Full disclosure: when I saw that the author of “The Reunion” was Danish, I immediately thought of the sumptuous writing of Isak Dinesen. That “The Reunion” is a collection of short stories, clinched it for my attention deficit disordered mind.

Several stories into the collection I began to understand that what I was seeing were portraits, and each portrait was focused on an epochal moment in life. Those moments when destiny collides with reality and everything changes. Yet, under the observant pen of Lotte Kirkabe, it is not the change we witness so much as the minute and idiosyncratic images that surround each moment.

The stories are deep and relevant to be sure, but the images are specific, often ordinary, and mundane—and that is what makes them real, and therefore powerful. The utter quotidian quality of memories that have acquired a haunting significance due to their proximity to the destiny-colliding event.

Who, when recalling a particularly joyous or excruciatingly painful memory, cannot remember the most random and peculiar connections to that moment? Whether it be an image, a feeling, an aroma, a sound, or a word, that is what remains. These are the elements that penetrate, that linger long after the event; a sensory power that invigorates these delightful stories and remind me of Kirkabe’s aforementioned Danish compatriot.

I wanted to love it but it was so poorly written and was so lacking in character development that I cannot, in good conscience recommend it.

Lovely intimate short story collection. Really enjoyed it.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Thank you for the advanced copy.

This is one of the best collection of short stories I have read in a very long time. This is a collection of 19 stories that I guarantee will stay with you for a long time.
Very very well written, well put together and this throws you through so many emotions. The writing is exceptional in my opinion.

Highly recommended

I’ve just spent the afternoon lost in the slices of lives of these Scandinavian characters. This collection is a grower. I enjoyed them from the off but it took me a couple to get used to the brevity and the style of writing. Each of the 19 stories swirl around loss in some depiction. Some took my breath away with their beauty, one shocked me, two made me cry. This is haunting , powerful collection . The emotion, sense of place and quiet strength in each binds this collection together. I really enjoyed this book. It transported me completely to north Europe and yet grounded me with how universal the emotions we all feel are. Recommend this one, wholeheartedly. A grower and one I’ll remember.