A Man Called Ove

Chapter 37 again opens with Ove at Sonja’s grave—but this time, he’s not alone. In addition to the cat, there’s also Parvaneh and Patrick with the girls, as well as Jimmy, Adrian, and Mirsad. They are there to say hello to Sonja. Parvaneh also brings flowers and greetings from Anita and Rune.

When they return to the neighborhood, Mirsad’s father Amel is waiting at Ove’s house. Ove has dinner at Parvaneh and Patrick’s, leaving the father and son to “talk about disappointments and hopes and masculinity in two languages” (275). Before Ove leaves their home, the 7-year-old gives Ove an invitation to her birthday party. She reveals she wants an iPad. In response, “Ove looks a little as if she just said, ‘An awyttsczyckdront!’” (276).

Earlier that day, Lena dropped off a copy of the newspaper article. She had helped with the war against the councilman in exchange for an interview with Ove: “He was on the front cover, looking like the archetypal grumpy old sod. He’d kept his word and let her interview him. But he wasn’t smiling like a donkey for the camera” (271).