A Man Called Ove and the Art of Character

The only time Ove was truly spontaneous was the day he met his wife. He was finishing his shift on the train when he glanced out the window and saw her. Instead of getting off, he stayed on and rode with her to her stop—and he did that every day until their first date.

They were as different as night and day. Ove was a rule follower, seeing the world in black and white. She saw everything in color. He was quiet; she was talkative and bubbly. They say opposites attract, and this was certainly proof of that.

According to Ove, his life began the day he met Sonja. Likewise, in his mind, it ended when she died. He believes the only way to move forward is to join her, so he meticulously plans his own demise. But fate has other ideas. Through this, the reader is slowly introduced to Ove and Sonja, and to the depth of their love.

Lately, I’ve been choosing books that haven’t necessarily appeared on the bestseller list, and I’ve really enjoyed them. What I love most is how the authors develop their characters—that, for me, is just as important as a strong storyline. Ove is an odd bird, an anti‑social curmudgeon, and yet you can’t help but become attached to him.

This book also resonates with me on a personal level. I met my husband on a train. He was the outgoing, friendly type, and I was the reserved, quiet one. We boarded in New York City, and by the time we reached Philadelphia, he had changed his seat to sit next to me. Four months later, we were married. We are as different as night and day—but it works.

So give this book a try A Man Called Ove.  Add it to your reading list and add The Kitchens of the Great Midwest and The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend.