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When the Cranes Fly South
Win a free print copy of this book!
14 days and 02:44:14
15 copies available
U.S. only
BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER (Sweden) A profoundly moving debut novel that follows an elderly man’s struggle to maintain autonomy over his own an emotional story of love, friendship, fatherhood, and atonement that is already an international sensation.
“A tender tale about aging, our own and others, and the quiet brutality of love. About what being a man is, and what being a human is, about fathers and sons and fathers and dogs. It’s a book for anyone who’s had to say goodbye.”—Fredrik Backman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
“A powerful, sneakily emotional meditation on life and death, and the foundational relationships in our lives. This is a book that will echo in your soul.”—Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
Bo is running out of time. Yet time is one of the few things he’s got left. These days, his quiet existence is broken up only by daily visits from his home care team. Fortunately, he still has his beloved elkhound Sixten to keep him company … though now his son, with whom Bo has had a rocky relationship, insists upon taking the dog away, claiming that Bo has grown too old to properly care for him. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotion, leading Bo to take stock of his life, his relationships, and the imperfect way he’s expressed his love over the years.
“A tender tale about aging, our own and others, and the quiet brutality of love. About what being a man is, and what being a human is, about fathers and sons and fathers and dogs. It’s a book for anyone who’s had to say goodbye.”—Fredrik Backman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
“A powerful, sneakily emotional meditation on life and death, and the foundational relationships in our lives. This is a book that will echo in your soul.”—Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
Bo is running out of time. Yet time is one of the few things he’s got left. These days, his quiet existence is broken up only by daily visits from his home care team. Fortunately, he still has his beloved elkhound Sixten to keep him company … though now his son, with whom Bo has had a rocky relationship, insists upon taking the dog away, claiming that Bo has grown too old to properly care for him. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotion, leading Bo to take stock of his life, his relationships, and the imperfect way he’s expressed his love over the years.
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First published August 5, 2024
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About the author
Lisa Ridzén
3 books264 followersLisa Ridzén (b.1988) is a doctoral student in sociology, researching masculinity norms in the rural communities of the Swedish far north, where she herself was raised and now lives in a small village outside of Östersund. The idea for her heartrending debut When the Cranes Fly South came from the discovery of notes her Grandfather’s care team had left the family as he neared the end of his life. She began penning the novel whilst attending Långholmen Writer’s Academy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,097 reviews
January 6, 2025
5 stars
I ugly cried. Damn, this was so sad and felt so real.
This book made me feel so vulnerable as a human. It made me think about my parents getting older, about my future self if I grow old. Would I be like that? Wearing a nappy, unable to shower alone and would my kids still visit me? It made me so conscious of how fragile humans are, how much we depend on love and care.
It also made me think about all the things I should say to my parents, to my children, before it’s too late. How much I love them. How much they mean to me. Because someday, there won’t be time for those words.
The story was beautiful and bittersweet. I really felt Bo—his helplessness with age, unable to do anything without help, watching as everything he loved slipped away. But the way he loved his wife, it hit me so hard. The way he mentioned her as “you” made it so personal, so intimate, like she was still right there with him, even as everything else faded. It broke me.
And Hans... I understood him so well too. As a child, there’s always that gnawing feeling, worrying about your parents getting older, wanting to give them the best you can, yet knowing you can’t stop time. It all felt so real, so raw, like it was written straight from life.
This was my first read of the year, and what a beautiful way to start 2025.
Note: Thank you to the author and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor publishing for this ARC.
I ugly cried. Damn, this was so sad and felt so real.
This book made me feel so vulnerable as a human. It made me think about my parents getting older, about my future self if I grow old. Would I be like that? Wearing a nappy, unable to shower alone and would my kids still visit me? It made me so conscious of how fragile humans are, how much we depend on love and care.
It also made me think about all the things I should say to my parents, to my children, before it’s too late. How much I love them. How much they mean to me. Because someday, there won’t be time for those words.
The story was beautiful and bittersweet. I really felt Bo—his helplessness with age, unable to do anything without help, watching as everything he loved slipped away. But the way he loved his wife, it hit me so hard. The way he mentioned her as “you” made it so personal, so intimate, like she was still right there with him, even as everything else faded. It broke me.
And Hans... I understood him so well too. As a child, there’s always that gnawing feeling, worrying about your parents getting older, wanting to give them the best you can, yet knowing you can’t stop time. It all felt so real, so raw, like it was written straight from life.
This was my first read of the year, and what a beautiful way to start 2025.
Note: Thank you to the author and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor publishing for this ARC.
August 10, 2025
Eight years ago I spent a couple of years volunteering at hospice with my two sweet therapy dogs.
One exercise in my hospice training was when we wrote down 10-12 things that were important to us on slips of paper. One by one, we had to choose which one to remove.
The devastation I felt as each slip of paper was removed was visceral and heartbreaking. I was in tears. One by one everything I loved and cared for was removed.
This is what it’s like for many of our elderly and/or terminally ill. Slowly, they lose everything that is precious and important to them.
Bo is 89, living in Sweden. His wife has Alzheimer’s and is in a home. He needs carers to manage his activities of daily living.
He has his faithful dog, Sixten, who his son, Hans, is trying to take from him because he doesn’t think Bo can properly care for him. (He’s not wrong)
Bo struggles to find control over his life. He reminisces about his long life, growing up in the home he lived in as a child, his angry controlling father, his loving mother, his loving wife, his lifetime friendship with Ture, and his son Hans, who he’s had a complicated relationship with.
Bo wants nothing more than to have a measure of control over his life. The indignities of old age are very apparent as he struggles to maintain control while his son attempts to protect him.
Just as his relationship with his dad was complicated, so too is his relationship with his son. Bo has clarity over the mistakes he’s made with his son and wants to repair their relationship before it’s too late.
Each chapter ends with the carer’s note which give us, the reader, a glimpse into Bo’s reality.
I’ve navigated these years with my in-laws and my parents. This is a raw and realistic look at aging and watching someone you love struggle with what the mind wants vs their physical abilities.
Bo’s rich inner life doesn’t match what his carers and his son see. The dichotomy is poignant and heartbreaking, but also a reminder that while our human bodies may fail, our minds, our spirits remain young and we who are carers, need to honor that.
The ending requires many tissues. This is a poignant story with thought-provoking themes we should all keep in mind whether we are the carers or the ones declining.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
One exercise in my hospice training was when we wrote down 10-12 things that were important to us on slips of paper. One by one, we had to choose which one to remove.
The devastation I felt as each slip of paper was removed was visceral and heartbreaking. I was in tears. One by one everything I loved and cared for was removed.
This is what it’s like for many of our elderly and/or terminally ill. Slowly, they lose everything that is precious and important to them.
Bo is 89, living in Sweden. His wife has Alzheimer’s and is in a home. He needs carers to manage his activities of daily living.
He has his faithful dog, Sixten, who his son, Hans, is trying to take from him because he doesn’t think Bo can properly care for him. (He’s not wrong)
Bo struggles to find control over his life. He reminisces about his long life, growing up in the home he lived in as a child, his angry controlling father, his loving mother, his loving wife, his lifetime friendship with Ture, and his son Hans, who he’s had a complicated relationship with.
Bo wants nothing more than to have a measure of control over his life. The indignities of old age are very apparent as he struggles to maintain control while his son attempts to protect him.
Just as his relationship with his dad was complicated, so too is his relationship with his son. Bo has clarity over the mistakes he’s made with his son and wants to repair their relationship before it’s too late.
Each chapter ends with the carer’s note which give us, the reader, a glimpse into Bo’s reality.
I’ve navigated these years with my in-laws and my parents. This is a raw and realistic look at aging and watching someone you love struggle with what the mind wants vs their physical abilities.
Bo’s rich inner life doesn’t match what his carers and his son see. The dichotomy is poignant and heartbreaking, but also a reminder that while our human bodies may fail, our minds, our spirits remain young and we who are carers, need to honor that.
The ending requires many tissues. This is a poignant story with thought-provoking themes we should all keep in mind whether we are the carers or the ones declining.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
August 29, 2025
A man, a son, a dog.
The man is old. Likely won’t be long before he is gone. His mind is sharp but his body is failing. He sleeps a ton and has caregivers come in throughout the day. His son visits regularly but wants him to give up his dog, Sixten. But the dog is his lifeline.
As the days go by, he wants to talk to his son; open up with him about how much he cares; how proud he is of him. But he struggles with being honest and transparent. His own relationship with his father clouding the words he wants to say. The discussion in his head is with his wife. The memories of the past. His wife now in a nursing home without her memories.
This is not an uplifting story. This is the reality and fragility of life as we approach death. Identity disappearing; fear of dying and leaving words unspoken.
But there is beauty in this ending. An appreciation for family, friends and fur animals.
I'm sobbing.
5⭐️
The man is old. Likely won’t be long before he is gone. His mind is sharp but his body is failing. He sleeps a ton and has caregivers come in throughout the day. His son visits regularly but wants him to give up his dog, Sixten. But the dog is his lifeline.
As the days go by, he wants to talk to his son; open up with him about how much he cares; how proud he is of him. But he struggles with being honest and transparent. His own relationship with his father clouding the words he wants to say. The discussion in his head is with his wife. The memories of the past. His wife now in a nursing home without her memories.
This is not an uplifting story. This is the reality and fragility of life as we approach death. Identity disappearing; fear of dying and leaving words unspoken.
But there is beauty in this ending. An appreciation for family, friends and fur animals.
I'm sobbing.
5⭐️
September 28, 2025
I felt the depth and emotional intensity of this story early in...
89-year-old Bo is our main character, and, except for caregivers scheduled periodically throughout the day, he lives alone with his elkhound, Sixten. Bo is constantly talking in his head to his wife, Fredrika, who lives in a care facility and he dearly misses. He shares his thoughts about their family life with their son Hans, growing up with his parents, and his friendship with longtime friend, Ture. But his narrative always returns to his beloved dog, Sixten, whom Hans threatens to take away, feeling Bo can no longer care for him...
I'm an emotional reader who easily gets entangled in a story and its characters, especially one such as Bo. My heart was breaking for him, but I also understood his plight: his loss of dignity and autonomy, and his hope to find common ground with Hans before it's too late.
When the Cranes Fly South is a treasure for gaining a realistic understanding of a loved one's struggles late in life when their body or mind, or both, are failing. It stirred memories of my mom's struggles with aging and dementia. Her struggles became mine, and I learned ways to join her journey.
And then there's that ending...
5⭐
Thank you to Vintage and Lisa Ridzén for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
89-year-old Bo is our main character, and, except for caregivers scheduled periodically throughout the day, he lives alone with his elkhound, Sixten. Bo is constantly talking in his head to his wife, Fredrika, who lives in a care facility and he dearly misses. He shares his thoughts about their family life with their son Hans, growing up with his parents, and his friendship with longtime friend, Ture. But his narrative always returns to his beloved dog, Sixten, whom Hans threatens to take away, feeling Bo can no longer care for him...
I'm an emotional reader who easily gets entangled in a story and its characters, especially one such as Bo. My heart was breaking for him, but I also understood his plight: his loss of dignity and autonomy, and his hope to find common ground with Hans before it's too late.
When the Cranes Fly South is a treasure for gaining a realistic understanding of a loved one's struggles late in life when their body or mind, or both, are failing. It stirred memories of my mom's struggles with aging and dementia. Her struggles became mine, and I learned ways to join her journey.
And then there's that ending...
5⭐
Thank you to Vintage and Lisa Ridzén for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 15, 2025
This is a best seller in Sweden.
A heartbreaking yet beautiful story of an elderly man, Bo..89..memory and mobility issues, living in northern rural Sweden…who just wants to spend his days with his dog Sixten.
Bo’s wife is in a home as she has dementia.
Bo has caregivers during the day but his son Hans insists that Sixten must be rehoused because Bo can’t take care of him, and it’s not the caregivers duty to do so.
Bo wants to still have a say about his life and he needs Sixten.
An emotional story, of Bo’s life as he is remembering parts of his life as a child, a young father, memories with his wife.. all the memories of his journey.
Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for the Arc!
Available 8/19/25
A heartbreaking yet beautiful story of an elderly man, Bo..89..memory and mobility issues, living in northern rural Sweden…who just wants to spend his days with his dog Sixten.
Bo’s wife is in a home as she has dementia.
Bo has caregivers during the day but his son Hans insists that Sixten must be rehoused because Bo can’t take care of him, and it’s not the caregivers duty to do so.
Bo wants to still have a say about his life and he needs Sixten.
An emotional story, of Bo’s life as he is remembering parts of his life as a child, a young father, memories with his wife.. all the memories of his journey.
Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for the Arc!
Available 8/19/25
September 30, 2025
“A window opens, and I hear the cranes gathering to fly south.”
I am still weeping as I attempt to find words to share with you how I feel about what I just read here. So very grateful that this was a donation to my Little Free Library Shed. Now, I get to share it with the neighborhood.
This is a story that touches on end-of-life, healing relationships, and the love of a good dog. Definitely the love of a good dog. Any of us who have a pet, treasure our special connection, and the emotion we experience when their best interests are in our hands to consider.
So, what does one do when our life is now in the hand of caregivers, and we no longer have the strength or ability to give our special companion the best part of us? Let alone ourselves. This is Bo’s dilemma. An 89-year-old man whose body is failing him. Everyday use to be filled with daily walks in the woods, and everything that mattered for both him and his dog, Sixten.
What happens for Bo, if he is no longer able to do these daily events? Does he have to give in to his son, Hans, who says it is time to say goodbye to Sixten, because Bo is unable to care for him? The thought that Bo can’t have his dog next to him, at this last stage of life, is painful to consider. But shouldn’t he also be concerned about what is best for Sixten, his dog?
What will happen? (No spoilers from me.)
This is their journey. Bo and Sixten. Heart-felt. Compelling. Thought-full. Bittersweet. Dramatic. Lifelike. Realistic. Well-developed characters. Well-drawn plot.
A story about lives well-lived.
Kleenex necessary.
I am still weeping as I attempt to find words to share with you how I feel about what I just read here. So very grateful that this was a donation to my Little Free Library Shed. Now, I get to share it with the neighborhood.
This is a story that touches on end-of-life, healing relationships, and the love of a good dog. Definitely the love of a good dog. Any of us who have a pet, treasure our special connection, and the emotion we experience when their best interests are in our hands to consider.
So, what does one do when our life is now in the hand of caregivers, and we no longer have the strength or ability to give our special companion the best part of us? Let alone ourselves. This is Bo’s dilemma. An 89-year-old man whose body is failing him. Everyday use to be filled with daily walks in the woods, and everything that mattered for both him and his dog, Sixten.
What happens for Bo, if he is no longer able to do these daily events? Does he have to give in to his son, Hans, who says it is time to say goodbye to Sixten, because Bo is unable to care for him? The thought that Bo can’t have his dog next to him, at this last stage of life, is painful to consider. But shouldn’t he also be concerned about what is best for Sixten, his dog?
What will happen? (No spoilers from me.)
This is their journey. Bo and Sixten. Heart-felt. Compelling. Thought-full. Bittersweet. Dramatic. Lifelike. Realistic. Well-developed characters. Well-drawn plot.
A story about lives well-lived.
Kleenex necessary.
September 27, 2025
Heartbreaking, beautiful, realistic - a story about life and death , about the struggles of aging and illness and the need for care , about family relationships, about the importance of friendship and all of the beautiful things on that journey. An emotional story for sure as Bo, 89 is losing control of his life, his capability to care for himself and his beloved dog. Missing his wife who is in a nursing home for dementia , feeling distanced from his son, it’s difficult to watch his faculties diminish before our eyes . We get to know the ups and downs of Bo’s life through his memories, dreams and daydreams and internal conversation he has with his wife . A reflection of life and death and one man’s the journey in between. Impossible not to cry at multiple times, especially the ending.
I was hesitant to read this, given how sad I expected it to be, but it seemed that everyday I kept seeing 5 star reviews from so many of trusted friends. This was not an easy book to read. After reading it, I found there was so much to think about for any reader - young or old. Those who are care givers for someone they love will be moved and others like myself perhaps will wonder what it will be like at the end for us.
I received a copy of this book from Vintage through NetGalley
I was hesitant to read this, given how sad I expected it to be, but it seemed that everyday I kept seeing 5 star reviews from so many of trusted friends. This was not an easy book to read. After reading it, I found there was so much to think about for any reader - young or old. Those who are care givers for someone they love will be moved and others like myself perhaps will wonder what it will be like at the end for us.
I received a copy of this book from Vintage through NetGalley
August 29, 2025
"Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it." - Haruki Murakami
Stunning in its simplicity, beautiful in its message, heartbreaking in its ending. When the Cranes Fly South is a lovely, sad, and poignant look into an elderly man's life. It is moving, powerful, heartbreaking, and beautifully told.
Bo is an elderly man whose life is winding down. His wife has Alzheimer’s disease and is a nursing home. Bo spends his days fretting over his beloved dog, Sixten while thinking about his life. He leads a quiet life and his son Hans, has arranged careers for him. They come in daily, prepare his meals, and chart about the notable things which occurred during their shifts. Bo looks forward to his son's visits but is also worried as Hans wants to find a new home for his dog, Sixten. Bo has difficulty caring for his own basic needs and Hans worries that he can no longer care for his dog as well. Whoever said growing old is not for the weak was not kidding.
Dying is like diving into a deep lake on a hot day. There's the shock of that sharp, cold change, the pain of it for a second, and then accepting is a swim in reality. But after so many times, even the shock wears off. - Richard Bach
I enjoyed the storytelling in this book. I thought it was very well done. Bo misses his wife and thinks of her often. The author tenderly and compassionately shows how Bo is struggling with activates of daily living. He is a proud man who wants nothing more than to keep his dog, keep his dignity, and keep communicating with those in his life. As he begins to slow down, sleep more, and be able to do less, he reflects on his life and those in it.
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." -From an Irish headstone”
Such a beautiful book. This is a book that I know will stay with me. It is a book I want to talk through tears about, to share, to give, and to keep. It is a wonderfully written (and translated) book that is moving, heartbreaking, and beautiful. The author showed sensitivity in showing aging, the struggles, the frustrations, the moments of reflection and the letting go.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Stunning in its simplicity, beautiful in its message, heartbreaking in its ending. When the Cranes Fly South is a lovely, sad, and poignant look into an elderly man's life. It is moving, powerful, heartbreaking, and beautifully told.
Bo is an elderly man whose life is winding down. His wife has Alzheimer’s disease and is a nursing home. Bo spends his days fretting over his beloved dog, Sixten while thinking about his life. He leads a quiet life and his son Hans, has arranged careers for him. They come in daily, prepare his meals, and chart about the notable things which occurred during their shifts. Bo looks forward to his son's visits but is also worried as Hans wants to find a new home for his dog, Sixten. Bo has difficulty caring for his own basic needs and Hans worries that he can no longer care for his dog as well. Whoever said growing old is not for the weak was not kidding.
Dying is like diving into a deep lake on a hot day. There's the shock of that sharp, cold change, the pain of it for a second, and then accepting is a swim in reality. But after so many times, even the shock wears off. - Richard Bach
I enjoyed the storytelling in this book. I thought it was very well done. Bo misses his wife and thinks of her often. The author tenderly and compassionately shows how Bo is struggling with activates of daily living. He is a proud man who wants nothing more than to keep his dog, keep his dignity, and keep communicating with those in his life. As he begins to slow down, sleep more, and be able to do less, he reflects on his life and those in it.
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." -From an Irish headstone”
Such a beautiful book. This is a book that I know will stay with me. It is a book I want to talk through tears about, to share, to give, and to keep. It is a wonderfully written (and translated) book that is moving, heartbreaking, and beautiful. The author showed sensitivity in showing aging, the struggles, the frustrations, the moments of reflection and the letting go.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
January 27, 2026
This was a hard read for me, but sometimes the hard reads are cathartic. Life is hard sometimes, and this story is about life, the real kind, the imperfect kind, the marvelous kind that is coming to an end.
Bo is 89 years old and has daily home health care. His wife, Fredrika, has dementia and is in a care facility; his son, Hans, is trying to stay alive in the world of careers and take care of aging parents; and his granddaughter, Ellinor, at twenty, is too young to fathom what eight-nine is like. What he has still got of his life is his dog, Sixten, and Hans is determined to take Sixten away because he feels his father no longer can take care of a dog and remain safe himself.
The story is told through the intimate thoughts of Bo, as he carries on a mental conversation with his wife, or with his memory of who she was before the dementia stole her away.
Because in the void you left behind, Fredrika, I’ve started thinking about things I never paid much notice to. I’ve never been one to doubt myself, always known what I want and been able to tell right from wrong. I still can, but I’ve also started to wonder.
Ridzen captures every emotion perfectly. The bewilderment, the confusion, the anger at others, at self, at life, the resentment of what others must do for you and the failure of your own body and brain to do for yourself, all of them are here. Bo knows he has reached an end, and he spends much of his time reviewing his life and his relationships, wanting not to leave this world with important feelings unexpressed.
I don't know how I feel, because I keep changing my mind. He sounds so miserable that I want to get up and open the door, tell him that everything will be fine. But at the same time, I can't understand why he is arguing with her, why he thinks Sixten should live somewhere else. It's like he really does want to hurt me.
There is a moment of memory when Bo decides to leave his father’s house to go out on his own, to begin his life. He watches the cranes and says to himself, Before they fly south again, I promise myself, I’ll have left this place. He has reached a time in life where he knows the cranes are about to depart again and, once again, he will go with them.
Three years ago yesterday I lost my husband. He was eighty-eight years old. Reading about Bo was like looking down a well into the past, so much was recognizable to me. Bo might have been Matt in much of what he thought and said. For all of us who reach old age, this day will come. If we are fortunate, we will have what Bo has–an opportunity to look back at the wonder of our lives, our triumphs and our mistakes; a chance to see who we have been.
I don’t believe in coincidence. I began reading this yesterday, totally unplanned. Perhaps in the back of my head I remembered what it was about, but consciously I did not. It just popped up on the Kindle and I started reading. When I finished, I had a good cry, kissed my husband’s picture and went to bed.
Bo is 89 years old and has daily home health care. His wife, Fredrika, has dementia and is in a care facility; his son, Hans, is trying to stay alive in the world of careers and take care of aging parents; and his granddaughter, Ellinor, at twenty, is too young to fathom what eight-nine is like. What he has still got of his life is his dog, Sixten, and Hans is determined to take Sixten away because he feels his father no longer can take care of a dog and remain safe himself.
The story is told through the intimate thoughts of Bo, as he carries on a mental conversation with his wife, or with his memory of who she was before the dementia stole her away.
Because in the void you left behind, Fredrika, I’ve started thinking about things I never paid much notice to. I’ve never been one to doubt myself, always known what I want and been able to tell right from wrong. I still can, but I’ve also started to wonder.
Ridzen captures every emotion perfectly. The bewilderment, the confusion, the anger at others, at self, at life, the resentment of what others must do for you and the failure of your own body and brain to do for yourself, all of them are here. Bo knows he has reached an end, and he spends much of his time reviewing his life and his relationships, wanting not to leave this world with important feelings unexpressed.
I don't know how I feel, because I keep changing my mind. He sounds so miserable that I want to get up and open the door, tell him that everything will be fine. But at the same time, I can't understand why he is arguing with her, why he thinks Sixten should live somewhere else. It's like he really does want to hurt me.
There is a moment of memory when Bo decides to leave his father’s house to go out on his own, to begin his life. He watches the cranes and says to himself, Before they fly south again, I promise myself, I’ll have left this place. He has reached a time in life where he knows the cranes are about to depart again and, once again, he will go with them.
Three years ago yesterday I lost my husband. He was eighty-eight years old. Reading about Bo was like looking down a well into the past, so much was recognizable to me. Bo might have been Matt in much of what he thought and said. For all of us who reach old age, this day will come. If we are fortunate, we will have what Bo has–an opportunity to look back at the wonder of our lives, our triumphs and our mistakes; a chance to see who we have been.
I don’t believe in coincidence. I began reading this yesterday, totally unplanned. Perhaps in the back of my head I remembered what it was about, but consciously I did not. It just popped up on the Kindle and I started reading. When I finished, I had a good cry, kissed my husband’s picture and went to bed.
October 30, 2025
Jesus Christ
July 18, 2025
'...I feel an ache in my chest. A sudden urge to talk to you'.
Bo now lives on his own in rural Sweden, with his Elkhound Sixten, visited by a range of caregivers to help him cling to his independence since his wife, Frederika, was sent to a nursing home with dementia. Bo is getting too old though to live like this, but Bo is also very proud and stubborn and when his son Hans threatens to take his sole companion, Sixten, away too, anger threatens to boil over. But even this too becomes tiring. As Bo sleeps more, his dreams are of visceral memories: as a son, as a husband, as a father, and as a friend. All of this is addressed to his no longer present wife, 'Because of the void you left behind Frederika, I've started thinking about things I never paid much attention to'. Memories of his hard-working life are broken up by the very real notes left by his carers in their log. Slowly we mark his journey from Spring through to Autumn, 'Before they fly south again, I promise myself, I'll have left this place'.
My heart was flayed open and I was utterly destroyed by the end of this book. The last quarter was read with blurred vision. My dog became concerned with the number of times I sobbed. How can something so sorrowful, so heartbreaking, be so beautiful? It's a story of humanity, a story of love, and a story of gratitude. I would recommend this book to anyone.
'...I should have listened more. That I know now'.
Bo now lives on his own in rural Sweden, with his Elkhound Sixten, visited by a range of caregivers to help him cling to his independence since his wife, Frederika, was sent to a nursing home with dementia. Bo is getting too old though to live like this, but Bo is also very proud and stubborn and when his son Hans threatens to take his sole companion, Sixten, away too, anger threatens to boil over. But even this too becomes tiring. As Bo sleeps more, his dreams are of visceral memories: as a son, as a husband, as a father, and as a friend. All of this is addressed to his no longer present wife, 'Because of the void you left behind Frederika, I've started thinking about things I never paid much attention to'. Memories of his hard-working life are broken up by the very real notes left by his carers in their log. Slowly we mark his journey from Spring through to Autumn, 'Before they fly south again, I promise myself, I'll have left this place'.
My heart was flayed open and I was utterly destroyed by the end of this book. The last quarter was read with blurred vision. My dog became concerned with the number of times I sobbed. How can something so sorrowful, so heartbreaking, be so beautiful? It's a story of humanity, a story of love, and a story of gratitude. I would recommend this book to anyone.
'...I should have listened more. That I know now'.
February 21, 2024
En ”sensationell debut” omtyckt av oerhört många och såld till sjutton länder. Jag fattar att folk gillar den, men jag är inte lika imponerad.
Bo är gammal. Han bor tillsammans med sin hund Sixten, dit hemtjänsten och sonen Hans kommer med jämna mellanrum. Han ringer sin vän Ture ibland. Frun Fredrika har flyttat till ett demensboende. Det är till henne berättelsen riktar sig, i ett ”du”.
Tranorna flyger söderut jämförs av förlaget med Löpa varg. Den senare är skriven av den erfarna belletristen Kerstin Ekman som föddes 1933 och sedan länge växt ur det naiva synsätt som Lisa Ridzén (f 1988) gör gällande i sin debutbok. Karaktären Bo är en fiktiv karaktär som utstyrd i sin skapares föreställningar består just fiktiv för mig, till skillnad från Ekmans Ulf som känns sann. Jag menar inte att det finns något som heter litterär appropriering, alla får skriva om allt tycker jag, men det är ju inte säkert att det blir bra. Vad jag förstår har Ridzén dels arbetat med hemtjänst och dels forskat på manlighet och känslor. Ett av mina yngre jag känner starka band till författaren. Jag hade nog älskat den här boken för tio år sedan. Men efter att själv suttit på en dödsbädd och tagit avsked av min far, ger den här typen av tillrättalagda berättelser mig ingenting.
Ni kommer att invända. Nej men inte romantiserar Ridzén, hon skriver om både kissblöja och slemhosta, illamående och smakförvrängningar. Ja, det stämmer att Bo kissar på sig flera gånger. Även om jag inte uppskattar att läsa om det, tycker jag att författaren framställer kroppens förfall hyfsat realistiskt. Men Bos åldrade själ, ger jag inte mycket för. Bos tankar utgör merparten av diegesen. De handlar ofta om känslor och rannsakan, han är arg, han skäms och han tänker att han borde säga si och så. Jag tror att hela poängen med människor som Bo, som inte ”sätter ord på sina känslor” är att de inte kan eller vill sätta ord på sina känslor. Inte att de gör det i huvudet. Bos tankar på det förflutna med sin far (gubben) och mor, sin son och fru är idealiserade. Här finns en övertro på orden och en psykologisk självrannsakan som jag tror hör vår generation till, inte Bos. Han tänker precis så som en ung kvinna vill att en gammal man ska tänka, men aldrig så som jag tror är mest förekommande: vi är alla resultat av vår tid. Bos beteende på dödsbädden vittnar om att han känner sig fridfull men han rannsakar sig själv och det förflutna utan acceptans. Han vill säga de där ”viktiga” avslutande orden som skall visa hans tacksamhet och kanske släta över det som varit dåligt. Jag tror tvärtom att en gammal och vis människa inser att man på många fler sätt än med ord visar sin tacksamhet och kärlek, att ens älskade mor exempelvis vet att man älskar henne även om man inte sagt det rakt ut. Men Bo är så där filmiskt perfekt som människor aldrig är, att han på sin dödsbädd helt plötsligt kan säga orden han aldrig tidigare fått ur sig.
Jag funderar på varför man vill upprätthålla en sådan idealiserad bild av människors död. Min poäng är inte att det gör mig ledsen för att jag själv inte fick höra de vackra orden. (Min pappa sa inte ett ord som avslöjade att han var medveten om att han höll på att dö.) Poängen är att man tror innan att kärleksorden som ska knyta ihop säcken hör till när någon dör, men när man väl sitter på dödsbädden är ord det som betyder minst av allt. Ord är ingenting.
Det här är ingen sågning, men jag har ändå mera klander. Inte bara Bo utan även de andra karaktärerna är stereotypa. Fredrika och Bos mamma har varit perfekta kvinnor och mammor som aldrig blivit arga eller ens höjt rösten. Favoritpersonalen i hemtjänsten är gudomlig av absurda mått. Att Ture är gay och att barnen som kommer förbi är samer, spär på den tillrättalagda känslan. Hemtjänstens anteckningar ska väl ge läsaren en utifrånblick, men de är för mig helt överflödiga. Jag saknar gestaltning, det är för mycket tell och för lite show. Den här romanen varken lenar eller upprör, den får mig inte att skratta eller gråta, den är för mig varken som en spegel eller ett fönster, den är en stängd dörr. Men den är för den skull inte dålig.
Tranorna flyger söderut är feelgood som bättre kan jämföras med Fredrik Backmans eller Johan Ens verk, minus humor. Jag kan tänka mig att rekommendera Ridzéns roman till den som gillar att läsa om en alternativ verklighet, som påminner om den vi lever i men är sminkad. När det kommer till känslor kring en dement fru förordar jag Ingvar Carlssons I sällskap med döden.
Bo är gammal. Han bor tillsammans med sin hund Sixten, dit hemtjänsten och sonen Hans kommer med jämna mellanrum. Han ringer sin vän Ture ibland. Frun Fredrika har flyttat till ett demensboende. Det är till henne berättelsen riktar sig, i ett ”du”.
Tranorna flyger söderut jämförs av förlaget med Löpa varg. Den senare är skriven av den erfarna belletristen Kerstin Ekman som föddes 1933 och sedan länge växt ur det naiva synsätt som Lisa Ridzén (f 1988) gör gällande i sin debutbok. Karaktären Bo är en fiktiv karaktär som utstyrd i sin skapares föreställningar består just fiktiv för mig, till skillnad från Ekmans Ulf som känns sann. Jag menar inte att det finns något som heter litterär appropriering, alla får skriva om allt tycker jag, men det är ju inte säkert att det blir bra. Vad jag förstår har Ridzén dels arbetat med hemtjänst och dels forskat på manlighet och känslor. Ett av mina yngre jag känner starka band till författaren. Jag hade nog älskat den här boken för tio år sedan. Men efter att själv suttit på en dödsbädd och tagit avsked av min far, ger den här typen av tillrättalagda berättelser mig ingenting.
Ni kommer att invända. Nej men inte romantiserar Ridzén, hon skriver om både kissblöja och slemhosta, illamående och smakförvrängningar. Ja, det stämmer att Bo kissar på sig flera gånger. Även om jag inte uppskattar att läsa om det, tycker jag att författaren framställer kroppens förfall hyfsat realistiskt. Men Bos åldrade själ, ger jag inte mycket för. Bos tankar utgör merparten av diegesen. De handlar ofta om känslor och rannsakan, han är arg, han skäms och han tänker att han borde säga si och så. Jag tror att hela poängen med människor som Bo, som inte ”sätter ord på sina känslor” är att de inte kan eller vill sätta ord på sina känslor. Inte att de gör det i huvudet. Bos tankar på det förflutna med sin far (gubben) och mor, sin son och fru är idealiserade. Här finns en övertro på orden och en psykologisk självrannsakan som jag tror hör vår generation till, inte Bos. Han tänker precis så som en ung kvinna vill att en gammal man ska tänka, men aldrig så som jag tror är mest förekommande: vi är alla resultat av vår tid. Bos beteende på dödsbädden vittnar om att han känner sig fridfull men han rannsakar sig själv och det förflutna utan acceptans. Han vill säga de där ”viktiga” avslutande orden som skall visa hans tacksamhet och kanske släta över det som varit dåligt. Jag tror tvärtom att en gammal och vis människa inser att man på många fler sätt än med ord visar sin tacksamhet och kärlek, att ens älskade mor exempelvis vet att man älskar henne även om man inte sagt det rakt ut. Men Bo är så där filmiskt perfekt som människor aldrig är, att han på sin dödsbädd helt plötsligt kan säga orden han aldrig tidigare fått ur sig.
Jag funderar på varför man vill upprätthålla en sådan idealiserad bild av människors död. Min poäng är inte att det gör mig ledsen för att jag själv inte fick höra de vackra orden. (Min pappa sa inte ett ord som avslöjade att han var medveten om att han höll på att dö.) Poängen är att man tror innan att kärleksorden som ska knyta ihop säcken hör till när någon dör, men när man väl sitter på dödsbädden är ord det som betyder minst av allt. Ord är ingenting.
Det här är ingen sågning, men jag har ändå mera klander. Inte bara Bo utan även de andra karaktärerna är stereotypa. Fredrika och Bos mamma har varit perfekta kvinnor och mammor som aldrig blivit arga eller ens höjt rösten. Favoritpersonalen i hemtjänsten är gudomlig av absurda mått. Att Ture är gay och att barnen som kommer förbi är samer, spär på den tillrättalagda känslan. Hemtjänstens anteckningar ska väl ge läsaren en utifrånblick, men de är för mig helt överflödiga. Jag saknar gestaltning, det är för mycket tell och för lite show. Den här romanen varken lenar eller upprör, den får mig inte att skratta eller gråta, den är för mig varken som en spegel eller ett fönster, den är en stängd dörr. Men den är för den skull inte dålig.
Tranorna flyger söderut är feelgood som bättre kan jämföras med Fredrik Backmans eller Johan Ens verk, minus humor. Jag kan tänka mig att rekommendera Ridzéns roman till den som gillar att läsa om en alternativ verklighet, som påminner om den vi lever i men är sminkad. När det kommer till känslor kring en dement fru förordar jag Ingvar Carlssons I sällskap med döden.
February 15, 2026
Waterstones Book of the Month !
I don’t want to leave anything unsaid. That I don’t want it to be like it was with my old man. For some strange reason, I’m not angry any more. "
Waterstones shortlisted debut novel 2025 😊😊
This is the story of Bo- at 89 years of age he relies on carers to visit and support him through his daily life. His wife Fredrika is in care home unable to recognise or remember him as she has alzheimers and he feels distance from his son Hans.
Bo takes us through his life as he remembers key events and his relationship with his parents, wife, best friend Ture and granddaughter Ellinor. His daily life is interspersed with the visits from a team of carers who leave notes about how Bo is doing.
Bo lives quietly and has his dog Sixten for companionship - that is until his son feels the dog is too much for Bo as he can't safely walk him any distance.
This is a story of millions- a story that will connect to all of us in some way- the relationships and unspoken words between generations. The well- intentioned love and care which sometimes does not recognise the denial of another person's pleasure, security and desires.
Bo's reflections and his need to talk to his son in a way that he couldn't communicate with own father his incredibly moving. Hans' love for his father- his need to do the best and get his father's approval is so reminiscent of families. The damage and regret in the relationship between Bo and his father and the impact upon his mother is so heart breaking- a story we all know of from family and friends.
This is a powerful novel- simple in its premise but full of depth, love and life.
This should be read by everyone - a book that could help heal the divisions between men and fathers, the young and the old and hopefully peel back the suppression and pride to share love.
This could be viewed as a highly sentimental book - yes, sentiment is there but this is about an exploration of the generations ( in particular men in rural communities ) who were never encouraged to express emotions and the animosities and regrets that can foster
Lisa Ridzén has written a beautiful and life-affirming novel - a book that should make us all reflect .
Alice Menzies translation is pitch perfect.
And as an older male reader, I won't deny I was feeling tearful by the ;last page.
Quotes:
What I want to do is to scream that no one should treat their son the way he treats me, but I can’t move a muscle.
There’s nothing that compares to that, to raising a child. No one ever said a word about it before you got pregnant. That it would be this hard. How can something as natural as starting a family be so complicated?
I regret never thanking her ( my mother) for being her. For being so much better than my old man. I should have told her that, but I never did. I realise now that I let my anger towards him get in between us, and that meant I could never truly be happy when we spent time together.
I don’t want to leave anything unsaid. That I don’t want it to be like it was with my old man. For some strange reason, I’m not angry any more. "
Waterstones shortlisted debut novel 2025 😊😊
This is the story of Bo- at 89 years of age he relies on carers to visit and support him through his daily life. His wife Fredrika is in care home unable to recognise or remember him as she has alzheimers and he feels distance from his son Hans.
Bo takes us through his life as he remembers key events and his relationship with his parents, wife, best friend Ture and granddaughter Ellinor. His daily life is interspersed with the visits from a team of carers who leave notes about how Bo is doing.
Bo lives quietly and has his dog Sixten for companionship - that is until his son feels the dog is too much for Bo as he can't safely walk him any distance.
This is a story of millions- a story that will connect to all of us in some way- the relationships and unspoken words between generations. The well- intentioned love and care which sometimes does not recognise the denial of another person's pleasure, security and desires.
Bo's reflections and his need to talk to his son in a way that he couldn't communicate with own father his incredibly moving. Hans' love for his father- his need to do the best and get his father's approval is so reminiscent of families. The damage and regret in the relationship between Bo and his father and the impact upon his mother is so heart breaking- a story we all know of from family and friends.
This is a powerful novel- simple in its premise but full of depth, love and life.
This should be read by everyone - a book that could help heal the divisions between men and fathers, the young and the old and hopefully peel back the suppression and pride to share love.
This could be viewed as a highly sentimental book - yes, sentiment is there but this is about an exploration of the generations ( in particular men in rural communities ) who were never encouraged to express emotions and the animosities and regrets that can foster
Lisa Ridzén has written a beautiful and life-affirming novel - a book that should make us all reflect .
Alice Menzies translation is pitch perfect.
And as an older male reader, I won't deny I was feeling tearful by the ;last page.
Quotes:
What I want to do is to scream that no one should treat their son the way he treats me, but I can’t move a muscle.
There’s nothing that compares to that, to raising a child. No one ever said a word about it before you got pregnant. That it would be this hard. How can something as natural as starting a family be so complicated?
I regret never thanking her ( my mother) for being her. For being so much better than my old man. I should have told her that, but I never did. I realise now that I let my anger towards him get in between us, and that meant I could never truly be happy when we spent time together.
Read
September 30, 2025Bez oceny.
Nigdy w życiu nie czytałam tak przygnębiającej książki.
Nigdy w życiu nie czytałam tak przygnębiającej książki.
September 22, 2025
Trust everyone giving this novel 5 stars, it's that good and more. All I will say is Bo is all of us at the end. Life is sad, life is difficult, life is wonderful and worth holding on to. So are the people we love, and our dogs, and our memories.
Yes, I cried at the end, but I knew I would and it was worth every tear. This was a special book.
Yes, I cried at the end, but I knew I would and it was worth every tear. This was a special book.
January 8, 2026
For a full spoiler version of this review, please check out my book review blog here: https://spoiledbooks.blogspot.com/
When the Cranes Fly South is one of those quiet, emotional novels that many readers absolutely adore — and while I can see the beauty in it, I also genuinely struggled with it. The writing is lovely and the themes are meaningful, but it’s a very sad story from the start, focusing on aging, decline, loneliness, and the bond between an elderly man and his dog. I’ve never owned a dog myself, and I found that made it harder for me to connect as deeply as other readers seemed to.
The story is tender and contemplative, but also heavy in a way that sometimes felt overwhelming. I almost DNF’d it — not because it’s a bad book, but because I wasn’t sure I wanted to sit with something this emotionally raw right now. I also felt that a few elements (like the late-book reveal around a side character) leaned into themes that show up in almost every modern literary novel, whether they’re needed or not.
Still, Lisa Ridzén writes with sensitivity, and the exploration of memory, independence, and end-of-life dignity is undeniably powerful. I may appreciate it more with distance, but for now:
⭐ 3/5 — thoughtful, tender, and beautifully written, but emotionally tough and not always the right fit for my reading mood.
When the Cranes Fly South is one of those quiet, emotional novels that many readers absolutely adore — and while I can see the beauty in it, I also genuinely struggled with it. The writing is lovely and the themes are meaningful, but it’s a very sad story from the start, focusing on aging, decline, loneliness, and the bond between an elderly man and his dog. I’ve never owned a dog myself, and I found that made it harder for me to connect as deeply as other readers seemed to.
The story is tender and contemplative, but also heavy in a way that sometimes felt overwhelming. I almost DNF’d it — not because it’s a bad book, but because I wasn’t sure I wanted to sit with something this emotionally raw right now. I also felt that a few elements (like the late-book reveal around a side character) leaned into themes that show up in almost every modern literary novel, whether they’re needed or not.
Still, Lisa Ridzén writes with sensitivity, and the exploration of memory, independence, and end-of-life dignity is undeniably powerful. I may appreciate it more with distance, but for now:
⭐ 3/5 — thoughtful, tender, and beautifully written, but emotionally tough and not always the right fit for my reading mood.
Read
October 6, 2025I’m literally speachless
Jakie to było szalenie smutne.
Jakie to było szalenie smutne.
February 3, 2026
Pretty good trick—this book is depressing and sad but the writer made me love it! I was drawn in immediately. The author snagged me and she didn’t let go.
The narrator is an endearing 89-year-old man, Bo, living in a rural area in Sweden. He has a beloved dog, and a middle-aged son, Hans, who is worried about him getting around, doing okay, surviving with all his mounting physical limitations. (Mentally, Bo is pretty sharp.) Bo has many caregivers who come to his house. They leave staccato notes to the other caregivers, which gives us extra insight into Bo’s activities and struggles. Very effective and clever.
This is such a realistic portrayal of a very old person who is watching himself go downhill as the days go by. He chronicles his decline in this real way, with lots of details. Sort of scary to realize that’s what’s ahead for all of us if we live to be so old. Aging is truly a bitch.
I felt like I knew Bo, knew his sadness and frustrations, and I was rooting for him big time. Loved his voice, which is so authentic, earnest, and thoughtful.
He thinks about his wife and son all the time and has many regrets. He does talk about the good times, too. And man does he love his dog! I do too! Bo also loves and misses his wife, who has dementia and is in a facility. Much sadness there. And he has a dear friend; their relationship is touching.
Though his son means well, he has a plan that devastates Bo. Bo is fiercely independent and resents his son taking over his life. I was right there with Bo, totally pissed at Hans, who didn’t seem to understand Bo or think about Bo’s needs. I was shocked and entertained by how invested I was in Bo being heard and respected. I stayed royally pissed at Hans throughout the book. That damn grown-ass kid! But yet, a part of me had to admit that he might be doing the right thing. I didn’t want to think that. I was on team Bo!
Two things I realized. One, I don’t want to get so old I have to go through what Bo went through, the losing of more and more capabilities and a growing decrepitude with each day. Dependent on others to do everything for me. The constant worry from people who love me.
Two, why doesn’t our government provide constant caregivers to our old folks like they do in Sweden? That seems like the right thing to do! Here in America, you might get lucky and get caregivers to come to your home a few hours a week, but I’m not sure even that small amount of help is subsidized.
I actually weeped, which I usually don’t do when reading. But throw a dog into the mix and I can turn to mush in no time.
This is a fine-tuned character study, right up my alley. There is depth, and complex and nuanced relationships. What an amazing debut! I couldn’t put the book down.
The author got the idea for the book when she found notes from her aging father’s caregivers. That’s just cool!
Highly recommended.
The narrator is an endearing 89-year-old man, Bo, living in a rural area in Sweden. He has a beloved dog, and a middle-aged son, Hans, who is worried about him getting around, doing okay, surviving with all his mounting physical limitations. (Mentally, Bo is pretty sharp.) Bo has many caregivers who come to his house. They leave staccato notes to the other caregivers, which gives us extra insight into Bo’s activities and struggles. Very effective and clever.
This is such a realistic portrayal of a very old person who is watching himself go downhill as the days go by. He chronicles his decline in this real way, with lots of details. Sort of scary to realize that’s what’s ahead for all of us if we live to be so old. Aging is truly a bitch.
I felt like I knew Bo, knew his sadness and frustrations, and I was rooting for him big time. Loved his voice, which is so authentic, earnest, and thoughtful.
He thinks about his wife and son all the time and has many regrets. He does talk about the good times, too. And man does he love his dog! I do too! Bo also loves and misses his wife, who has dementia and is in a facility. Much sadness there. And he has a dear friend; their relationship is touching.
Though his son means well, he has a plan that devastates Bo. Bo is fiercely independent and resents his son taking over his life. I was right there with Bo, totally pissed at Hans, who didn’t seem to understand Bo or think about Bo’s needs. I was shocked and entertained by how invested I was in Bo being heard and respected. I stayed royally pissed at Hans throughout the book. That damn grown-ass kid! But yet, a part of me had to admit that he might be doing the right thing. I didn’t want to think that. I was on team Bo!
Two things I realized. One, I don’t want to get so old I have to go through what Bo went through, the losing of more and more capabilities and a growing decrepitude with each day. Dependent on others to do everything for me. The constant worry from people who love me.
Two, why doesn’t our government provide constant caregivers to our old folks like they do in Sweden? That seems like the right thing to do! Here in America, you might get lucky and get caregivers to come to your home a few hours a week, but I’m not sure even that small amount of help is subsidized.
I actually weeped, which I usually don’t do when reading. But throw a dog into the mix and I can turn to mush in no time.
This is a fine-tuned character study, right up my alley. There is depth, and complex and nuanced relationships. What an amazing debut! I couldn’t put the book down.
The author got the idea for the book when she found notes from her aging father’s caregivers. That’s just cool!
Highly recommended.
July 20, 2025
Sad and hopeful like life often is!
“By the time you are 80 years old you’ve learned everything. You only have to remember it.” — George Burns
Bo is aging and moving closer to death, a reality none of us can escape. He has a few things left he enjoys, his beloved dog, Sixten, some very lovely home care workers, and his best friend. He has a somewhat distant relationship with his son, Hans, and his wife is in a care facility with dementia.
Hans has decided that Bo is no longer able to care for Sixten and needs to be re homed. .....and now Bo will lose something else!
As he becomes less mobile, more confined to sleep and his new hospital bed, he begins the reflection of his life. His difficult, unfeeling father, his loving wife, his son all the years with these people who were part of his life. Bo is sad because he feels he never had a link to his son, perhaps a remnant of his own childhood. However, before he dies, he needs to try harder, to capture the feelings, the moments, when he and Hans were father and son. Is it possible at age eighty-nine, to accomplish that?
A story that will touch your heart and realize the time to make things better is now.
“By the time you are 80 years old you’ve learned everything. You only have to remember it.” — George Burns
Bo is aging and moving closer to death, a reality none of us can escape. He has a few things left he enjoys, his beloved dog, Sixten, some very lovely home care workers, and his best friend. He has a somewhat distant relationship with his son, Hans, and his wife is in a care facility with dementia.
Hans has decided that Bo is no longer able to care for Sixten and needs to be re homed. .....and now Bo will lose something else!
As he becomes less mobile, more confined to sleep and his new hospital bed, he begins the reflection of his life. His difficult, unfeeling father, his loving wife, his son all the years with these people who were part of his life. Bo is sad because he feels he never had a link to his son, perhaps a remnant of his own childhood. However, before he dies, he needs to try harder, to capture the feelings, the moments, when he and Hans were father and son. Is it possible at age eighty-nine, to accomplish that?
A story that will touch your heart and realize the time to make things better is now.
August 30, 2025
5 ⭐️ Beautifully written story told from the POV of Bo, an elderly man struggling with end of life issues.
Bo’s wife of 67 years, Fredrika, has been put in a home for dementia patients. He’s suffering from memory and mobility issues and has carers that come frequently. His loyal hound Sixten is his source of comfort and companionship.
We get flashbacks of Bo’s childhood and his relationship with his abusive father, and his early relationship with Fredrika and their only son Hans.
What this book does well is put you right there in Bo’s life as he loses all the things he loves bit by bit with no control over his life as his body and mind fail him, His beloved wife, his best friend Ture, even his dog Sixten.
My mom suffered from dementia and this brought back many of the memories and struggles of being a caregiver and watching her slip away. Not an easy read, but an accurate portrayal of aging and dying with an emotional, tear jerking ending.
Thank you NetGalley and Vintage Publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Bo’s wife of 67 years, Fredrika, has been put in a home for dementia patients. He’s suffering from memory and mobility issues and has carers that come frequently. His loyal hound Sixten is his source of comfort and companionship.
We get flashbacks of Bo’s childhood and his relationship with his abusive father, and his early relationship with Fredrika and their only son Hans.
What this book does well is put you right there in Bo’s life as he loses all the things he loves bit by bit with no control over his life as his body and mind fail him, His beloved wife, his best friend Ture, even his dog Sixten.
My mom suffered from dementia and this brought back many of the memories and struggles of being a caregiver and watching her slip away. Not an easy read, but an accurate portrayal of aging and dying with an emotional, tear jerking ending.
Thank you NetGalley and Vintage Publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 9, 2026
When my Aunt Jean was in her 90s and in a nursing home, she would tell me that she spent her days thinking back over her life, remembering all of us as children and all the lovely times we had together. That is what fills Bo’s days in this beautifully written book about the slow ending of a long life.
Bo spends most of his days lying on his day bed in the kitchen with Sixten, his dog, lying by his side. Carers come in several times a day and his son, Hans, visits often. Fredrika, Bo’s wife, is in a nursing home with dementia and no longer recognises either of them. Theirs was a happy marriage and he misses her terribly. His relationship with his son is more complicated and takes a turn for the worse when Hans decides to re home Sixten as Bo can no longer look after him. That is a heartbreaking wrench for Bo who feels he has no control over anything in his life any more. The only person he can talk to about this is his best friend, Ture, but they can only speak on the phone now as neither is able to visit.
Bo is conflicted about so many things, especially his complicated relationship with his father when he was younger and later his relationship with Hans. Has he been a good father, he asks himself? He knows when he could have done better but struggled to show his emotions to Hans or to anyone else. He doesn’t know if Hans knows how much he loves him and is unable to tell him now.
The author is a doctoral student who is researching masculinity norms in small communities in the far north of Sweden. The idea for this novel came from reading the notes her grandfather’s carers left each day as he neared the end of his life. It does seem a very personal story despite the author being two generations younger than Bo.
5 stars - this is a beautiful first novel with an excellent translation.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.
Bo spends most of his days lying on his day bed in the kitchen with Sixten, his dog, lying by his side. Carers come in several times a day and his son, Hans, visits often. Fredrika, Bo’s wife, is in a nursing home with dementia and no longer recognises either of them. Theirs was a happy marriage and he misses her terribly. His relationship with his son is more complicated and takes a turn for the worse when Hans decides to re home Sixten as Bo can no longer look after him. That is a heartbreaking wrench for Bo who feels he has no control over anything in his life any more. The only person he can talk to about this is his best friend, Ture, but they can only speak on the phone now as neither is able to visit.
Bo is conflicted about so many things, especially his complicated relationship with his father when he was younger and later his relationship with Hans. Has he been a good father, he asks himself? He knows when he could have done better but struggled to show his emotions to Hans or to anyone else. He doesn’t know if Hans knows how much he loves him and is unable to tell him now.
The author is a doctoral student who is researching masculinity norms in small communities in the far north of Sweden. The idea for this novel came from reading the notes her grandfather’s carers left each day as he neared the end of his life. It does seem a very personal story despite the author being two generations younger than Bo.
5 stars - this is a beautiful first novel with an excellent translation.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.
October 28, 2025
Thought-provoking and memorable. This is the type of book that you will share with a family member or a good friend, and there's a reason for that: it's probable that each of us will either see a piece of ourselves in this book, and if not our self, then someone close.
The pages of the book are the elderly Bo's thoughts spoken every day to his lifelong wife, though for reasons later in the book seen she may never hear them. The powerful thing about words spoken from love is that they are not lost. The book doesn't say this, and it's not exactly the point, but I couldn't help holding that feeling. I found an example of just about every emotion a character like Bo could feel, whether it was loss, abandonment, helplessness, or affection. His companion dog, Sixten, becomes an example of his current struggle for independence and the expression of love he knows inside that we find difficult to release. In his daily “writings”, Bo professes the past hard love of his father, and how it affected the relationship with his own son. Though he cannot always convey his emotions outwardly, it's obvious that the love of his wife was and is transforming.
The pages of the book are the elderly Bo's thoughts spoken every day to his lifelong wife, though for reasons later in the book seen she may never hear them. The powerful thing about words spoken from love is that they are not lost. The book doesn't say this, and it's not exactly the point, but I couldn't help holding that feeling. I found an example of just about every emotion a character like Bo could feel, whether it was loss, abandonment, helplessness, or affection. His companion dog, Sixten, becomes an example of his current struggle for independence and the expression of love he knows inside that we find difficult to release. In his daily “writings”, Bo professes the past hard love of his father, and how it affected the relationship with his own son. Though he cannot always convey his emotions outwardly, it's obvious that the love of his wife was and is transforming.
January 3, 2024
Betyg: 5 av 5 - Kommer årets första lästa bok kanske bli årets bästa bok? Ja, det är nog faktiskt troligt att det kanske blir så. För den här boken var helt otroligt bra. Mycket länge sedan som jag blev så tagen av en bok. Och jag har nog inte gråtit så mycket till en bok, sedan jag läste något av Fredrik Backman. Författaren till Tranorna flyger söderut, är en debutant som heter Lisa Ridzén, och jag hoppas verkligen att det kommer fler böcker av henne i framtiden. Boken är så otroligt känslosam, gripande, berörande, och sorglig. Men även väldigt varm, och den skildrar verkligen olika sorts relationer på ett mycket fint sätt. Jag som läser så väldigt många böcker, glömmer dom flesta böcker rätt så fort, även om dom har varit bra. Men den här boken kommer jag bära med mig i mitt hjärta. Och jag kommer att tänka på den gamla fina mannen, huvudpersonen Bo, väldigt ofta. Jag lyssnade på boken, som var helt fantastiskt bra inläst av Lennart Jähkel. Kan verkligen rekommendera just ljudboken i det här fallet. Man ska ju inte jämföra böcker, men om jag ändå gör det, så tycker jag att den här boken påminner lite om Löpa varg av Kerstin Ekman och även om Folk som sår i snö av Tina Harnesk. Men återigen, jag säger bara, läs (eller lyssna på) denna bok! Du kommer inte att ångra dig!
August 27, 2025
As I read the last lines of When the Cranes Fly South, I felt conflicting emotions of deep sadness as Bo completes his journey toward death and then joy at the beauty and rightness of the depiction of the journey. This is not to say that Bo is some sort of saint or saintly man. No, he is a man in his 90s who worked for years in a mill, raised a son, Hans, with his wife, Fredrika, and could be ornery or funny or unforgiving or loving like most of humanity.
As we meet Bo, he lives in his home alone with carers coming in a few times a day to help him with meals and occasional showers when he accepts them. His wife is now in a nursing home due to dementia so he is lonely. His primary companion is his beloved dog Sixten. His son Hans visits frequently and granddaughter as often as she can. The narrative is primarily through Bo’s thoughts, voice and memories, supplemented by the notes and words of the caregivers and the words of family and a few others. Through this we see a look back on a life, considering his relationships to his parents, his wife, his son, his best friend. Where he thinks he has done well, where possibly less so. It’s fascinating to watch this take place; it feels so very real. The main points of tension in the present involve Hans’s belief that Sixten should be rehoused with a family that can better care for his needs, especially as Bo has risked danger to himself taking the dog for walks in the woods.
This is an excellent novel and I do recommend it for the insight into the end of life period it so sensitively provides. The author is a doctoral student in sociology who has been researching masculinity norms in rural, far north Sweden. The idea for this, her first novel, grew out of the discovery of notes left by the team of workers caring for her grandfather as he approached the end of his life. Much credit must also go to Alice Menzies for this excellent translation.
Thanks to Vintage Books of Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
As we meet Bo, he lives in his home alone with carers coming in a few times a day to help him with meals and occasional showers when he accepts them. His wife is now in a nursing home due to dementia so he is lonely. His primary companion is his beloved dog Sixten. His son Hans visits frequently and granddaughter as often as she can. The narrative is primarily through Bo’s thoughts, voice and memories, supplemented by the notes and words of the caregivers and the words of family and a few others. Through this we see a look back on a life, considering his relationships to his parents, his wife, his son, his best friend. Where he thinks he has done well, where possibly less so. It’s fascinating to watch this take place; it feels so very real. The main points of tension in the present involve Hans’s belief that Sixten should be rehoused with a family that can better care for his needs, especially as Bo has risked danger to himself taking the dog for walks in the woods.
This is an excellent novel and I do recommend it for the insight into the end of life period it so sensitively provides. The author is a doctoral student in sociology who has been researching masculinity norms in rural, far north Sweden. The idea for this, her first novel, grew out of the discovery of notes left by the team of workers caring for her grandfather as he approached the end of his life. Much credit must also go to Alice Menzies for this excellent translation.
Thanks to Vintage Books of Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
September 5, 2025
4.5 stars. The most touching book I've read in a while. Cried so hard my eyes hurt!😵💫
When the Cranes Fly South is about Bo, a Swede in his 90th year, and his dog Sixten, a loving young Norwegian Elkhound.🐕 They've been constant companions. But lately Bo seems to be sleeping more and more. He takes Sixten out for a short walk each day, feeds him and fills his water bowl. But it's becoming more difficult to care for him, though Bo is determined to keep trying because Sixten is all he has.
Bo's son, Hans, has been stopping by more often, and Bo's temporary carers are doing what they can to make things easier. But during his last few visits, Hans has dropped hints that it may be time to re-home Sixten. Bo ignores this, and refuses to even consider such a thing. Things are changing so fast.
“A–dog–is–the–only–thing–on–earth–that–loves–you–more–than–he–loves–himself” 4.5-stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
When the Cranes Fly South is about Bo, a Swede in his 90th year, and his dog Sixten, a loving young Norwegian Elkhound.🐕 They've been constant companions. But lately Bo seems to be sleeping more and more. He takes Sixten out for a short walk each day, feeds him and fills his water bowl. But it's becoming more difficult to care for him, though Bo is determined to keep trying because Sixten is all he has.
Bo's son, Hans, has been stopping by more often, and Bo's temporary carers are doing what they can to make things easier. But during his last few visits, Hans has dropped hints that it may be time to re-home Sixten. Bo ignores this, and refuses to even consider such a thing. Things are changing so fast.
“A–dog–is–the–only–thing–on–earth–that–loves–you–more–than–he–loves–himself” 4.5-stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 21, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️
Hey, did you know that getting old is unpleasant and full of indignities? Well, if you didn’t know before, prepare to have that point repeatedly smashed into your aging skull with as many blows as your diminished mental acuity can handle.
And for the love of everything good, just let the man have his damn dog. Why does the central theme of this novel revolve around taking the one thing that still gives this man meaning away? What kind of family is this? I hate everyone in this book.
This novel is positioned as being tender and heartwarming, but I found it to be dismal and bleak. Loss of autonomy, the dignity of choosing, and the fear of becoming invisible are all at the center of this story, none of which feel particularly uplifting.
I once again find myself on outlier island, but I just don’t see how this book is so unanimously adored. As someone who is sensitive to abandonment and the fear of being unseen, this novel feels remarkably grim. This might just be a me problem though. I won’t rule that out.
Hey, did you know that getting old is unpleasant and full of indignities? Well, if you didn’t know before, prepare to have that point repeatedly smashed into your aging skull with as many blows as your diminished mental acuity can handle.
And for the love of everything good, just let the man have his damn dog. Why does the central theme of this novel revolve around taking the one thing that still gives this man meaning away? What kind of family is this? I hate everyone in this book.
This novel is positioned as being tender and heartwarming, but I found it to be dismal and bleak. Loss of autonomy, the dignity of choosing, and the fear of becoming invisible are all at the center of this story, none of which feel particularly uplifting.
I once again find myself on outlier island, but I just don’t see how this book is so unanimously adored. As someone who is sensitive to abandonment and the fear of being unseen, this novel feels remarkably grim. This might just be a me problem though. I won’t rule that out.
November 6, 2025
RTC after I stop crying! 😭 😭😭
Okay now that I’ve had a couple days to get my thoughts in order, I’m ready for my review.
I ain’t getting any younger and I hate to be the bearer of bad news but neither are you. This is what this book made me think about. Our main character, Bo, is an aging man living with his dog, Sixten. Bo is of an age that he needs visits from caretakers. Bo is our main narrator with periodic updates from his caregivers. Because of this, the reader gets a heartbreaking perspective from an aging individual. How many times do you stop to wonder how fast time is passing by? Lisa Ridzen has written an emotional book about life and regrets, but also about the joys of life.
When the Cranes Fly South is not a book that makes the reader feel happy but it is a book makes the reader FEEL! I felt very strong anger and very strong sadness. I can tell that this book will linger in my mind for quite some time.
Okay now that I’ve had a couple days to get my thoughts in order, I’m ready for my review.
I ain’t getting any younger and I hate to be the bearer of bad news but neither are you. This is what this book made me think about. Our main character, Bo, is an aging man living with his dog, Sixten. Bo is of an age that he needs visits from caretakers. Bo is our main narrator with periodic updates from his caregivers. Because of this, the reader gets a heartbreaking perspective from an aging individual. How many times do you stop to wonder how fast time is passing by? Lisa Ridzen has written an emotional book about life and regrets, but also about the joys of life.
When the Cranes Fly South is not a book that makes the reader feel happy but it is a book makes the reader FEEL! I felt very strong anger and very strong sadness. I can tell that this book will linger in my mind for quite some time.
July 6, 2025
I was prepared for this to be an emotional read, but I wasn’t adequately prepared for the ugly crying it would induce, or how bereft it would leave me when I finished it.
Winner of Swedish Book of the Year and shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, When the Cranes Fly South is a stunning and profoundly moving debut novel by Swedish writer Lisa Ridzén, expertly translated by Alice Menzies, about an elderly man Bo who is struggling to maintain his independence, his agency and his dog Sixten in the face of increasing age and diminishing mobility.
Bo lives with Sixten in rural Sweden, visited regularly by carers and by his son Hans. He has lived a long life and is beginning to slow down, increasingly reflecting on his own childhood and his marriage and family as his ability to get up and about ebbs away.
This is a deeply moving, honest and tender portrayal of old age, of fatherhood, of friendship, of marriage, of mortality and of the special bond between man and dog. It completely broke me, and I cried in a way I haven’t since reading We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman.
Ridzén has created something very special that will strike a chord with readers of all ages. A deeply empathetic and loving book that should be widely read and discussed. Also, the role of carers in society is vastly undervalued, we truly do not deserve the Ingrids and Johannas of this world. As for Sixten, no words 🥺. 5/5 ⭐️
*Many thanks to @penguinbooksireland for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Winner of Swedish Book of the Year and shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, When the Cranes Fly South is a stunning and profoundly moving debut novel by Swedish writer Lisa Ridzén, expertly translated by Alice Menzies, about an elderly man Bo who is struggling to maintain his independence, his agency and his dog Sixten in the face of increasing age and diminishing mobility.
Bo lives with Sixten in rural Sweden, visited regularly by carers and by his son Hans. He has lived a long life and is beginning to slow down, increasingly reflecting on his own childhood and his marriage and family as his ability to get up and about ebbs away.
This is a deeply moving, honest and tender portrayal of old age, of fatherhood, of friendship, of marriage, of mortality and of the special bond between man and dog. It completely broke me, and I cried in a way I haven’t since reading We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman.
Ridzén has created something very special that will strike a chord with readers of all ages. A deeply empathetic and loving book that should be widely read and discussed. Also, the role of carers in society is vastly undervalued, we truly do not deserve the Ingrids and Johannas of this world. As for Sixten, no words 🥺. 5/5 ⭐️
*Many thanks to @penguinbooksireland for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
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