Ugh. My heart.

This was an excellent and heart wrenching slow burn about life and death. Essentially a long monologue of an ailing old man reflecting on his life and relationships, past and current conflicts. Definitely choked up at the end but absolutely worth the read.

I have not cried for a long time over a fiction story, but this book turned the waterworks on - especially the bond between Bo and his dog Sixten. Anyone who has lost a loved one will connect with this story and its characters. Emortional and poignant this story will stay with you. Kuddos Ridzen for a well written story and thanks for the ARC.

When the Cranes Fly South is a beautiful, poignant story about getting older and the loss of dignity and choice. Bo’s story and the decisions that his son, Hans, makes for him really resonated with me and paralleled my experience with my mother. Bo is an elderly Scandinavian man in the last months of his life. His wife has Alzheimer’s and lives in a facility. He lives with his dog, Sixten, for whom he is having difficulty caring. His caretakers write notes after each visit, which begin many chapters. His son visits him weekly, but they have difficulty connecting. Bo’s life unfolds in chapters that alternate between the present and the past, where the reader learns of his abusive, cold father, his work in the sawmill, the marriage to the love of his life, and his friendship with another worker, Ture.

Some of the options we made for my mother were not necessarily what she wanted, but what she needed. There were so many things I wish I could have said to both my parents before it was too late and I’m sure my mother felt the same way as her memory faded. We were lucky to have amazing caregivers, as Bo did, who helped make his last years as comfortable as possible, even when losing his dignity as his caregivers showered him and changed his nappies. We all moved away and got on with our lives, as Hans did. You think you have all the time in the world until you realize it is too late.

Well-written, moving, thought-provoking story that anyone can relate to since we all have parents who hopefully will live into their eighties. I would highly recommend, especially for those who like character-driven novels as the plot moves slowly and there are no surprises. But you truly become involved in Bo’s life and can’t help rooting for him and hoping he can mend fences with his son before it is too late.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor as well as NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC of this heart-warming book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This is a profoundly moving, beautiful book that should be on everyone's must-read bookshelf. I was surprised by how captivated I was by the book, and by how much I looked forward to reading this book each night, as the topic did not sound particularly gripping, I decided to read it only because it had been a best-seller in Scandinavia. I did not regret this choice, and I am now plugging this book to everyone I know. This is the story of an elderly rural Scandinavian man in the final months of his life. He lives with his beloved dog, has daily visits from a social services support staff, and weekly visits from his son (with whom he has difficulty connecting with). The chapters move between the present day when he is experiencing increasing limitations to his mobility, to the past where the reader learns of his life as the son of an abusive father, his work in a saw mill, his romance with his wife (who now resides in a memory care unit), and his experiences as a young father. While this all may sound mundane, it is deeply moving. I did not want this book to end --in fact, I slowed down my daily intake of the book in order to make it last a little longer. Those who read the book will find that it not only offers insights into the myriad losses entailed in the aging process (if one is so lucky to reach one's 80s and 90s), but it will also make one far more compassionate and respectful of those in their final years of life. While the topic may sound grim, it is often many of the pages offer beautiful imagery, lively characters and even humor. If I could give this book ten stars, I would. Highly recommended!

Bo is a character who will stay with me for a while because of his thoughtful reflection as he comes to the end of his life. By learning about his best friend, his wife suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, his son who is now trying to be a caretaker, you become friends with Bo. And although much of his story touched my heart, his concern of what will happen to his dog when he is gone is what I will remember. His dog is his world now that he is alone and as a dog lover, I can understand how much Sixten (his dog) means to him. This book is emotional but not depressing but anyone dealing with end-of-life family members may need to consider if this is the right time to read this book.

Thank you to Transworld Digital for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book hits so close to home for me… I UGLY CRIED! A story of not wanting to leave things unsaid, but being unsure of how to mend relationships with the strain of maintaining independence as an aging adult. Working in a long term care unit myself, this book articulates the feeling so many people have later in life, with less than stellar relationships with their children, and the vulnerability of being human.

Such a BEAUTIFULLY written book! Perfectly encapsulates the loss of independence and the emotional turmoil that so many elderly people face with aging.

Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage and NetGalley for this ARC of 'When the Cranes Fly South' by Lisa Ridzén.

This is a lovely, sad, poignant account of the deep descent into old age and end-of-life and especially how agency and the ability to make their own life decisions are stripped - with the best of intentions - from the aging person. There is no malice in the people around Bo and the decisions they're making - they clearly feel a lot of love and affection for him in most cases - but, nonetheless, they are stripping him of his independence of thought and decision-making at a time of his life when he's already losing independence based on his declining physical abilities. 'Father knows best' becomes 'child and carers know best.'

Throughout the narrative we learn of Bo's life and relationships with his family and friends and there's a nice framing of those parts around the changing nature of cultural and societal norms in Sweden and the difficulty involved in older people breaking free of the conservative society they've come from, even when it's on their own doorstep, figuratively speaking. It explains, in part, the strained relationship Bo has with his son Hans - the changing times and the lack of ability to have an intimate relationship, reflecting or because of his own relationships as a young man.

Beautifully written.

5 stars. I cried in the Rome Airport finishing this book.
Bo is 89 years old and his son wants to take away his beloved dog, Sixten, because Bo cannot properly care for Sixten.
A moving book about a man's fight to maintain control of his life.
It was a truly beautiful story.

I think this was a really good book! It had some touchy subjects and was also lighthearted at the same time. I like the overall story and how it flowed. The author did a good job with relaying and telling a story!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

A wonderful read to start 2025. The book is the life of Bo- a dying man coming to peace regarding not only his death but his life. It is written from his perspective and examines his past and present life. As we read he makes it clear how he came to be a proud, independent man. It also sheds light on his regrets with his relationship with his son and the ache he feels having to miss the love of his wife because of her dementia. We also get to feel his dilemma regarding his dog Sixten.
This book brought the range of emotions : happy, anger as well as sobbing due to sadness. I feel it will be my most loved book of 2025. While emotional it is also a well written book. As someone who is older I could relate with Bo and his life review. I highly recommend this book as a must read
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Knopf/Pantheon/Vintage Books publishing for allowing me to read an ARC version of the English translated book.

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.

Bo is really old and only has so much time left on this earth. The lives with his dog and has a constant rotation of carers. His dog, sixteen, is really who keeps him company but his son says he's not able to care for the dog anymore. His son wants to take the dog away and Bo really doesn't want that. He keeps meaning to talk to his son about it if only he could remember and if his son wasn't so busy. This book makes you think of your choices as Bo reflects on the ones he made in his life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 5, 2025

This debut novel is heartbreakingly beautiful! Bo is currently living at home with his Elkhound Sixten. He has an around-the-clock care team who checks in on him and keeps track of his decline. His only son, Hans, who he has a rocky relationship with insists on taking the dog away. Bo wants to mend the relationship with his son, but the threat of possibly losing his dog makes matters complicated. . .

This story is for everyone. This is a story of wanting to say what you mean but not knowing how. A story about life, love, and loss, and not wanting to leave things unresolved. The author did an amazing job connecting me to Bo and what it means to truly live. This book will stick with me for a long time. Lisa had me crying like a baby! I feel honored that my request was approved for this ARC.

Lisa Ridzen was inspired to write this book after discovering notes from her grandfather’s care team during his end-of-life stage.

I really enjoyed this story. All of us get older. One day we will be in the same boat as the protagonist, Bo. It is very awakening but yet real. I think everyone should read this. It will make you think.

This was a book written by Lisa Ridzén that described how a man, Bo, died and the beauty of it with his dog. His dog, Sixten, was taken away by his son, Hans, and given to a family but brought back when he new his father was dying, I cried it was so moving. We actually had another funeral, which was for his friend, Ture and we were made to wonder why he had another friend come to the funeral. It was a book that described how his life began and went from his father through his marriage to now. It was quite breathtaking. But the most important scene to me was when his son, Hans brought back his dog for his father to die in peace.

Beautifully written and touching account of the end of life experience. Love that it written from the prospective of the one whose life is ending.

Breathtaking debut. With lyrical prose and deeply human characters. Destined to win hearts, a standout in contemporary literature.

This was a lovely little book told by Bo, a man in his 80's whose wife doesn't know him and lives in a care center. He is winding down with a bevy of caregivers who come and go and a son who wants to take his dog.
This book is about aging and seeing our infirmities and with Bo, not being able to really express his feelings. I found this book so touching because Bo could be any of us. I saw my mother in her decline. I saw myself as I start to decline. I saw all the people who do not have anyone to take care of them.
This is a real story, at least in the respect that one should be able to relate to it. If you can't you eventually will.

I would like to thank Vintage Books and NetGalley for this early read.

A story of a man and his dog and the realities of aging and caring for an aging parent. It was somber. It is difficult to review a book that is a translated work. I think that things can get lost in translation.

The novel beautifully captures the isolation and vulnerability that often accompany old age. Bo’s quiet world is rendered with sensitivity, making the companionship of Sixten all the more poignant. The elkhound is more than just a pet; it is a source of comfort, purpose, and connection to a life that feels increasingly out of reach. The impending loss of Sixten serves as a catalyst for Bo’s reflections, illuminating the complexities of love and how it can both nourish and wound.

Bo’s strained relationship with his son adds another layer of emotional depth. Their interactions, marked by misunderstandings and unspoken pain, feel heartbreakingly honest. As Bo grapples with his failures and the imperfect ways he has shown love, the story delves into the bittersweet reality of familial bonds—how they can fray but also offer the possibility of healing.

Perfect for readers who appreciate character-driven narratives and stories exploring the human spirit's complexities.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.