BookBrowse Reviews When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén

BookBrowse:

A beautifully and sensitively wrought portrait of aging and family tensions.

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Lisa Ridzén's debut novel When the Cranes Fly South, translated into English by Alice Menzies, is an international bestseller and winner of the Swedish Book of the Year Award. Our First Impressions readers loved it, with 20 out of 23 reviewers giving it a 5-star rating.

What the book is about:

The story is built around a deeply sympathetic character—Bo, a fiercely independent elderly man whose world is closing in. What remains are the few things he still holds dear: his beloved wife, now in memory care; his overworked and overwhelmed but devoted son; his granddaughter, away at school; his best friend, Ture, too ill to visit; and most of all, his beloved dog, Sixten. But Bo is no longer in charge of his life…his son, believing Bo can no longer adequately care for the dog, wants to re-home Sixten. Bo cannot fully articulate what this loss would mean, but we feel the truth: losing Sixten would mean losing everything. This is a familiar story of the emotional tension between aging parents and adult children trying to help, as well as an analysis of the often difficult father-son dynamics and the pain of being misunderstood (Sonja W).

Readers appreciated how the book sensitively and authentically addressed aging and death…

The book is beautifully written and about a topic that we still don't talk much about—getting old and dying…And navigating a changing relationship with an adult son is another dynamic here related to aging—learning to let go when you really want to have some control over something. While this was a melancholy book about the end of life period, it was also filled with hope and beauty and love. It struck a chord with me personally about the importance of dignity and humanity later in life, and how critical it is for caretakers of elders to try to make that period as comfortable and positive as possible (Anne M). This is a story of taking stock of your life with all the regrets, redemptions, love, forgiveness, and healing that we all hope we can reconcile when the time comes. Lisa Ridzén tells this story in powerfully, purely written prose that will stay with you for a long time (Nancy M).

…along with the difficulties of caring for a loved one at the end of life.

If you have been a caretaker or on the receiving end, you need to read this book. Ms. Ridzén is so into the feelings of both sides of this issue. Taking care of the elderly. And loss of choice as you age. Make this your next book club read (Katherine H). [Bo's son Hans] is a modern, ambitious man—grappling with burnout and preoccupied with the demands of contemporary life. He also has the responsibility of making sure Bo is cared for. Their inability to connect is both painful and authentic (Susan B).

Reviewers found the book poignant and moving…

I highly recommend the book to serious readers and book clubs with mature members. In the end the story moved me to tears (Marie W). This story will tug at your heartstrings, make you stomping mad, and then have you smiling only to lead you through those emotions again. Wonderful! It is the perfect book for putting the world aside for a few hours and just being with Bo (Julia B). This poignant and beautifully written novel is a true heart-wrencher—one that will stay with you long after the final page (Susan B).

…and ultimately uplifting.

While the emotional content of the novel can be seen as depressing, the end is uplifting (Emily C). Patched together, the various chapters of Bo's final days present a rather morbid story. Yet, in the end When Cranes Fly South proves to be reassuring and generates in each of us a reexamination of our life stories (Joshua M). A reflection on losing control of our independence as we inevitably reach the final days. On what happens when we can no longer be in charge of our own lives. But not in a sad, miserable way. It is a beautifully told story of love (George M).

This review first ran in the November 19, 2025 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.