Welcome to the third week of discussions for our new 2017 project, #12mos12rals!! We only have one week left before this great conversation comes to an end.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman: Week Three
Chapters 19-29, Pages 171-257
Before we begin, please note that this conversation only covers the noted chapters/pages above. Please do not share any spoilers beyond this point!
Let's talk about the significance of the cats in this story. The first one we meet is the one that simply does not leave Ove alone, and frequently sits outside his house. The second, yet the first to come in a chronological timeline, was actually his late wife's cat. What is the importance of both of these felines?
We finally learn about what happened with Ove's wife. Throughout the previous chapters, we get some hints, but we are mainly left in the dark. What are your thoughts about receiving only bit by bit until we are two-thirds of the way through the book?
Parvenah. She is quite the character that adds so much this tale. Without her, the story would simply not be the same. What stands out to you as a reader about her?
That's it for this week! Share your thoughts below in the comments section and/or feel free to link up in the linky below. Next week, we will chatting about chapters 30-End, pages 258-End.
ICYMI:
We finally learn about what happened with Ove's wife. Throughout the previous chapters, we get some hints, but we are mainly left in the dark. What are your thoughts about receiving only bit by bit until we are two-thirds of the way through the book?
Parvenah. She is quite the character that adds so much this tale. Without her, the story would simply not be the same. What stands out to you as a reader about her?
That's it for this week! Share your thoughts below in the comments section and/or feel free to link up in the linky below. Next week, we will chatting about chapters 30-End, pages 258-End.
ICYMI:
Until next week, happy reading!
Sorry to be so late on this one!
ReplyDeleteI think perhaps Ove gets drawn to the new cat because of his history with his wife's cat. And I think the new cat has a huge impact on his life in that he has a constant companion that he feels a responsibility for and therefore he can't end his life and leave it alone. I'm sure this is why Parvenah convinces him to keep the cat.
I have mixed feelings about when authors provide little bits and pieces over time. It's like when you have a book that alternates between two time periods, and this one did it occasionally but not in a set pattern. It's okay because it extends the story and makes it a bit more interesting rather than just telling the story in chronological order. But, on the other hand, it's frustrating to get a bit of the story and then switch to a different story in the next chapter so you have to wait until the later to continue. I did find the story of his wife sad and it, of course, is another trigger warning that didn't get promoted (but how do you talk about things like that without giving away too much of the story?). He sure has had a lot of grief in his life.
I really love the character of Parvenah. It's never explicitly said, but it's clear she sees what's going on in Ove's mind and she is doing whatever she can to make him change his mind and want to live. Her actions always seem very natural and realistic, and I just really enjoyed her character.