The very opening of the book shows Ove’s distrust of technology, as he treats tech products like the “McBook” (3) with total suspicion. The topic repeatedly arises, for instance, when it’s revealed how resistant he is to pay with anything but cash. This distrust of what is new and innovative reflects Ove’s resistance to change. He clings to his old life with Sonja and his old routines, which is exactly what makes it so hard for him to adapt and move on in the wake of her death.

By the end of the book, Ove’s distrust has faded. He buys the 7-year-old an iPad for her birthday, for instance, and even gets his own phone. Additionally, in the war with the councilman, it’s technology that saves the day: When the councilman asks where they got all his private information, Ove responds, “On the InterNET!” (264). This evolving relationship with technology reflects how Ove, once resistant to change, has managed to finally adapt to his new circumstances. 

Ove is initially fearful and distrustful of outsiders. He eyes Parvaneh with wariness, referring to her initially only as the “Pregnant Foreign Woman” (28) and telling