Review: When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén (translated by Alice Menzies)
Shortlisted for the 2026 Nota Bene Prize, When the Cranes Fly South is a beautifully bittersweet novel about an ageing man desperate to mend his relationship with his son before it's too late.
Bo is determined to live his own life in his own way. But his son has other ideas...
Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his care team and his son.
Fortunately, he still has his rich memories, phone calls with his best friend Ture, and his beloved dog Sixten for company.
Only now his son is insisting the dog must be taken away. The very same son that Bo wants to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions and makes Bo determined to resist and find his voice.
When the Cranes Fly South is a profoundly moving and life-affirming novel about one man’s desire to preserve his autonomy, the multitude of stories contained within a life, and the big things for which we have no words.
REVIEWED BY LOU BAILLACHE
When the Cranes Fly South is a powerful and emotional meditation on life and death, the importance of companionship, and how memories stay with us into old age. It’s a deeply moving read, with an emotional impact that lingers long after the final page.
“Abandon her? Which of us has been abandoned, I want to ask. You’re not the one stuck with a lifetime’s worth of memories in a body that’s slowly withering away.”
The novel is told from the perspective of Bo, an elderly man whose days are punctuated by visits from his home carers. His wife is in a care home with dementia, and his beloved dog Sixten is his closest companion. But when his son insists the dog must be taken away, it stirs up a whirlwind of emotion, prompting Bo to reflect on his life and the people within it. Occasional notes from his carers, his son Hans and others add an extra layer of care and perspective, deepening the sense of connection around him.
This is a tender portrayal of ageing, of relationships between fathers and sons, of friendship, and of the special bond between a man and his dog. It can be difficult to read at times, but it is written with such beauty and sensitivity that it feels incredibly rewarding.
The writing draws the reader close to Bo, making him feel vividly real on the page. His frustrations, his losses and the small changes in his circumstances are rendered with empathy and understanding, creating a portrait that will feel familiar to many.
The novel explores the changing nature of the body, the shifting dynamics between parent and child, and the quiet fear of losing independence, all with care and nuance. At its heart is a sense of longing and love, and a reminder of the importance of connection and of expressing what matters, while there is still time.
Ridzén’s writing and characterisation are striking, making this a truly memorable and affecting read, and one that lingers well beyond its final pages. Any book that features reflections of memory is one that I know I'll love. I urge everyone to pick this one up!