Originally published: August 27, 2012
Author: Fredrik Backman
Genres: Novel, Humorous Fiction
Number of pages: 368
This is one of the most heartwarming novels I have ever read. It is a story of pure love and friendship that ultimately saves the main character’s life. After finishing the book, I immediately started writing my A Man Called Ove summary article because I was overwhelmed by the emotions it brought out in me.
Ove is a grumpy old man who seems perpetually angry at the world. However, as the author states, worse than dying is loneliness. There are people who live just to die, and there are those for whom the prospect of death motivates them to live each day to the fullest. This novel tells the story of a man who wants to end his life but hasn’t yet realized how many unfinished threads remain in his journey. Below, I’ll provide a summary of the book A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. If you’re only interested in book review, then skip the paragraph below and read the review section, as the summary contains spoilers.
A man called Ove Summary
Ove is a fifty-nine-year-old man living in Sweden. His mother died when he was eight, leaving him to be raised by his father, a railway mechanic from whom Ove inherited his strong morals.
One day, as a young boy, Ove found a wallet at the railway station and, instead of keeping it, took it to the police to return it to its owner. Ove’s world changed when his father tragically died in a workplace accident when Ove was just 16. From then on, he had to face life’s challenges on his own.
He took over his father’s job at the railway and continued living in the house his parents had bought. But as the years passed, life around him changed. New buildings were constructed, and the government wanted to demolish his house. Ove resisted fiercely, but one day, a suspicious fire reduced his home to ashes.
After the fire, he rented a room in town and attempted to enlist in the military. However, he was rejected when the medical exam revealed a congenital heart defect— in other words his heart was literally too big.
One day at the railway station, Ove met a girl named Sonya, and it was love at first sight. Ove described his life before her as black and white, with Sonya bringing color to his days.
Ove loved Sonya with a devotion few could match. She became pregnant and convinced him to move into a new house in a new neighborhood. While building their home, they met Rune and Anita, another couple expecting a child. The women bonded over their pregnancies, and their husbands became close friends.
Sonya encouraged Ove to pursue a degree in engineering, knowing his passion for understanding how things worked. Ove became a skilled handyman, building bookshelves for Sonya’s collection of books, even though he never read a single one himself.
Their happiness was short-lived. During a bus trip to Spain, Sonya placed Ove’s hand on her belly to feel their baby kick. Moments later, Ove stepped away to use the restroom, and tragedy struck—the bus crashed. Sonya lost the baby and became paralyzed from the waist down.
Ove never forgave himself for not being by her side during the crash. He also held grudges against the bus driver, the tour company, and the authorities for failing to punish or accuse anyone for the accident.
Despite her paralysis, Sonya found purpose as a teacher for troubled students, inspiring them to love Shakespeare and literature. Ove dedicated his life to caring for her, building ramps for her wheelchair and driving her to work. Years later, Sonya was diagnosed with cancer. Despite Ove’s relentless efforts to fight for her, she passed away, leaving him alone and bitter.
Ove became a grumpy man, arguing with everyone and holding onto his principles, including a lifelong devotion to Saab cars. Even his friendship with Rune, his old neighbor, dissolved over trivial disagreements.
Life took an unexpected turn when new neighbors moved in: Parvaneh, her husband Patrick, and their two children. Ove tried multiple times to end his life, but each attempt was interrupted by the chaos around him. His need for order and control kept pulling him back into the lives of others.
In one instance, he attempted to throw himself in front of a train but ended up saving another man who had fallen onto the tracks, unintentionally becoming a local hero.
Over time, Ove started to soften and let people into his life. He bonded with Parvaneh and her family, helping them with their home, babysitting their children, and even teaching Parvaneh to drive. He also mended his relationship with Rune, whose failing health had prompted local authorities to attempt to place him in a hospice. With help from his new friends, Ove fought to let Rune stay at home with Anita.
His once-empty life grew fuller. Adrian, one of Sonya’s former students who had been kicked out by his father for being gay, moved into Ove’s house. Even the reporter who had been chasing Ove for an interview about his heroic act became part of his circle.
Ove’s “big heart,” both literally and figuratively, became his defining feature. He came to accept that life still needed him—that he had a purpose beyond his grief.
A man called Ove Book Review
How can one not love this book? Fredrik Backman’s writing style is unique. He uses humor and irony to address sensitive topics without unnecessary sentimentality. He has a distinctive way of presenting his thoughts to the reader.
As I read the book, I couldn’t help but think about how wonderful it would be to have someone love me as deeply as Ove loved his wife, Sonya. The author beautifully illustrates how people who don’t know each other can form deep attachments and care for one another. I’ve read a few of Backman’s books, and he almost never tackles global issues. Instead, his characters are often kind or in need of kindness, relying on others to help them find their way.
When you read Backman, you realize that the world doesn’t have to be complicated and that there’s always something to gain in helping others. This is the main theme of this book. It also touches on topics like grief and how it can fuel anger. Sometimes, I’ve come to understand that being angry at someone can be a way to hide deeper emotions, like missing them.
Life is tough, and we have to find ways to move forward. That doesn’t mean forgetting the people we love—it means living on while keeping their memory alive in our hearts.
This book made me laugh and brought me to tears. There’s nothing stressful about it; it’s perfect for a light evening read. It makes you feel like you’re right there in the neighborhood where Ove lived. And yes, he is angry and obsessive, but his big heart wasn’t a coincidence. He was endlessly kind, and he deserved the friends he made and the beautiful love he shared with Sonya
A Man Called Ove characters
Ove – The protagonist, a grumpy but deeply kind-hearted 59-year-old widower. He is struggling with grief over the loss of his wife, Sonya, and trying to find purpose in his life.
Sonya – Ove’s late wife. She was a warm, loving, and optimistic woman who brought color to Ove’s black-and-white world.
Parvaneh – Ove’s new neighbor, a pregnant Iranian woman who is persistent, caring, and unafraid to challenge Ove’s character. She helps draw him out of his isolation.
Patrick – Parvaneh’s clumsy husband, often referred to by Ove as “The Lanky One.” He frequently needs Ove’s help with household tasks.
Rune – Ove’s former best friend Rune suffers from Alzheimer’s, and lives with his wife Anita
Anita – Rune’s wife and a kind woman who shares a history of friendship with Sonya. She is deeply devoted to caring for Rune.
Adrian – A young man who delivers newspapers and befriends Ove. He later reveals that he is one of Sonya’s former students and moves in with Ove after being kicked out by his father.
Jimmy – A friendly and overweight neighbor who is part of the community. He provides support to Ove and the others.
Books like A Man Called Ove
If you like A Man Called Ove you might also enjoy:
- “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” by Rachel Joyce”
- “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman
- “The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared” by Jonas Jonasson
- “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand” by Helen Simonson
A Man Called Ove vs A Man Called Otto
A Man Called Ove, published in 2012, was adapted into a Swedish movie in 2015. In my opinion, it was a fantastic adaptation, and I loved both the movie and the Swedish portrayal of Ove. Recently, Netflix released a newer version of the story titled A Man Called Otto.
The Swedish version stays truer to the book, capturing more of its details and nuances. In A Man Called Otto, some small elements and scenes were changed and adapted to fit an American context. The main character is played by Tom Hanks, who is, as always, brilliant in his role. While I am a huge Tom Hanks fan, I have to be honest— I liked the Swedish Ove better. The American version felt a bit more sentimental, whereas the Swedish version had a rawness that aligned better with the book’s tone and Swedish atmosphere.
Both movies are adaptations of Fredrik Backman’s book, and both are excellent in their own ways. I feel like the decision to name the American version Otto was also made to avoid confusion with the original Swedish film. You won’t waste your time watching both movies—they each offer a unique perspective on the same heartfelt tale.
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