A Movie Lover’s Book Club Guidelines & Reminders
It’s totally ok if you still need to finish the book – all are welcome to join in and share their thoughts. If you want, start with my questions or develop your own topics to discuss. Let’s make this discussion inclusive and engaging, so don’t hesitate to share what you think! Your comments and ideas are valuable, no matter how many pages you’ve read.
Just a quick reminder:
- Every month a new book will be introduced with a film or series counterpart.
- Next month (March), look out for my “Book Club” post. I will share April’s book club pick with March’s novel discussion, and so on and so forth.
- Expect novel discussion posts to occur on or around the 17th of each month.
- You’ll have the opportunity to review the plot, analyze themes, and get nerdy with it.
- In working to fulfill my hopes of creating a true community on my website, I will be actively checking and participating in thoughts and discussion on the book each month.
- Of course, you don’t have to watch the movie or show to participate; this is just about having fun 😃
- Since I am a movie nerd, every once in a while, I will research and share interesting facts related to the film or novel of the month.
- Occasionally I will share unique recipes inspired by each featured novel and/or movie that you can try at home.
- Please feel free to share any book interests in the comment section below.
- I always want to know what you’re reading, so even if you didn’t choose to read the book I picked for the month, share what you are reading.
A Movie Lover’s Book Club: A Man Called Ove Discussion
A Man Called Ove follows our main character Ove. He is a classic grumpy old guy. He’s the kind of person who proudly declares he doesn’t like any change and always insists the way he does things is the best way (even if that’s not always the case). While Ove initially comes across as an unlikable charter, I quickly grew fond of the curmudgeon with a heart of gold.
I found Ove to be a complex character – initially unlikable. Still, as the layers of his life experiences were pulled back, we understand why Ove reacts the way he does, making him sympathetic and, at times, relatable.
Another powerful aspect of this novel is how it speaks to human connections; our need to feel a part of a community. Ove was struggling after his wife died. He no longer found purpose. He discovered a new sense of purpose when he learned to open his heart to others. Even as a fiction novel, we can apply real-life meaning; connection is fundamental to being human. It’s real-life applicable aspected and Backman’s ability to combine humor with a solid emotional depth that gives A Man Called Ove a powerful impact. He never shies away from showing the harsh realities of life. Still, there’s always an underlying sense of hope that radiates throughout.
We can all relate to Ove on some level, no matter how far removed his life may seem from our own. The world is filled with these types of characters, and we should never underestimate their stories – after all, they, too, have a life to live and a story to tell.
Discussion Questions
I always want to know your general opinion of the novels we read and the adaptation we watch. While I would like to be right on the money every time, choosing only the best material for you to spend your time with inevitably, you won’t always like the book of the month.
P.S. Don’t worry about answering all the questions – even if you still need to finish the book, you can still join in and contribute to the conversation. What would you like to talk about? Post your comments below!
- How did Ove’s character progress/change throughout the story? Is Ove a likable character? Would you consider him a “complex character”?
- Did you think
- With a story like this, many emotions can come up – annoyance, sadness, anger – what emotions do you recall having while reading? Did any of these emotions surprise you?
- How does Ove’s story change the way you perceive others? Does it?
- What role did community play in A Man Called Ove? Do you see elements of your own community within the story? How important is community to you?
Be sure to join the conversation about this book. What would you like to talk about? What questions came up while reading? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below – I look forward to hearing from you!
Quotable Moments
Favorite quotes from A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman:
1. “All people at root are time optimists. We always think there’s enough time to do things with other people. Time to say things to them. And then something happens and then we stand there holding on to words like ‘if’.”
2. “But sorrow is unreliable in that way. When people don’t share it there’s a good chance that it will drive them apart instead.”
“Death is a strange thing. People live their whole lives as if it does not exist, and yet it’s often one of the great motivations for living. Some of us, in time, become so conscious of it that we live harder, more obstinately, with more fury. Some need its constant presence to even be aware of its antithesis. Others become so preoccupied with it that they go into the waiting room long before it has announced its arrival. We fear it, yet most of us fear more than anything that it may take someone other than ourselves. For the greatest fear of death is always that it will pass us by. And leave us there alone.”
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
4. “But if anyone had asked, he would have told them that he never lived before he met her. And not after either.”
5. “One of the most painful moments in a person’s life probably comes with the insight that an age has been reached when there is more to look back on than ahead.”
Loving someone is like moving into a house,” Sonja used to say. “At first you fall in love with all the new things, amazed every morning that all this belongs to you, as if fearing that someone would suddenly come rushing in through the door to explain that a terrible mistake had been made, you weren’t actually supposed to live in a wonderful place like this. Then over the years the walls become weathered, the wood splinters here and there, and you start to love that house not so much because of all its perfection, but rather for its imperfections.”
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Film Questions: A Man Called Otto
- What did you think of Tom Hanks depiction of Ove/Otto? Did you think they cast well?
- If you were casting the film, what would be your actor/actress lineup?
- Were there scenes in the movie you found difficult to watch despite having read them in the book?
- What moment(s) were removed from the film adaptation that you would have liked to see?
March Book Club Pick
March book club pick is The Power by Naomi Alderman
The Power by Naomi Alderman is a gripping science fiction novel in which women gain superpowers and become more dominant, leading to an upheaval in global power structures, making men second-class citizens. With complex characters and a powerful commentary on our society, “The Power” promises to spark conversation and challenge our views.
I can’t wait to discuss this novel with you guys. I will post discussion questions on March 17th. So pick up your copy today.
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Series Adaptation
Release date: March 31, 2023
Available on: Amazon Prime
