A Man Called Ove

by

Fredrik Backman

Rune Character Analysis

Rune and Ove moved into the neighborhood with their wives on the same day. When their wives, Anita and Sonja, became friends, Rune and Ove became friends to appease their wives. Rune is a lot like Ove: he doesn't say much, he has principles, and is handy around the house. He also shares Ove's love of fighting bureaucracy—the two of them set up the neighborhood steering committee and fight to keep the forest behind their houses from being cut down. His only fault in Ove’s eyes is that he drives a Volvo and upgrades to a sporty BMW after his adult son leaves for America. Not long after, Rune becomes very ill with Alzheimer's disease and requires intensive home care.

Rune Quotes in A Man Called Ove

The A Man Called Ove quotes below are all either spoken by Rune or refer to Rune. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Memory and Grief Theme Icon
).
Chapter 25 Quotes

Both men, once as close as men of that sort could be, stare at each other. One of them a man who refuses to forget the past, and one who can't remember it at all.

Related Characters: Ove, Rune
Page Number: 218
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 28 Quotes

After the accident Ove bought a Saab 95 so he'd have space for Sonja's wheelchair. That same year Rune bought a Volvo 245 to have space for a stroller. Three years later Sonja got a more modern wheelchair and Ove bought a hatchback, a Saab 900. Rune bought a Volvo 265 because Anita had started talking about having another child.

Related Characters: Ove, Sonja, Rune, Anita
Related Symbols: Cars
Page Number: 245
Explanation and Analysis:

Rune and Anita's lad grew up and cleared out of home as soon as he got the chance. And Rune went and bought a sporty BMW, one of those cars that only has space for two people and a handbag. Because now it was only him and Anita, as he told Sonja when they met in the parking area. "And one can't drive a Volvo all of one's life," he said with an attempt at a halfhearted smile. She could hear that he was trying to swallow his tears. And that was the moment when Ove realized that a part of Rune had given up forever.

Related Characters: Rune (speaker), Ove, Sonja
Related Symbols: Cars
Page Number: 246
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 33 Quotes

He thinks about how Sonja would have taken it if she'd found out. If she'd known that her best friend had not asked for her help because Sonja had "enough problems." She would have been heartbroken.

Related Characters: Ove, Sonja, Jimmy, Rune, Anita
Page Number: 287
Explanation and Analysis:
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Rune Quotes in A Man Called Ove

The A Man Called Ove quotes below are all either spoken by Rune or refer to Rune. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Memory and Grief Theme Icon
).
Chapter 25 Quotes

Both men, once as close as men of that sort could be, stare at each other. One of them a man who refuses to forget the past, and one who can't remember it at all.

Related Characters: Ove, Rune
Page Number: 218
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 28 Quotes

After the accident Ove bought a Saab 95 so he'd have space for Sonja's wheelchair. That same year Rune bought a Volvo 245 to have space for a stroller. Three years later Sonja got a more modern wheelchair and Ove bought a hatchback, a Saab 900. Rune bought a Volvo 265 because Anita had started talking about having another child.

Related Characters: Ove, Sonja, Rune, Anita
Related Symbols: Cars
Page Number: 245
Explanation and Analysis:

Rune and Anita's lad grew up and cleared out of home as soon as he got the chance. And Rune went and bought a sporty BMW, one of those cars that only has space for two people and a handbag. Because now it was only him and Anita, as he told Sonja when they met in the parking area. "And one can't drive a Volvo all of one's life," he said with an attempt at a halfhearted smile. She could hear that he was trying to swallow his tears. And that was the moment when Ove realized that a part of Rune had given up forever.

Related Characters: Rune (speaker), Ove, Sonja
Related Symbols: Cars
Page Number: 246
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 33 Quotes

He thinks about how Sonja would have taken it if she'd found out. If she'd known that her best friend had not asked for her help because Sonja had "enough problems." She would have been heartbroken.

Related Characters: Ove, Sonja, Jimmy, Rune, Anita
Page Number: 287
Explanation and Analysis: