Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday. I have my review of the fantastic When The Cranes Fly South by Liza Ridzén on my blog today.
I absolutely adored this book and have been shouting about it ever since I finished reading it. It’s easily one of my favourite books ever and I’ll be recommending it to everyone for a long time.
When The Cranes Fly South is out on the 15th May 2025. You can find out more about the book and read my five star review below.
Huge thanks to Izzy from Doubleday for sending me a copy of this book I really appreciate it.
Book Synopsis:
Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his care team and his son.
Fortunately, he still has his memories, phone calls with his best friend Ture, and his beloved dog Sixten for company.
Only now his son is insisting the dog must be taken away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions and makes Bo determined to resist and find his voice.
An instant number one bestseller in Sweden and winner of the Swedish Book of the Year, When the Cranes Fly South is a profoundly moving and emotional novel about one man’s desire to preserve his autonomy, about the multitude of stories contained within a life, and the big things for which we have no words.
My Review:
When The Cranes Fly South is a very special, beautifully written book that I’ve kept thinking about long after I’ve finished reading. It has easily become one of my books of the year and I can’t wait for more people to be able to read it.
In When The Cranes Fly South we follow an elderly Bo as he struggles with his failing body and the lack of control he feels he has in his life now. I really liked Bo and felt a lot of sympathy for his current situation. He desperately wants to be able to do everything that he used to be able to do and is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is physically unable to anymore. He especially hates that his son and careers don’t let him make his own decisions from simple things like not having a shower to more complex ones like whether he should keep his dog who is his constant companion. I often found myself getting very worked up on his behalf as I read over the indignities and injustices he has to face.
Bo spends much of his days lying in bed with only his dog Sixten for company. He’s visited frequently by careers and his son Hans who he’s always had a complicated relationship with. His wife, Fredrika, is now in a care home suffering from dementia and no longer recognises Bo or their son Hans. Bo really misses her and talks to her often when remembering happier times from their long marriage. He often talks to her as if she is actually there in the room with him still which makes the memories even more poignant to read about. Throughout the book Bo reflects on his life and the mistakes he feels he made along the way. He wants to say so much to Hans and to the people he loves but worries he’s left it to late to say everything that he wants to.
I thought this book was incredibly absorbing and very emotional as I often found myself tearing up as I read. It’s a very thought provoking read as made me think more about growing old and what I’d want to say to my loved ones before I died. The battle between an elderly person wanting to retain control and a son trying to do the right thing was very poignant to read about. It made me realise how difficult some of the decisions people have to make in this situation are. The ending was incredibly beautiful especially that last line. I closed the book in tears at the ending and at having to leave the wonderful characters behind. I think this would make a great book club read as I think there would be lots to discuss.
About The Author:
The idea for Lisa Ridzén’s heartrending debut When the Cranes Fly South came to her through the discovery of notes her Grandfather’s care team had left the family as he neared the end of his life. She was also inspired by her research into masculinity in the rural communities of the Swedish far north, where she herself was raised and now lives in a small village outside Östersund.
Lisa began penning the novel whilst attending Långholmen Writer’s Academy. When the Cranes Fly South was a number one bestseller in Sweden, won the overall Swedish Book of the Year, and the Adlibris prize both for Debut and Fiction of the Year – the first time in the awards’ history that an author won in two categories. Rights have sold in 34 languages around the world.
Over The Rainbow Blog 
Wow one of your favourites! x
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