Literary Fiction · Free kit
A Man Called Ove
On a Swedish row-house street, fifty-nine-year-old Ove patrols gates, bins, and parking rules as if the neighborhood would collapse without him. Six months after losing Sonja — the woman who was all the color he had — he has been forced to retire, and he is running out of reasons to stay. Then a family backs a trailer into his mailbox, a pregnant neighbor named Parvaneh refuses to take a hint, and a half-frozen cat becomes his problem. Fredrik Backman's debut is funny, furious, and unexpectedly tender: a novel about a man who believes in doing things properly, and the stubborn people who will not let him disappear.
“He was a man of black and white. And she was color. All the color he had.”
Complete free book club kit
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Plan your meeting
BookClubee take
Vibe check
Our editorial snapshot of how this book tends to land at club night — not a crowd average.
Craft
- Overall4
- Plot3
- Characters5
- World building4
- Ending4
How it feels
- Spice—
- Tears5
- Surprises2
- Humor4
- Comfort4
What’s in this kit
Everything below is free — open a section, use it at your meeting, or print what you need. No account required.
- Discussion Questions20 book-specific questions labeled warm-up, debate, and deep dive.
- Icebreakers15 fast warm-ups about the reader — not the plot.
- CharactersProfiles, dynamics map, and superlative awards.
- Trivia20 interactive questions from easy to hard.
- Would You Rather25 impossible choices inspired by the book.
- BingoPrintable book-club bingo for reading and live discussion.
- This or That40 rapid-fire choices plus a 60-second speed round.
- Speed DebatesPick a side and defend it against the clock.
- Hosting GuideShopping list, timeline, surprise touch, and wrap-up.
- PrintablesStickers, quote cards, invites, and review sheets.
How to run your meeting
1. Warm up
Start with icebreakers or a quick trivia round.
2. Discuss
Use the labeled discussion questions — warm-up to deep dive.
3. Play & wrap
Would You Rather, bingo, or a speed debate — then rate the book.
Frequently asked questions
Is this A Man Called Ove book club kit free?+
Yes. Everything on this page is free — discussion questions, games, trivia, and hosting tips. No account required.
Does this kit spoil A Man Called Ove?+
Yes. Discussion questions, trivia, superlatives, bingo, and debates assume you know Sonja's accident and illness, Ove's wish to die and join her, the neighbors who keep interrupting him, Rune's decline, and how the book ends. Finish the novel first. Icebreakers are about the reader, not the plot. The book deals with grief, suicidal thoughts, miscarriage, disability, and dementia; give your group a content note, and skip or pause if anyone needs to.
What's in the Premium Kit?+
The Premium Kit on Etsy is the full printable pack: discussion guide, character cards, trivia, bingo, games, hosting checklist, and review sheets — ready to print for your meeting.
How long should our A Man Called Ove book club meeting run?+
Plan about 75 minutes. This one needs air and a little care: 10 minutes of icebreakers, 10 minutes of trivia, 30 minutes of discussion, 15 minutes of a game or speed debate, then wrap-up. Use the Hosting Guide for a minute-by-minute outline.
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