I really enjoyed this adventure novel that recounts the exploits of Sven Ormson, also known by a few other nicknames, including "Stockholm Sven." Although Sven is a fictional character, he is based on a real-life Swedish adventurer/hunter, and this "memoir" really reads like a non-fiction account.

With a captivating writing style, author Nathaniel Ian Miller immerses the reader in Sven's life, from when he leaves Stockholm in 1916 to his stint in the Arctic as a miner to his life as a fur trapper on a desolate fjord. With breathtaking descriptions of the starkness of isolation in a bitterly cold and unforgiving environment, the novel intimately conveys Sven's wavering between despair and hope, as he ponders what it is that humans need to survive and remain sane.

There is a wonderful supporting cast of characters who come in and out of Sven's life between 1916 and 1946, who are the constants in his life, regardless of where he is or what he is doing or how he is living. These supporting characters were my favorite parts of the book, especially Charles MacIntyre, Tapio the Finnish fur trapper, and Sven's dog Eberhard. They are the ones who remind Sven of his humanity and his capacity for love in spite of all that he goes through.

Amidst the background of World Wars I and II -- from which Sven is isolated in blessed ignorance -- Sven's accounting of 30 years of his life reveals his growth as a human, as an uncle, as a brother, as a survivalist. And the reader comes along for the ride, in all its harshness as well as in all its human beauty.

Sven grows up in Stockholm and can't wait to leave. He is an introvert and lives the life of the mind, not finding fellow souls in his social circle. He leaves to take a mining contract in Svalbard but a cave-in leaves him disfigured and without an eye. Fleeing further, he first works as a cook for the miners and hunters and then with the help of a trapper, flees humanity for an isolated fjord where night comes for four months and people are not to be seen.

This then, is the story of Sven's isolation. He occasionally sees sailors bringing him supplies but can go months without a human face or voice. He has a dog for company and there is enough game that he need not ever go hungry. His friends write and sometimes send books and Sven is content.

Then one day a boat arrives and he is shocked to find his sister's daughter arriving with a baby. She is determined to stay with Sven and he agrees although he doesn't think for a minute she will be able to handle the isolation. But she stays for several years, finally going but leaving her child behind for Sven to raise.

This is a debut novel and I'm interested to see what the author will do next. This book is based on a true story of a man who lived in isolation for almost his entire life in the Artic Circle. Few of us can imagine such a life although the recent shutdown due to covid gave many of us a taste of it. We now read stories of how depression has risen in our young people due to that isolation and most had their families around them so it is hard to imagine how Sven handled this for years of his life. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

This charming novel is very much a character-driven story. I chose it because i'm on a bit of a Nordic reading kick. It definitely delivers. Sven is a wonderfully unique individual and so is his sister. The story follows Sven's life from young adult in his home town to his life as a coal miner and subsequently his life as a hermit in the arctic circle. However, this life is interrupted by a strange and unexpected visit that teaches Sven that maybe living all alone was not really what life meant for him. Lots of history, arctic survival facts, and a peek into a world that is rarely seen. I would highly recommend this book to fans of Nordic literature, Eowyn Ivey and dogs.

I imagined this would be an endearing tale of a man who sought out the arctic alone and found peace and meaning. But alas I couldn’t be more wrong. This was so much more. The writing is so good that I hesitate to try to tell how good it was with my inadequate words. Sven is troubled almost since birth and doesn’t seem to know what he wants. He finds himself in the arctic and struggles with…. Well everything. He will have doubts, challenges and close friendships.
I really enjoyed this and it was very different than my standard favorites. I chose to listen to this book on audio and loved Olafur Darri Olafsson as the narrator. This was 10 hours and 41 minutes of easy listening. I highly recommend this.
Thanks Little, Brown and Company via Netgalley.

Narrator 5 stars

Story 5 stars

WOW!!! This is one of those perfect examples of don't judge a book by its cover because this cover does not do this story justice!

This was so beautifully written. I was on a roller-coaster of emotions while listening to this. Really moving.