The County Library discussion

Hey everybody,

Welcome to our online book discussion for A Man Called Ove. We'll be posting a new question each Wednesday evening to discuss the book.

Since United We Read kicked off today, I wanted to focus on your first impressions. Are you excited to participate in a County-wide reading group? Have you read the book before? Is this the kind of book you usually read? What do you think of the description? Tell us about your first impressions of the book.

Okay, you guys, looks like I'm first. I think it'll be fun to participate in United We Read. I haven't really done it since... The Book Thief and that was quite a few years ago. I haven't yet read A Man Called Ove. And all I really know about it is what was written on the back, the summary. It sounds interesting. I hope it's interesting. I mainly read genre fiction, so normally wouldn't pick up this one. But I like the description, so we'll see how it goes.

This book is amazing!!! It starts out dreary but funny and is one of the best books I've read. Ove is an onion and every piece of his story that we learn makes him a fuller human being.

When I read the back of the book a while back, it sounded intriguing. One of my book groups is discussing it but not until later this year.

We'll be discussing the book here through May--so you've got plenty of time. :)

How does the opening scene, in which Ove attempts to purchase a computer, succinctly express the main points of Ove’s ongoing battle with the stupidities of the modern world?

Ove loves things that have a purpose, that are useful. How does this worldview fail him when he believes himself to be useless? How is he convinced that he can still be useful?

As readers, we get to know Ove slowly, with his past only being revealed piece by piece. What surprised you about Ove’s past? Why do you think the author revealed Ove’s past the way that he did?

We all know our own grumpy old men. How do Ove’s core values lead him to appear as such a cranky old coot, when he is in fact nothing of the sort? Which of these values do you agree or disagree with?

Although Ove has some major “disagreements” with the way the world turned out, there are some undeniable advantages to the modernization he finds so hollow. How do these advantages improve Ove’s life, even if he can’t admit it?

So... has anyone read the book so far? Any thoughts of what you've read, or anything you want to share? Let us know!

Did anyone see the film? If so, what did you think of that? It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, but lost to The Salesman.

I read the book and loved it. I thought the author did a great job of portraying Ove. And I loved his neighbors.

Laura wrote: "I read the book and loved it. I thought the author did a great job of portraying Ove. And I loved his neighbors."

Laura, I'm glad you read it and loved it. Was there a particular part that you really enjoyed?

I wish more people participated here! Maybe that could be part of the library advertising. I know this is the book for United We Read, but didn't know this group existed until I stumbled across it just now.

I'm going to read the book just because of UWR, but I haven't been super excited about it. It sounds boring- just a random guys life? But then, after talking to my husband, I got a different perspective. And since everyone loves it, I guess I will dive in!

I hear you Ashley. I also wish more people would participate. I'm glad that you and Laura wandered by this page to say Hello and to talk a little about the book.