very sweet, well done, interesting, and quite unique book. the plotting is absolutely fantastic and the notes throughout work great. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This story will walk all over your heart. Prepare to cry, prepare to think about the people in your life who have gone on ahead. Think about the elders who are still here. Think about their lives now and as they used to be. For many of the elderly, life is a slow ending of a long life. For those fortunate ones, the mind remains (mostly) clear. The story is translated from the Swedish. The chapters are told from Bo's perspective; other brief chapters are the notes left by the carers. It is through these notes that we start to understand Bo's declining health.

Bo spends the greater part of his days resting on the day bed in his kitchen, with his elkhound, Sixten, by his side. He has carers, some better than others, who come in daily to help him shower and prepare his meals. Some walk his dog when Bo is feeling poorly. Other times, Bo is able to take Sixten out himself. Bo's wife, Fredrika, is in a nursing home with dementia and no longer knows either Bo or their son, Hans. Hans and his father have had a tenuous relationship for many years and Hans has little patience with his father now. When Hans decides that Sixten must be re-homed, Bo refuses to speak to his son and knows that his life is out of his control. The carers understand how much Sixten means to Bo and they do their best to hold off the separation. Ingrid, in particular, cares deeply for Bo and Sixten and for her, it is more than a job.

Bo's lifelong best friend, Ture, is also long-dying, and they can only talk by phone where they used to spend weekends and vacations together, along with Hans. Ture never married and Bo and Hans became his family. Bo thinks a lot about his own father and wonders if he was a good parent to Hans. How does he tell Hans how much he cares for him? How does he tell Hans he loves him?

Bo is an elderly Swedish man whose life now revolves around his beloved dog, Sixten, and the caregivers who stop by to check on him several times a day. His wife, Frederika, has dementia and is in a care facility, and his son Hans visits periodically to fill Bo's freezer with food.
After an incident in which Bo falls when taking Sixten out, Hans makes the decision to take Sixten away. He's concerned for his dad's health, but Bo can’t get past the loss. He and Hans often butted heads when Hans was growing up.
But as death approaches, Bo needs to figure out a way to tell Hans what his own father never told him—that he's proud of him.
Ridzén has written a moving story about love, loss, forgiveness, and saying goodbye.

WHEN THE CRANES GO SOUTH BY LISA RIDZEN
THIS IS THE STORY OF BO WHO IS DYING – HIS WIFE IS IN A HOME WITH ALZHEIMER’S AND DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ANYONE – HIS SON AND SEVERAL CARETAKERS ARE TAKING CARE OF HIM. HE KEEPS THINKING OF HIS YOUNGER DAYS AND HOW HE HAD A HARD TIME WITH HIS FATHER AND IS TRYING VERY HARD TO MAKE A LASTING CONTACT WITH HIS SON – THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL STORY – I HAVE TO ADMIT I DID SHED A FEW TEARS. THIS BOOK GIVES US A LOT OF “FOOD FOR THOUGHT”. HE WANTED HIS SON TO KNOW, EVEN THO HE DID NOT SHOW IT, HE DID LOVE HIM VERY MUCH. THANK YOU TO @KNOPF, PENTHEON,VINTAGE & ANCHOR AND @NETGALLEY FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS STORY. I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS IT AS MUCH AS I DID.

Even though I knew how this would end, it still made me cry! Bo is an endearing elderly man reflecting back on his life as his body is giving out of him. He spends his days now with the home health aides (some who take more of an interest in him than others), his elkhound Sixten, and occasional visits from his adult son, Hans. As he finds himself with lots of alone time, he looks back on his different relationships with his wife, son, and best friend. This was so raw and real about the fragility of our human existence. It reminded me to take time to slow down, cherish the time you have with your loved ones and in your functioning body. I loved immersing myself in Bo’s perspective, which is not one we usually hear in fiction. I highly recommend this to those with elderly parents, caregivers, and anyone who loves an emotional, reflective read that will make you cry.

Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

When the Cranes Fly South is a book that looks at the end of life stages of a man who is losing control of his body and his choices. Most of the story is written from his perspective, but there are brief entries from others that add an outsider perspective. This book is very reflective and deals with relationships between fathers and sons. It is very well written and almost certainly deserve to win the Swedish Book of the Year award.

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén is a tender, emotional story about Bo, an aging man who must confront his past and repair his strained relationship with his son before it’s too late. With only his loyal dog Sixten for company, Bo is forced to face love, regret, and what it truly means to make amends as time slips away.

This was a quiet and contemplative read, centering on an elderly man in his final days. I have to be honest and say it wasn’t an easy or particularly enjoyable book for me, and I suspect many readers who are still grieving the loss of a parent or a loved one may feel the same. As a deeply devoted dog owner, there were a few scenes involving Bo’s elkhound and a childhood pet that were gut-wrenching and, in my opinion, could have used a gentle content warning. If your bond with your dog runs as deep as mine, you may want to make sure you’re in the right headspace before diving in.

That said, there is undeniable beauty in the way the book captures the inevitability of death, the dignity of a graceful goodbye, and the universal truth that none of us are here forever. Death is, after all, the great equalizer. While it was ultimately a heavier emotional read than I was prepared for, I can still appreciate the quiet power of this story and give it credit for being such a deeply moving exploration of love, loss, and letting go.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

When the Cranes Fly South is a tender and affecting exploration of what it means to grow old with grace—and grief. Set in the quiet countryside of Sweden, this novel follows 89-year-old Bo as he faces the end of his life with more questions than answers. He shares his home with his loyal dog, Sixten, who becomes a point of conflict when Bo’s well-meaning son, Hans, insists the dog be given away for safety reasons. It’s a heartbreaking demand, and for Bo, it feels like one more piece of his world being taken.

Bo is cared for by a rotating team of professionals, and the novel alternates between his internal reflections and the caregivers’ clinical notes, offering a stark contrast between Bo’s emotional reality and the routines of daily care. Through these shifting perspectives, we witness Bo wrestle with the long shadow of his father’s anger, the aching absence of his wife Frederika, who now lives in a memory care home, and the bittersweet love that remains for the people he’s lost or grown distant from.

The prose is spare but full of depth, capturing the ache of loneliness and the beauty of small, fleeting moments—sunlight on snow, the comfort of a dog at your side, the hush of early morning. The use of second-person narration as Bo speaks to Frederika creates a quiet intimacy that lingers long after the final page.

Though some characters, like Hans and Bo’s friend Ture, could have been more fleshed out, the emotional core of the novel is deeply resonant. Ridzén captures the ache of memory, the weariness of the body, and the quiet courage of facing life’s final chapter. It’s not a fast read, but it’s a meaningful one—gentle, introspective, and quietly unforgettable.

Such a tender end-of-life story. The writing is poetic, kind, and believable as the hero bounces between reality and memories during the end of his life. Very thought- provoking and humbling. Reminds us of what is precious to some may not be to others.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A story of an elderly man, facing the last few months of his life.

The story jumps back and forth throughout his life, and while there were times I was confused what time period it was, it never wavers in its simplicity of living and dying.

A reckoning of sorts- an abusive childhood, a tumultuous relationship with his son, his love for his dog.

Such beautiful writing, very sad, and maybe not for everyone, but a very well written, sweetly paced book about how we die, and the day to day ruin of our bodies as we eventually face death.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Archer for providing me with an eARC.

This was both wholesome and heartbreaking to read. I really liked the way he reflected a lot and thought about so many memories that mean so much more now. The mending of the relationship between Bo and Hans was done quite well but more conversation would have been even better. I also liked the way Bo addressed a lot of parts to his wife. Initially I found the first person/second person transitions confusing but once I got used to it, it made a huge difference to the story. The inclusion of the carers' notes in between added a lot of value. Sometimes I found it difficult to differentiate between his memories and present day happenings but I think that's part of the charm of the story, the way everything gets blurry after a point. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who liked A Man Called Ove or The Borrowed Life or Frederick Fife.

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén is a very highly recommended literary novel following the decline of an elderly man. Translated from Swedish, this deeply emotional debut novel follows Bo as he deals with his deteriorating health and capabilities. There is a reason this excellent novel was the book of the year in Sweden. Expect to cry.

Bossee (Bo), 89 years-old, is on home care and receives daily visits from his team during the day while his wife is in a home for dementia. He spends his time napping and dreaming about the past with his beloved elkhound Sixten by his side. Bo is upset with his son, Hans, who wants to rehome Sixten because Bo is unable to give him the care and exercise he requires. At the same time Bo's declining abilities are clearly shown.

The writing is absolutely exceptional in this deeply emotional and moving novel about growing old and losing your independence while also wanting to show your family you care. It is about the relationships between fathers and sons and how uneasy they can be. It's about the loss of a good friend and the devotion of a good dog. The narrative follows Bo's present day actions and his loss of control and mobility while also recording his vivid memories from his life and his dreams. Notes written by his care team are included.

When the Cranes Fly South is absolutely one of the best books I've read this year. You will want to read it. Thanks to Knopf Doubleday/Vintage for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Sad and hopeful like life often is!

“By the time you are 80 years old you’ve learned everything. You only have to remember it.” — George Burns

Bo is aging and moving closer to death, a reality none of us can escape. He has a few things left he enjoys, his beloved dog, Sixten, some very lovely home care workers, and his best friend. He has a somewhat distant relationship with his son, Hans, and his wife is in a care facility with dementia.

Hans has decided that Bo is no longer able to care for Sixten and needs to be re homed. .....and now Bo will lose something else!

As he becomes less mobile, more confined to sleep and his new hospital bed, he begins the reflection of his life. His difficult, unfeeling father, his loving wife, his son all the years with these people who were part of his life. Bo is sad because he feels he never had a link to his son, perhaps a remnant of his own childhood. However, before he dies, he needs to try harder, to capture the feelings, the moments, when he and Hans were father and son. Is it possible at age eighty-nine, to accomplish that?

A story that will touch your heart and realize the time to make things better is now.

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen, translated by Alice Menzies, is an emotionally engaging novel. It presents a quiet and thoughtful story about Bo, an elderly man nearing the end of his life. His wife, Fredrika, is no longer with him. He has caregivers who assist with his daily needs, and his late-in-life son, Hans, strongly believes it is time to rehome Bo’s loyal dog, Sixten. Bo is distressed by this, as he has lost his wife and, in many ways, his dignity, and is reluctant to part with Sixten. Throughout the novel, Ridzen gradually reveals stories of love, loss, and friendship through Bo's memories. The book is character-driven, subdued in tone, and invites reflection upon completion. Fans of Fredrik Backman's works may find this novel particularly resonant.

A sincere thank you to Vintage and NetGalley for this ARC.

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.