To love is to start a new life (metaphor)
Sonja said that “to fall in love with someone is to settle in a new house”. First, you like your house, because everything is new and every morning you are surprised yourself that it is yours. However, time elapses, the walls become weathered, the wood splinters here and there and you begin to love the house not because of its dignity, but rather for its imperfections. The same thing happens with love. First, everything is perfect, but then you understand that your beloved person shows his negative features. Despite this, you continue to love, because your love is true.
Unforgettable laughter (simile)
Sonja is the most important woman for Ove. Her laughter, which, for the rest of Ove’s life, makes him feel “as if someone is running around barefoot on the inside of his breast”. This comparison gives the reader to understand that Sonja’s laughter is unforgettable and gives Ove a good mood for the whole day.
Like a giant tortoise (simile)
Ove’s neighbor Parvaneh is already pregnant with her third child. “Her belly is now so big that she looks like a giant tortoise”. Fredrik Backman wants to show that Parvaneh looks very funny. She is clumsy, because her big belly prevents her from moving around.
