnmowers. They formed the Residents’ Association and established neighborhood rules as more people moved into the area.
Ove and Rune shared humorous stories about their wives’ pregnancy hormones and emotional reactions to their impending fatherhood. They spent time building blue cribs and furnishing their nurseries, and Sonja suggested that Ove talk to Rune about fatherhood.
Back in the present day, Ove is approached by a journalist named Lena, who wants to interview him about his heroic act of saving a man at the train station. Ove rushes towards the white Škoda vehicle, knocking on the window and startling the woman in the passenger seat. The man in the white shirt dismisses Ove’s concerns, but Ove vehemently argues that Anita’s opinion doesn’t hold sway.
The man addresses Ove by name, alarming Ove. he questions how she knows his name, admitting to finding his train ticket receipt at the station but is equally puzzled about the man’s knowledge of Ove’s name. With humiliation and fear, Ove returns to his house with the cat and recalls a time when confronting men in white shirts could lead to significant consequences. These men had not been seen in the neighborhood since Ove and Sonja’s return from Spain after a life-changing accident.
Chapter 21
The idea of a bus tour through Spain was Sonja’s initiative, one that Ove initially resisted. However, he found it difficult to maintain his resistance because of the joy it brought to Sonja. Their accommodations were a quaint hotel managed by a man named José.
During their stay, Sonja occasionally took midday naps, leaving Ove to explore the village on his own. One day, upon returning to the hotel, Ove encountered José near a smoking car containing an old, ailing woman and two children. José urgently called out “hospital,” which Ove misinterpreted, thinking the car’s model was “hospital.” Ove eventually realized the true situation, quickly fixed the car within ten minutes, and inexplicably, José didn’t charge them for any meals during the remainder of their stay.
In the following days, while Sonja continued her daytime rest, Ove assisted local residents with various tasks, often offering unsolicited advice and critiques. On their return journey by bus, Sonja placed Ove’s hand on her belly, allowing him to feel their baby kicking. The narrator emphasizes that this week marked the happiest period in Ove’s life but would be followed by a profoundly sorrowful one.
Chapter 22
Ove, with the cat in the Saab, makes his third visit to the hospital in a week, an event that displeases the feline companion. Earlier that morning, Ove discovered a damaged sign indicating vehicles were prohibited. Lena, the journalist, resurfaced, attempting to engage Ove in conversation. Ove locked himself inside his house to avoid her persistent intrusion but reluctantly confronted her when she refused to leave. Simultaneously, Parvaneh and Nasanin arrived, initially knocking on Ove’s door.
Parvaneh was astonished to learn from Lena that Ove had heroically saved a man from a train incident. Ove reluctantly elaborated on the train station events and lamented his inability to rid himself of Lena. Parvaneh proposed a deal to Ove, she would handle Lena if Ove provided them with a ride to the hospital. Ove begrudgingly accepted. Now, Ove finds himself back at the hospital, chauffeuring Parvaneh and Nasanin. The cat, seemingly disapproving of sharing the car with Nasanin, gazes at Ove with a look reminiscent of Sonja’s. Ove reassures the cat about the council’s delayed decision regarding Rune and suspects that Parvaneh manipulated him into taking care of the cat by fabricating allergies.
Chapter 23
Ove and Sonja’s trip to Spain ended tragically when their bus crashed. Ove carried Sonja’s luggage onto the bus, and during the journey, the bus abruptly swerved, causing chaos and injury. Ove was thrown about, unable to find Sonja amid the chaos, a moment of helplessness that haunted him.
After the accident, Ove stayed devotedly by Sonja’s hospital bed for a week. Doctors had grim news about the baby, which infuriated Ove, leading to an altercation with a doctor. When Sonja finally awoke, Ove had to break the heartbreaking news about their lost child. Sonja grieved, and Ove blamed himself for not protecting them. Back in Sweden, Ove encountered bureaucrats and white-shirted officials who wanted to make decisions for Sonja. He fiercely defended her and modified their home for her wheelchair. Sonja resumed her teaching career, focusing on troubled students, and succeeded in getting them to appreciate Shakespeare.
Ove remained consumed by anger and tried to hold those responsible for the accident accountable, but no one accepted the blame. His letters went unanswered. Eventually, Sonja urged Ove to stop and inspired him to build a wheelchair ramp at her school. She believed in fighting for a purpose, and while she fought for her students, Ove fought for Sonja.
Chapter 24
Ove reluctantly leaves the hospital with a car full of people, including Parvaneh, Patrick, Nasanin, and Jimmy. Patrick, seated uncomfortably in the back with a newspaper, asks about the ownership of the cat. While Ove initially claims the cat is a stray, he becomes angry at the suggestion of handing it over to a shelter.
They stop at McDonald’s for food, and Parvaneh asks Ove to help her learn to drive since Patrick can’t due to his casts. Ove is initially baffled, but Parvaneh explains she doesn’t have a driver’s license. As they arrive home, Nasanin presents Ove with a colorful drawing of him, emphasizing that she finds him funny. Ove considers his life and his longing for Sonja but ultimately decides against harming himself. The next day, he resumed his daily routines, including shoveling snow from not only his walkway but also his neighbors’ walkways.
Chapter 25
After breakfast, Ove finds a bottle of pills in the bathroom, which he has been prescribed for Sonja. The cat’s cries intensify, and Ove thinks of Sonja and how he doesn’t know how to live without her. Blond Weed yells outside, and Ove tries to ignore the sounds but fails. Ove opens his front door and calls the cat inside, where he positions photographs of Sonja so she follows him through the house.
Ove and the cat knocked on Rune’s door, asking for corrugated iron. Rune looks old and asks for it, but Anita appears, sounding terrified. She leads Rune back to his wheelchair and asks Ove what he needs. Ove reappears with a large piece of corrugated iron.
Rune smiles and waves at Ove from the window, and Anita tells Ove that Social Services wants to take Rune away from her. Ove suggests Anita’s son for help, but Anita explains that their son lives in America and is busy. Ove disappears around the corner, finding his spare car battery and metal clips. He admires his handiwork and thinks of the shock Blond Weed’s dog will get when it tries to pee on his paving stones.
Chapter 26
When Ove hears the mail arriving, he recalls a betting tradition he had with Rune about the mail’s delivery time, but now it arrives unpredictably. The youth delivers Ove’s mail and notices Ove’s last name, connecting it to a teacher named Sonja. He shares fond memories of Sonja and how she never thought he was unintelligent.
After a brief moment of reminiscing, Ove questions the youth about his attempt to fix the bike. The youth, who is fixing it for a girl he likes, confesses his love for her. Ove offers assistance but realizes the youth lacks the necessary tools. Curious, Ove inquires about the youth’s other job at a café, where he’s saving for a Renault car. Ove passionately objects to the idea of buying a French car, prompting the youth to reconsider his choice. Later, Ove visits Parvaneh and borrows student driver signs for her car, as he plans to give her a driving lesson in two hours.
Chapter 27
Over the past forty years, neighbors often wondered why Rune and Ove appeared to dislike each other. Sonja, Ove’s wife, typically explained their rivalry by highlighting their different choices in vehicles: Rune preferred Volvos while Ove stuck with Saabs. Ove criticized people’s lack of loyalty towards car brands, Rune viewed cars merely as transportation.
In the present, Parvaneh attempts to enter Ove’s car with a fizzy drink and attempts to change the radio station, both of which Ove finds unacceptable. He instructs her to press the clutch pedal, but Parvaneh struggles to locate it. Frustration leads to a brief argument, during which Ove sternly explains the pedal functions.
Their first driving attempt goes awry when Parvaneh nearly collides with another car. Ove saves the situation by pulling the handbrake, avoiding an accident with a Volvo, which he dismissively mentions. At the next traffic light, an SUV aggressively tailgates them. When the light turns green, Parvaneh stalls the car, causing the SUV behind them to honk and gesture rudely. In her distress, Parvaneh starts crying, and the SUV continues to blare its horn.
Ove takes matters into his own hands, confronting the aggressive SUV driver and warning him not to honk again. Unfazed by the lack of support from other drivers, the SUV driver nods in agreement. Ove calmly reassures her that driving is not as daunting as it seems, and that she is more than capable of learning, leaving her impressed with his assertiveness and guidance.
Chapter 28
Ove and Sonja’s enduring conflict with Rune and Anita, their neighbors, remained a source of tension for years. Sonja believed that Ove’s unforgiving nature contributed to the strained relationship. The root of the issue, Ove thought, might have been the connection between cars and emotions, especially since Rune’s decision to purchase a BMW marked a turning point in their feud.
Following the accident, a series of disputes arose, including disagreements over paving stones, fences, a swimming pool, and even the proper way to handle rat infestations. Despite these conflicts, there were occasional pleasant moments when the two couples could share dinners and socialize.
However, as time passed, Ove and Rune’s relationship soured further, possibly exacerbated by their inability to give their wives more children or their difficulty in getting along with their respective sons. Rune’s decision to buy a sporty BMW with only two seats signaled his resignation from the idea of expanding his family, aggravating Ove.
Chapter 29
Ove, Parvaneh, and the cat arrive at a cafe where they encounter a young man named Adrian who is known for his compassionate actions towards the homeless. Ove explains to Parvaneh that they are at the cafe because Adrian needs to repair a bike for his sort of girlfriend. The young man with dark makeup around his eyes is introduced as Adrian’s boss. Ove curiously asks the young man about his makeup and, in a somewhat insensitive manner, inquires about his sexual orientation. Parvaneh intervenes and apologizes for Ove’s behavior.
Ove proceeds to help Adrian fix the bike, offering guidance and a hint of fatherly concern. When they return to the cafe, they encounter Amel, the owner, who is frustrated with a fan heater and also banning the cat from the cafe. Ove strikes a deal with Amel, agreeing to fix the fan heater in exchange for allowing the cat to stay. Adrian asks Ove not to reveal the sexual orientation of the young man, Mirsad, to Amel, and he agrees, despite his own concerns about Adrian wanting to buy a French car.
Chapter 30
Ove visits Sonja’s grave and apologizes for being late, sharing how life has felt chaotic since her passing. He reminisces about their routines and how everything changed when she was no longer there. Ove reflects on how he misses the stability of their life together. Ove bought his Saab thirteen years ago, and when GM acquired Saab, he was quite upset. He never purchased another car after that.
Sonja, who always believed in the right time for everything, received her cancer diagnosis four years ago. She gracefully accepted her fate while Ove fought bureaucratic battles for insurance and assistance. Sonja gradually reduced her workload, quit her job, and found solace in her students’ visits. She passed away not long after. At the gravesite, Ove promises to see Sonja tomorrow, and when he returns to the car, Parvaneh offers to help him with Sonja’s belongings, but Ove curtly declines her offer.
Chapter 31
In the morning, Ove planned to end his life with Sonja’s father’s rifle but was unexpectedly interrupted. He vented his frustration at a man in a white shirt, a rare instance where Ove felt good about the confrontation.
As Ove was about to end his life, Parvaneh arrived and handed him her phone, which was connected to the journalist Lena. While searching for these items inside, Ove spotted the man in the white shirt illegally driving through the residential area, and he rushed outside to confront him. The man in the white shirt, familiar with Ove’s past battles with the council, arrogantly dismissed Ove’s protests and touched his chest, instructing him to go inside and watch TV. Ove refused to comply, and an ensuing argument resulted in Ove blocking the man’s car with a trailer, pointing to the sign prohibiting vehicles in the area.
Later, Ove learned from Parvaneh that Rune was to be taken away from Anita. Anita confirmed this, but Ove argued that bureaucratic processes would take years to conclude. Feeling drained and defeated, Ove realized that the white shirts always prevailed, and he retreated into his house, leaving Parvaneh outside while he grappled with his grief over Sonja’s absence.
Chapter 32
In this chapter, it is revealed that Sonja believed Ove and Rune were men who belonged to a different time, valuing their independence and self-sufficiency. After Sonja’s accident and illness, Ove struggled to cope with his anger and began fighting the council for various reasons as a way to manage his frustration. He even held the “white shirts‘ ‘ responsible for Sonja’s suffering, including her miscarriage.
Late at night, Ove contemplates taking his own life with a rifle. He prepares for it by covering his hallway with tarps, stripping down to his underwear, and leaving instructions for his after-death arrangements. However, his plan is unexpectedly interrupted when Adrian and Mirsad, two young visitors, arrive at his door.
Mirsad explains that he came out as gay to his father, Amel, who subsequently kicked him out of the house. Ove initially mistakes them for thieves but eventually listens to their story. Although Ove is initially reluctant, he lets them stay in his home. In the morning, Ove awakens to find his house occupied not only by himself and the cat but also by a new, unexpected guest, Mirsad. He reflects that Sonja would have approved of this situation.
Chapter 33
The narrator reflects on the common human trait of being “time optimists,” assuming that there will always be enough time to say and do the things we intend to. This leads to procrastination and regrets.
Ove, Mirsad, and the cat prepare to go for a walk. Ove notices the scent of toast, a reminder of Sonja, and accuses Mirsad of making it. After some hesitation, Ove allows Mirsad to join him on their walk. They encounter Jimmy, who is eager to exercise and wants to accompany them. Jimmy mentions that the council is picking up Rune today, as Anita has been seeking help for him for years. Ove refuses to accept this and is upset that Sonja hasn’t heard about it. He confronts Anita about the paperwork, displaying a level of anger she hasn’t seen since the Saab-Volvo merger in 1977.
Chapter 34
Ove visits Sonja’s grave and sets up a deck chair to have a conversation with her, even though he knows it will be something she won’t like. The narrator reflects on the history of various neighbors who lived between Ove and Rune over the last four decades, many of whom they considered imbeciles. There are a couple of incidents where Ove and Rune took matters into their own hands to deal with troublesome neighbors. In one instance, they confronted a group of young men who threw a bottle through Rune and Anita’s window during a loud party, resolving the situation together leading to the arrest of the troublemakers. In another case, they intervened when they suspected domestic abuse in a neighboring household. Ove and Rune confronted the abusive man and helped the woman and her son escape from him. Later, they purchased the house for the woman to provide her with a fresh start.
Ove then shifts to the present and explains how he had an unsuccessful and confrontational phone call with Social Services regarding Rune’s situation. He then tells Sonja’s grave that she’ll have to wait for him to join her because he doesn’t have time to die at the moment. Ove replaces Sonja’s flowers and leaves, muttering about the ongoing “war.”
Chapter 35
A few mornings later, Parvaneh urgently rushes into Ove’s house to use the bathroom, and Ove recalls Sonja’s saying that a pregnant woman in need is a force to be reckoned with. The neighbors have noticed Ove’s increased involvement lately, but he brushes it off, claiming he’s never been this “involved” before. Ove has been meeting with a group of people, including Jimmy, Mirsad, Adrian, Anders, Parvaneh, and Patrick, to devise a plan to help Rune. Ove eventually made a significant phone call.
Later, the man in the white shirt comes to Rune and Anita’s door, insisting it’s time to take Rune. Anita refuses, and a tense argument ensues. Ove, Parvaneh, Patrick, Jimmy, Anders, and Adrian emerge behind her, offering to take care of Rune instead. The man is skeptical until Lena, a journalist, arrives with a recorder and a stack of documents. She reveals that the documents contain records of the man’s patients who were improperly placed in assisted living facilities. The group also claims to have obtained the man’s bank statements, email records, and internet history. The man is visibly distressed and questions how they got this information. Ove angrily retorts, “The internet.”
Lena explains that while there may not be any explicit illegalities, these documents could trigger a lengthy legal investigation. The man eventually leaves, surprising Ove. Lena reminds Ove of their deal for an interview and inquires if he has read her letter, which he has not. Ove spends some time with Rune before returning home.
Chapter 36
As Ove imparts his wisdom about responsible car ownership to Parvaneh during their drive, he notices that she isn’t paying much attention and is asking somewhat trivial questions. The night before, after dinner at Parvaneh’s house, Ove had an interesting interaction with Nasanin, Parvaneh’s seven-year-old daughter. Nasanin had asked Ove to read her a story, and after she and the cat had fallen asleep, Ove had quietly ventured down the hallway past Nasanin’s room. He observed the drawings of houses on her walls, most of which depicted houses, piquing Ove’s curiosity.
Upon entering Nasanin’s room, she appeared slightly displeased but gestured for Ove to sit on a crate next to her. She explained a computer game she was playing, one involving building houses and cities. Ove joined in, and the two played the game together for a lengthy two-and-a-half hours, until Parvaneh threatened to disconnect the computer. As Ove left Nasanin’s room, the seven-year-old pointed to a drawing of a house and whispered that it was meant to represent Ove’s house.
Now back in the present, Ove enters Amel’s cafe. Amel appears to be both sad and angry, and the two men share a silent moment of contemplation. Ove takes a seat at the bar and requests whiskey from Amel, who complies. The narrator reflects on the challenge of admitting one’s long-standing mistakes.
Chapter 37
Ove sits at Sonja’s grave, apologizing for people’s lack of boundaries, and tenderly replaces her flowers. Earlier that morning, Lena had dropped off a newspaper with Ove’s grumpy face on the front page, and Ove’s reaction matched his expression. Lena cheerfully mentioned going skating with Anders, but Ove closed the door on her. While tidying up his kitchen, Ove found a letter from Lena and decided to throw it away, but he kept a photograph of the man he saved at the train station, along with his three children, placing it on his fridge beside Nasanin’s colorful drawing of him.
At the graveyard, a group of friends and neighbors, including Parvaneh, Patrick, Nasanin, the seven-year-old, Jimmy, Adrian, and Mirsad, quietly approach Ove and greet Sonja. Parvaneh offers flowers to Sonja on her own behalf and from Anita and Rune. Upon returning to their street, they find Amel standing outside Ove’s house, leading to a dinner plan.
Before bedtime, the seven-year-old hands Ove a handwritten invitation to her upcoming birthday party, mentioning that she wants presents. When Ove inquires about her desired gift, the seven-year-old whispers in his ear that she wishes for an iPad to use special drawing programs.
Chapter 38
The chapter starts with the narrator introducing two kinds of people, those who prefer devices with white cables and fruit logos on the back (Apple enthusiasts), and those who don’t.
Ove finds himself regretting asking Jimmy, who is clearly an Apple enthusiast, for help. At the Apple store, Jimmy gets distracted, leaving Ove to unleash his verbal frustration on a sales associate. Jimmy eventually returns to mediate, explaining that Ove means no harm. With Jimmy’s assistance, Ove eventually manages to convey that he wants the best iPad for the seven-year-old, despite his grumbling about not getting a keyboard.
When he receives his gift, Ove compares his excitement to the feeling he used to get when acquiring a new car. After a heartfelt moment with the seven-year-old, Ove goes for a walk, reflecting on how much Sonja would have loved the party. During his stroll, he witnesses burglars attempting to break into a vacant neighboring house. Ove confronts them, resulting in a physical altercation where he sustains a chest injury. As Ove lies on the ground in pain, the burglars flee, and Parvaneh rushes to his aid. Ove instructs her not to let the ambulance enter the residential area before losing consciousness.
Chapter 39
The narrator now urges readers to think about death as a peculiar aspect of life. The narrative mentions that it can both inspire people to keep living and be the source of immense fear. Ove, often labeled as bitter, was not so; he simply didn’t wear a perpetual smile. Time, too, has its quirks, and one of the most painful realizations is when someone finds they have more past than future to contemplate. For many, the motivation to live comes from various sources, such as the prospect of having grandchildren. However, when Sonja passed away, Ove’s zest for life faded.
At the hospital, the medical staff prevents Parvaneh from following Ove into the operating room, sparking a chaotic protest from her. It takes a team of people and nurses to restrain her, and her desperation is palpable as she pleads to be with Ove. Eventually, in the early morning, Parvaneh is allowed into Ove’s room. Overwhelmed by emotion, she pleads with Ove not to die, and Ove, in a hoarse voice, urges her to calm down. They hold hands, offering each other solace.
A young doctor eventually arrives, mispronouncing Parvaneh’s name and expressing confusion over her presence as next of kin for Ove. They share a humorous moment, poking fun at the doctor’s complex medical explanations. The doctor eventually reveals that Ove’s heart is oversized, but medication can control it for months or years. Parvaneh, in her straightforward manner, declares that Ove isn’t skilled at dying.
Ove returns home with the support of Parvaneh and Patrick, where the cat eagerly awaits. Inside, Ove learns about drawings made by Nasanin and the seven-year-old, bearing words like “to Granddad.” Parvaneh shares her personal loss, and Ove warmly accepts the role of grandfather to the girls. They all work together to put away Sonja’s belongings. Later that evening, Parvaneh goes into labor and gives birth to a baby boy, bringing a new chapter of life into Ove’s world.
