Monday, 17 August 2020

August book: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman


A Man Called Ove

 by Fredrik Backman

 Discussion to be led by MH





Some background links to get you started: 
What we discussed about the book:
  • Why it was a replacement for our previous choice of book for this month 
  • Was it an accurate characterization of cat behaviour?
  • The narrative style of the book, which led to the very amusing quote, "It was a really easy read. Oh, actually, I listened to it..." :) 
  • Who has an Ove in their life? Do you need one to fully appreciate the character?
  • Was it shocking to us that Ove was only 59? 
  • The use of colour symbolism/language throughout the book
  • The use of humour of varying kinds, including black humour
  • What was at the heart of Ove's reaction to Rune swapping from Volvo to BMW?
  • In what ways is Ove a good person?
  • What do the 'white shirts' represent?
  • What does this novel say about the value of connection in communities?
  • Did Parvaneh know what Ove was up to? Were all her 'emergencies' part of her wanting to drag him into connection with others and save him from himself? What was her motivation?
  • Did Ove change as a character, or did our attitudes towards him change as readers? 
  • What were the saddest moments of the book and why? 
  • How did Ove have his father's brown suit ("He was his father’s slightly too tight-fitting brown suit across his broad, sad shoulders.") if he had lost everything in the fire? 
And we were sidetracked into...
  • Do any of the characters cross-over into any of his other books?
  • Similarities in style to some of our other favourite authors - such as Alexander McCall Smith, Gail Honeyman
  • How much it reminded some of Ricky Gervais's Afterlife
  • A discussion of the movie of the novel (which is in Swedish)
  • Would the men we know like this book?
  • Why do some readers criticize books for not being 'believable' - what does that mean? If the emotional heart of a novel is believable, does the actual plot need to be realistic or meet some kind of credibility test?
  • Sonja and Ove had similar upbringings in many ways - and yet had very different personalities. What influences this?
  • Would Ove be considered to be on the spectrum? 
  • Would absent member who places great importance on the endings of novels be satisfied with this one? (We thought, yes) 
  • How retirement can lead to a loss of purpose, alienation. Have attitudes to workplace security changed over the past 30 or so years/ (i.e. the former 'company men' with 35+ years service) 
  • How 'connectedness' and strong relationships are a huge part of coping in times of crisis

In other news, we discussed:
  • Gaming, gamers and teenagers in general - particularly in the current lockdown environment. Suggested reading: Dr Pete Etchells Lost in a Good Game, also The Winter of Our Disconnect by Susan Maushart.
  • The announcement that Qantas is unlikely to be flying internationally until July 2021
  • The witnessing of neighbourhood lemon theft. The brazenness of some people...
  • TV series: Little Fires Everywhere
  • What the word incandescent means.
  • NPR podcast: Codeswitch
  • Ageism and the value of older people. 
  • Covid and civil disobedience - what is the thinking of those who choose to break rules? 


Ratings
Range: 6 to 9
Average: 8.0

Next up:
The Wall by John Lanchester
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