When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén
Publication Date: August 5, 2025

Bo's health is decaying, he is an elder man whostruggles to put on his shoes and suffers dementia, but he insists he still can take care of his dog and companion Sixten, but his family can not understand that.

Through the narrator and protagonist point of view, we can get into his shoes and understand loneliness, and how does it feel to age when the body gets stiff and doesn't respond well.

This debut novel is very moving and unforgettable. It's a story of elderliness, love, and departure.
It helps to understand what elders are facing and to contrast life in the past vs. the modern world.

The narrative is built by Bo's descriptions of what is happening on the moment criss-crossed with his sad and joyful recollections, and the chapters' headings are dates that are the entries of the caretakers notes.

The novel has a good paced and it was really captivating and touched my heart. It made me remember to act now instead of waiting for the "ideal" time. It also made me grab the phone and call my grandparents, parents, and the people I love.

This one goes to the top 1 of my favorite books of this year because it touched my heart, and I know it will stay there along with Ove.

Cranes are very loud, they are beautiful magestic birds, and now when I see them (that I'm blessed to see them everytime I go out) I will think about this book.

Thank you Vintage for the digital review copy.

My goodness …. This book is deeply special …. it’s achingly beautiful!!
The storytelling/prose is outstanding….gradually exposing the indignities of losing independence in old age.

Bo is an elderly man — eighty-nine (exact age of my Mother-in-law) living in an assistant living facility one mile from our house.
There is so much I, and many people, my age (seventy-three) who will relate to this story.
But — actually, I think all ages
will relate to the experiences revealed. There are subtle but significant messages to reflect: elderly health needs, and dignity,
but also close family relationships — memories - compassion - understanding the loneliness - resolving conflicts etc.

Bo is living alone in rural Sweden with his
Elkhound dog named Sixteen.
Even though different caregivers visit to help — Hans, his adult son thinks Bo is too old to take care of Sixteen properly.

It’s already sad enough, that his wife, Frederick has dementia and lives in a facility away from Bo,
or
that Bo needs nappies —
But the thought of losing Sixteen is unbearable….
creating much strife between Bo and Hans.

Many old memories- emotional ones, coming back.

This was a perfect book for me right now.
Sad but beautiful!
Anybody who has parents. Anyone who has children. And anyone who’s gonna grow old, anyone who’s going to die, can get great benefit from this beautiful written story.

Just recently, my husband and I have started a large project of going through all of our photos from when our adult children were growing up. We want to send them both the complete set of digitalized photos upon completion.
They don’t live near my husband and I. And there are some unresolved feelings. Of course I’m hoping we can cozily resolve them.

A few excerpts…
“I never stood up to my old man the way Hans did with me. That just wasn’t something you did. He was the one who made the decisions, and there was nothing I could say about that. I couldn’t even imagine it any other way. But Hans has never had a problem, yelling, all sorts of things at his
father”.

“Young people today, they don’t think any further than tomorrow”.

“Lisa Ridzen is a 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 Ostersund. The idea for her debut novel came from the discovery of notes. Her grandfather‘s care team had left the family near the end of his life.”

This book is translated by Alice Menzies.
“She holds a master of arts in Translation Theory and Practice from University College London, specializing in the Scandinavian languages”.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

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

When the Cranes Fly South is a beautifully translated novel from Swedish that follows Bo, an elderly man in the final months of his life. The story gently weaves together his reflections on the past with the realities of aging in the present. I found the writing poignant and the portrayal of Bo’s journey both honest and deeply moving. His end-of-life struggles felt especially true to life. This novel is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I highly recommend it to readers who appreciate character-driven stories with emotional depth.

Thank you NetGalley and Vintage Paperback for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own

This moving novel won the Swedish Book Award of the year. The story follows Bo as he approaches the end of his life and reflects on both the happy and sad parts of his almost 90 yeas. He reflects on his relationship with his emotionally withdrawn, abusive father, his caring mother, his wife now in a care home lost to him through her dementia, his son, Hans, granddaughter , and long time friend, Ture. Bo lives alone with his beloved dog, Sixten. He manages with regular visits from a rota of carers who help with activities of daily living. When Hans decides Bo's dog must go It's the beginning of the end.
The author capture the feelings of helplessness and resentment experienced by the frail elderly while at the same time illustrating the frustration and concern of his son. This is a sad, beautifully rendered story that will leave you in tears. Thanks to Netgalley and Vintage for the opportunity to read this beautiful story.

4.5 stars. This is by a new to me author (recommended by a favorite of mine, Fredrik Backman) whose (Swedish) work has been translated into English…
Where to start? This was not the easiest book to read. Not because it wasn’t well written (it definitely was), but because the subject matter isn’t exactly light. It causes you to consider your own mortality and that of aging loved ones in your life. It makes you think about the things you might someday lose as your body and mind start to fail you. The novel is written through the eyes of Bo, an elderly gentleman who is dealing with these things as well as the fact that he has “lost” his beloved wife to dementia and she’s now living in a home. He has a canine companion, Sixton, who helps him get through the loneliness and now Bo’s son Hans, is talking about taking this beautiful pup to a another home where they can better care for him. Bo is also realizing that he wants his relationship with Hans to be better than that which he had with his own Dad. As Bo reminisces about his youth, his life as a young married man and father, and times spent with his best friend Trure, we see how short and precious life is. This sentimental book tugs at your heartstrings and I truly melted at times but it definitely read well.

This novel focuses on an older man struggling with aging and the loss of autonomy and reflection that comes with it. Introspective and empathetic, Bo's story is at times hard to read, but worth it. This is a story that will stick with me. I'm still thinking about it a week later. Highly recommend.

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén is a tender emotional novel set in rural Sweden about an elderly man as he processes changes with his relationship with his dog, son, friends, etc. Ridzen paints a poignant picture of the aging process.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: I was wary of this book because the reviews so far have been so beyond and raving. But, it was worth it. And then some.

The emotion of end of life that Bo deals with all day, each day is heartbreaking. He moves between clear memories of his distant past and his frustration and upset with his current life. Through his memories we learn of his childhood, his early marriage and friendships, and how hard he tried to right the wrongs of his past with his son Hans.

Hans is torn between being the adult in charge and wanting to keep his father happy. I really felt for him even though Bo considered him the "villain" for some of the book as Hans was forced to take Bo's beloved dog away. Taking care of elderly loved ones is easy on no one. I hoped and held my breath waiting for Bo and Hans to connect as they had when Hans was a child. The authors choice to tell the whole story from Bo's point of view but interspersed with notes from his caregivers to each other was brilliant. It helped the reader see what was really happening as Bo became more and more tired, lonely, and confused. I forgot at times that Bo's perspective was not necessarily the only one.

The feelings are high in this novel as I think many readers can put themselves in the shoes of at least one character. Families and love and aging and illness are topics that hit hard for all of us. I had all the emotions in this read. I highly recommend it and there's so much to talk about as well. Great pick for a book club.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

An easy 5 stars to any book that gives me such a visceral emotional reaction. The combination of great writing plus thoughts of my own family left me choking back tears as I reached the end. I want to give every elderly person a big hug and every caretaker of an elderly person an equally big hug.

In When the Cranes Fly South, we're almost entirely in Bo's head. His life has become quiet after his wife of 62 years moved into a memory care facility. He at least has his loyal dog, Sixpen, to keep him company. Otherwise, his days are broken up with visits from caretakers, visits from his fifty-seven year-old son, Hans who he mostly gets along with (with a few major exceptions), and calls from his lifelong friend, Ture.

I'm impressed how I truly felt like I was in Bo's thoughts. I could detect his pain, his frustration, and the occasional moments of levity while grappling with the realities of aging. Like I said, this one's a tear jerker, but it's so worth it.

This is the story of a a man, Bo ,and Sixten, his dog, and his son who seems determined to take Sixten away. His father, whose health is dwindling as the days, weeks and months pass, but he does have people who care for him, as well as about him.

A heartbreaking story, but also a story that will undoubtedly tug at your heartstrings, and a story that will likely stay with you for a long time.


Pub Date: 05 Aug 2025

Many many thanks for the opportunity to read When the Cranes Fly South

You're never too old for a dog!
Bo is an elderly man rapidly approaching the end of his life. Most of his day centers around memories of that life, the company of his caregivers, and visits from his son Hans and granddaughter Ellinor. His biggest joy comes from the companionship of his beloved dog Sixten. Hans is worried that Bo is too old to have a dog, especially after Bo falls while taking Sixten for a walk, and he wants to take Sixten from him.
When the Cranes Fly South is the story of ordinary people trying to make the best decisions about a life that is almost over. I am of an age when I can identify with some of the aging issues Bo feels and can easily imagine identifying with even more of them in the future. At one point early on in the book, I wrote a comment, “Oh, no! This hits too close to home!” To readers who have not yet reached their older years, I must say that the story and the emotions of everyone involved are very believable, including his caregivers, whose perspective we see in the short notes they write at the end of their shifts. Bo’s son also is credible and, after we get past disliking him for trying to separate Bo from Sixten, even sympathetic. He CARES about his father; he just does not make the decision that Bo (or the reader) wants.
I do not recall reading a Swedish book before this one, and it was interesting to learn about the Swedish social services routinely provided for elder care and other small details of Swedish life. Obviously, it was well received in that country; it won the Swedish Book of the Year award there.
The plot is simple but compelling. Will Bo be able to live out the rest of his life, however long or short it might be, with his favorite companion? What is the “right” solution? A book like When the Cranes Fly South cannot possibly have a “happy” ending, but I must say it was an appropriate one, and it left me with a smile on my face.
I received an advance review copy of When the Cranes Fly South from NetGalley and Vintage Books.

Oh my, what a sweet, sweet story that absolutely everyone should read. Read it for yourselves, read it for your parents, read it for your grandparents, everyone should. I loved Bo and Sixten, I loved the way the author told us Bo’s story, I loved every single minute I spent reading. Bo and Hans visit to the home was priceless, I was right there with them with tears in my eyes. The attention to detail during the entire book was remarkable, all the way down to the daily entries by the carers.

This author has written a perfect coming of age, growing old story. Hip Hip Hooray for Ms. Ridzen. When I get to Bo’s place, I will be telling my children all the things he couldn’t say. Hans should be ashamed. Bless your heart Bo, thank you for letting me into your world, you will not be forgotten.

One of the best books I’ve ever read, it will go in my top 5 of this year 2025. A soul-searching laugh, cry and healing story.

This is my own opinion expressed in this review. Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor.

Thank you publisher for the free copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this story. At first, it was hard to get into. I re-started it a couple of times. The pacing is kind of slow and Bo comes off as a grumpy old man. And while I do believe Bo is a mostly grumpy old man, his story is worthwhile. I believe that people tend to accept that we are aging but reject or are resistant to many of the things that come with aging, like necessary lifestyle changes. Such is the case of Bo and Sixten.

While Sixten's care is the hottest topic, this is a great story about life and what it entails: relationships throughout our lives, the things we value, and the realities we face when growing old. I would definitely recommend this book. It will make you a bit emotional, but hopefully in a good way.

When the Cranes Fly South is the story of 89 year old Bo. It is told from Bo's point of view, talking in his head to his beloved wife Fredrika, who is now in a nursing home due to her dementia. His health is declining rapidly, so he is mostly confined to his small home in Sweden, with visits several times a day from caregivers as well as frequent visits from his son, and the company of his beloved Elkhound Sixten. We learn about Bo's background as he dreams about his childhood and younger life, with abrupt return to reality when someone or something wakes him up.

This novel is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, a reminder to us all to talk to each other while we can. Through Bo's eyes we see his anger towards his son who feels he needs to take the dog away for both the dogs and Bo's safety, but the author also makes us see how hard it is for the son and how much love he has for his father. In the end he and most of us who care for loved ones, are just doing the best we can. This is a slow and quiet character driven story and will not be for everybody, but for the right people it is a true gem of a story. Thank you to net galley and Knopf, Pantheon and Vintage publishers for the e galley of this book.

4.25 ⭐️

Swedish debut novelist Lisa Ridzén gives readers a peek into the mind of an almost 90 year old man whose body and mind are failing in WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH. Bo clearly needs the companionship of his dog Sixten, but the dog puts additional pressures on his son Hans and his other carers and also additional risk to Bo.

On its face, this seems like a small, or even micro, story: an older man’s caretakers want to remove this elderly man’s dog from his home and rehome the dog. But Bo’s dog has immense meaning to him, and, while his mind is not completely there, he can remember incidents from his childhood and young adulthood very well. This is also a larger story because losing agency as parents age (or even peers or yourself) will be an important issue that will affect people’s mental health.

As you might expect, this is a slower novel, and I enjoyed learning about Bo’s life, his son Hans, his wife Fredrika, and his best friend Ture. While this novel is sad in places (and very sad in one in particular at about 70% in), it does resolve in a way that you can see coming and makes sense.

This won’t be a hit for every reader. Most notably, it is a very slow novel, and the subject matter of an ailing 90 year old might not be a favorite. But I’m pretty sure this one will stick with me, and it will always remind me of my stepfather.

WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH publishes in the United States on August 5, 2025. Thank you to Vintage and Netgalley for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wept.

Bo is an elderly man who is facing mortality as his b0dy betrays him. He misses his beloved wife, who is in a care facility, snd his son believes his dog should be placed elsewhere.

Along with those issues, Bo struggles with painful memories of his father and longs for a better connection with his son.

“At dinner one day, I snapped and asked what the hell the point of life was if I was too old for a dog.” Truly. I hate to think of the day I’m no longer capable of having a dog.
Bo is 89, is still living at home but with the help of caregivers. His wife has Alzheimer’s and has already been moved out of the house. Now his son wants to rehome his dog. Bo’s thoughts, which are basically a monologue to his wife, are a look back at his life - his domineering father, his loving marriage, his best friend and his fraught relationship with his son. These thoughts are interspersed with the log from his caregivers which provide a realistic look at his current life. Ridzen has done a wonderful job of fleshing out Bo, including his own beginning stages of dementia and his failing physical body. He realizes time is running out and there are things he wants to say.
This story just grabbed my heartstrings. It hit home, as I’m dealing with an elderly mother. I can see her world shrinking. And it’s definitely a balancing act between trying to allow her to make her own decisions and keeping her safe. I’ve even had the same discussion over the hospital bed but haven’t gone so far as to make the swap. I appreciated that other than the log, the story is solely from Bo’s point of view. It was easy to understand Hans’s motives, but Ridzen keeps us tightly focused on Bo and his desires.
It’s not an easy book to read and it becomes more emotional as it goes on. Keep the Kleenex handy for the ending.
My thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for an advance copy of this book.

This poignant narrative struck a deep emotional chord with me. The story revolves around Bo, an elderly protagonist residing in Sweden alongside his dog, Sixten. Bo frequently visits caregivers, but faces pressure from his son, Hans, to relinquish Sixten for safety reasons. Struggling with anger issues, Bo grapples with painful memories of his challenging childhood and his relationship with his father. Compounding his struggles is the profound loss he feels for his wife, who resides in a memory care facility due to dementia. "When the Cranes Fly South" prompted me to reflect on what my life might resemble as I age. I would rate this book a solid four stars.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader's copy. This review reflects my genuine thoughts.

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén is a quietly devastating novel that follows 89-year-old Bo as he navigates the loss of autonomy in his rural Swedish home. Receiving round-the-clock care—and grappling with his son’s insistence that his dog Sixten be rehomed—Bo embarks on an emotional reckoning, piecing together memories of childhood, marriage, and lifelong friendships as he confronts the reality of his dwindling time.

Narrated in Bo’s gentle, unadorned voice and punctuated by the log-book entries of his caregivers, the structure deftly mirrors the fractured nature of his mind and the fragments of a life well lived. Ridzén’s prose is unpretentious yet evocative, capturing small moments, such as sunlight on snow or the soft weight of a loyal dog in your lap, that add to the atmosphere of the book.

Bo’s internal monologue rings true, especially in his poignant conversations with the memory of his wife. The interspersed care-team logs offer an objective counterpoint to Bo’s subjective reflections, underscoring how the everyday becomes extraordinary in hindsight. Aging, regret, and the struggle to express love are explored with compassion and insight.

While Bo is richly drawn, figures like his son Hans and longtime friend Ture occasionally felt underdeveloped. I wished that more had been written about what Hans was thinking and feeling. The novel’s gentle pace perfectly suits its meditative tone. The momentum felt slow at times but fit perfectly with the tone of the book.

Overall, When the Cranes Fly South is a moving meditation on memory, dignity, and the quiet heroism at the end of life. It offers a profoundly life-affirming portrait of love and loss and is highly recommended for readers drawn to character-driven stories that balance sorrow with soulful tenderness.

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on August 5, 2025.