A Man Called Ove

Fredrik Backman began writing A Man Called Ove after reading a real-life anecdote about a man who had a meltdown over buying museum tickets. Backman instantly recognized a kindred frustration and humor in the character, noting he himself was “not great at talking to people”—this sparked a series of blog posts titled "I am a Man Called Ove", where he explored pet peeves and curmudgeonly observations. Ultimately, these musings evolved into the novel’s heart: an irritable but deeply principled man being softened by community and unexpected connections.