When the Cranes Fly South
Paperback Published on: 01/01/2026; Language: English, Swedish (Original language of a translated text)
Price: £9.99
Bookseller Reviews
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Dignified and emotional
This is a simple, moving and emotional debut. I absolutely loved it. Bo is nearing the end of his life. An uncomplicated man who loves his wife,son,grandda... READ MORE
I struggle to imagine anyone not sobbing by the end of it
Incredibly moving. I struggle to imagine anyone not sobbing by the end of it. I think this one will be incredibly popular as it deals beautifully with the ... READ MORE
Moving and tender
Winner of the Swedish Book of the Year Award for 2024, and when it is published over here in May, I suspect that there will be much interest in this sensi... READ MORE
One of my favourite novels ever. Tenderly magnificent.
.The premise feels simple. Bo is nearing the end of his life. His wife Frederika, who has dementia, lives in a nursing home. Bo has regular telephone conve... READ MORE
A brilliant debut (grab some tissues)
I adored this translated debut novel. Almost deceptively simple - I heard somebody talking about how not much happens, but I think that is part of the char... READ MORE
Profoundly moving story about Growing Old
Lisa Ridzen's story about a man struggling to escape the patterns of the past and to make right with his son before he dies may be set in Sweden but is uni... READ MORE
Gentle and profound
Inspired by the author's grandfather's diaries, this book tells the tale of the last few months of life of an aging man, repressed by years of social norms... READ MORE
Simple, beautiful and stunningly heartbreaking all at the same time.
I went into this book knowing it would hit me hard as my Grandad is the same age as Bo and my Grandma is currently in a care home with dementia but it was ... READ MORE
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I Didn’t Know I Could Enjoy A Book That Hurt My Feelings So Much
I usually avoid books that tackle topics that I have experienced - if I am already living it I don’t want to think about it in my free time – so reading a ... READ MORE
Beautiful in it's simplicity
This is a moving story about the end of life and how to maintain a sense of autonomy and dignity and the conflict that can cause with those that love you. ... READ MORE
A genuine and beautiful book about family and dignity
My second five star read of the year. It was inspired by the notes written by carers who looked after the writer's grandfather. I thought it rang true here... READ MORE
Absolutely stunning
I simply have no words for how this book made me feel. I never cry but was sobbing at the end. It's real eye opener into old age, relationships and feeling... READ MORE
Breaks your heart but also holds your hand
I think this book will keep a little bit of my heart forever. An absolutely fantastic read though definitely a sad one. Highly recommend.
A quiet, graceful novel.
I can see why this book has taken Sweden by storm. So tender, thoughtful, and thought provoking, it occupied my thoughts and brought
me to tears on more ... READ MORE
A heartbreaking memento mori
'Anger surges through me again, and I feel like throwing my hot tea in his face. Screaming that this sure as hell isn't how I raised my son to behave.
I... READ MORE
A touching and thoughtful debut
Agency and age are at the forefront of this story of an elderly man whose son wants to give away the man's beloved dog.
Eighty-nine year-old Bo has li... READ MORE
Beautiful.
This book will make you want to tell your loved ones you love them while you still can. There is so much that gets left unsaid, especially when it comes to... READ MORE
A fearless and beautiful novel
If you are currently or have been in the situation where your parents are struggling to live independently, this is a hard read but also feels so true. I c... READ MORE
An Emotional Tale Of Man And His Dog, And So Much More
Well, I'm crying as a lot of friends who have read this special novel told me I would. Very emotional & made me want to call up my Grandad to check how he'... READ MORE
Beautiful
I adored this book. I fell in love with the style and the storytelling from the beginning and got more emotional the further into the book I got. It was a ... READ MORE
Moving and tender story but prepare the tissues
Following Bo, a heartwarming old man living alone with his beloved dog Sixten, When The Cranes Fly South is a tender and honest novel.
It starts when Bo'... READ MORE
The book you must read & then gift to everyone you love.
When The Cranes Fly South is a truly remarkable novel that follows Bo, an old man desperate to heal his relationship with his son before it’s too late.
... READ MORE
Simple, but moving
This has recently been one of our Books of the Month, so I have been talking about it to customers. I bought myself a copy and enjoyed the format straight ... READ MORE
Be prepared for heartbreak.
I loved this book so much. Bo is getting on in years, his body and his memory failing him and his only son is now trying to persuade him to give up his con... READ MORE
Synopsis
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 is wanting 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.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
- ISBN: 9781804995808
- Number of pages: 320
- Dimensions: 198 x 128 x 22 mm
- Weight: 206g
- Languages: English, Swedish (Original language of a translated text)
Customer Reviews
View allSuperb debut
Thank you very much to the publishers for this early review copy.
I am so pleased to report that this is a superb debut and I hope to get my hands on all ... READ MORE
Immersive yet heartbreaking
After seeing so many reviews for this saying how emotional it is, I thought I was somewhat prepared for the journey of this book.
I was definitely not p... READ MORE
Deeply moving
When the Cranes Fly South is a book that touches your heart and soul and as I turned the last page there was a tear rolling down my face.
Bo is an elde... READ MORE
Stunning book
Oh goodness what did I just read. What a wonderful emotional and moving read this is. Set in rural Sweden this is Bo’s story as he sees out his final days... READ MORE
Absolutely wonderful, I'm in tears.
What a wonderful, beautiful, magical read. Like most readers, I’m sure, I was in tears at the end. I will be 75 this year, and this book made me think real... READ MORE
Touching, heartbreaking, hopeful
When I recovered from my tears at the end of this book, I googled Lisa Ridzén to see how old she was. Surprisingly, she is quite young to have written such... READ MORE
Grab all the tissues
After seeing so many reviews for this saying how emotional it is, I thought I was somewhat prepared for the journey of this book.
I was definitely not p... READ MORE
Phenomenal.
Phenomenal.
Has to be a book of 2025.
When the Cranes Fly South swept me into the quiet heartbreak of ageing and the tender, tangled bond between parent ... READ MORE
My favourite book of 2025
This is my favourite book of 2025 so far (even if I did need a box of tissues while reading it). Beautifully written and well translated, this is a tale of... READ MORE
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Sad
This book is about a sad old man approaching the end of his life, and I found it rather depressing, especially as it centres on missed opportunities. I do ... READ MORE
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Heartbreaking and honest
This book touched my heart in a way I didn't know a book could. It is a gentle, slow book. The relationships between the main characters are beautifully wr... READ MORE
This will be one of my favourite reads of 2025. What a stunning novel!
In short, the book covers a few months in the life of Bo, who is approaching the end of his life. His wife is in a home, living with dementia and his only ... READ MORE
A beautiful story of care in the community
A beautiful story of Bo an elderly, frail man. He reminisces of his past life, with his beloved wife, Frederik, now in a nursing home living with dementia... READ MORE
A beautiful first novel
When my Aunt Jean was in her 90s and in a nursing home, she would tell me that she spent her days thinking back over her life, remembering all of us as chi... READ MORE
Phenomenal!
Provided by Penguin Random House and The Reading Agency
It is challenging to know where to begin in reviewing such a poignant, multifaceted story. Each ... READ MORE
Simply Beautiful
"When the Cranes Fly South" is a poignant exploration of love and hope. The writing is so accomplished that it's hard to believe this is Liza Ridzen's debu... READ MORE
Five stars isn't enough for this beautiful and tender story
Since his wife was moved into a care home, elderly Bo has lived alone in his house on the outskirts of a village in Sweden, his only companion his dig Sixt... READ MORE
Emotional
Nothing has been last in translation as far as I can tell.
The emotions, sense of loneliness , loss and desperation still bleeds from the pages.
I was ... READ MORE
Beautifully written...
When the Cranes Fly South broke my heart. I read it in one sitting as I could not bear to put it down. What a beautifully written, poignant and touching st... READ MORE
Aching quiet, shattered heart
This book destroyed me. I have a separate this-destroyed-me shelf on Goodreads for books just like this one.
I picked it up on a whim because it’s on t... READ MORE
Sad, poignant, all too true to life
4-4.5 stars
Old age, loss of independence and loneliness dominated this quiet, moving story about a man reaching life's end and the canine companion he lo... READ MORE
Tender
When the Cranes Fly South is a tender, quiet story that sneaks up on you emotionally. Lisa Ridzen paints a beautifully real picture of Bo’s life — the rout... READ MORE
An intensely moving book
An intensely moving book about a man at the end of his life when everything he values is being stripped away from him. As a work of fiction, there is a gre... READ MORE
A beautiful read.
This is beautifully written and very poignant. Bo is nearing the end of his life and the story is told in an emotional way as he remembers his past life an... READ MORE
Heartfelt and relevant
This was a good read, though it would be difficult to say it was enjoyable, covering such a heartfelt subject. It reminded me of Being Mortal, the magnific... READ MORE
An incredibly moving read
When The Cranes Fly South follows an aging Bo as he slowly loses autonomy over his own life unable to look after his beloved dog or himself. Deeply moving ... READ MORE
A lesson in dignity
Such a beautiful read, that everyone should have to read at least once. I fell in love with Bo. The melting of time was incredibly evocative. Perfection.
Magical
I defy anyone not to be moved to tears when they read this magical book. I blubbered more than once - it is a paean to the author’s ability to make you wal... READ MORE
Just Beautifully Written
A beautifully written book about a man in the final stages of his life.
A story about Bo, who lives alone with his dog Sixten. As he grows frailer and st... READ MORE
Outstanding!
My standout read of the year so far, I loved this book!
The story centres around Bo, in his late eighties, now frail and needing daily support from care... READ MORE
Sad yet heart warming
Beautiful, sad, warm, emotional, gripping - many compliments to describe just how lovely a read this book is.
This is a story of old age with its physic... READ MORE
An unforgettable read
The physical struggle of aging for Bo is told in the daily notes left by his carers. But the mental struggle of aging that he faces is heartbreakingly told... READ MORE
A Memorable Read
A memorable read .It is rare that I get moved to tears but this beautifully written and poignant story achieved that , it was the dog that really did it ... READ MORE
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A gentle study of aging and grief
I absolutely loved this book. As a sixty-something wrestling with making decisions for the care of my 94 year old mother, so much in this book rang a bell ... READ MORE
A real emotional heavy hitter!
This is an intimately told story about a curmudgeonly older man called Bo, who is aware he’s coming towards the end of his quiet existence.We are following... READ MORE
A life affirming read about never having regrets to say what needs to be said
"I don’t want to leave anything unsaid. That I don’t want it to be like it was with my old man. For some strange reason, I’m not angry any more. "
This ... READ MORE
Beautifully written
What a wonderful book this is. This is the story about the end of life of Bo. Bo’s wife has gone into a care home suffering with some form of dementia and... READ MORE
Beautifully written and empathetic
Elderly Bo lives alone, apart for his old dog Sixten. He relies on carers visiting three times a day and spends his days reminiscing about his life with hi... READ MORE
Wonderful story
Bo, an elderly man, lives in northern Sweden with his dog. His life revolves around his dog, his phone calls with his friend Ture and the visits from his c... READ MORE
Sad but Heartwarming
I read this book courtesy of NetGalley. An utterly charming story of an old man, Bo, at the end of his life in Northern Sweden. The book is as though he... READ MORE
Emotional
Another beautiful book from Sweden. I was told that fans of A Man call Ove would like this and they were right.
Bo is reaching the end of his life and ma... READ MORE
Unflinching But Ultimately Uplifting
4.5/5 stars
To be honest, this particular book was very hard for me to read at times as I am going through a very similar situation with both of my agin... READ MORE
A wonderful story
No surprises in this review other than to say it is a wonderful read and opens up the world of an 89 year old's daily life and interactions with his son, d... READ MORE
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Tender
Through this beautifully lyrical and tender writing, we meet Bo, an 89 year old man preparing to die with his beloved dog Sixten. Having 'lost' his wife Fr... READ MORE
The most emotive book I have ever read
A beautiful story of Bo an elderly, frail man. He reminisces of his past life, with his beloved wife, Frederik, now in a nursing home living with dementia... READ MORE
Hard to read but beautifully written
A 5 star read!
A moving story about an elderly man’s struggle to maintain autonomy over his life as his ages and can no longer look after himself.
Bo... READ MORE
Packs A Huge Punch
A "small" domestic novel which packs a huge punch by way of its telling.
Bo's beloved wife now lives in a dementia care home, his lifelong friend, old l... READ MORE
A very moving treat
This is a beautifully written, sad and moving account of an old man’s struggles with the aging process. The characters, including his dog, Sixten, are vivi... READ MORE
not sure....
.... if this for me. It's a good book, I can see why people love it, but not quite hitting great for me - but that's the beauty of booksa quietly powerful ... READ MORE
What a beautiful book
I loved reading this wonderful book. It was so touching and emotional, and beautifully written. I don’t know how she will follow this, but I look forward t... READ MORE
Such a universal story - Loved it!
A "small" domestic novel which packs a huge punch by way of its telling.
Bo's beloved wife now lives in a dementia care home, his lifelong friend, old l... READ MORE
BRILLIANT BOOK
This is one of the best books I have read for a long time. It is full of emotion and for anyone who has gone through the situation you can really relate. ... READ MORE
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Inspiring - A man's best friend is his dog - ALWAYS
Bo wishes to see out his last few months with his trusty canine companion - Sixten by his side and I certainly sided with him on this. It’s easy to inflic... READ MORE
A touching story
Beautifully written story capturing the one man's reflections and feelings on his closest relationships. Touching, emotional and completely relatable.
3 months on and still thinking about it!
A beautifully written story of acceptance. A piece of writing that resonates with us all. Time waits for no one and it's the people we have around us that ... READ MORE
Beautiful and heartbreaking
Loved this book from the starr. There are so many aspects to it, and it draws you in. There is so much to recognise from our own lives and experiences, but... READ MORE
Spoiler alert – there will be tears
Well, what an extraordinary book, one that will stay with me for a long time and one I shall recommend again and again. The idea is simple, Bo is elderly, ... READ MORE
Fiction Addiction Book Club
My book club read this book and I really enjoyed it. It is not something I would have picked up usually but I was surprised how quick I got through it. The... READ MORE
Book Club read
We read this in my book club this month after receiving a free copy. I enjoyed this book very much and even though it was a very emotional read it was quic... READ MORE
Fiction Addiction book club highly recommended.
Nice easy read.Sad in parts but thoughtfully written. Loved the characters especially Sixten. Thought-provoking about old age and how you would deal with a... READ MORE
Everyone should read this!
A beautifully written book that all ages should read and reflect on. Really thought-provoking and rightly so!
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Simply,Achingly Beautiful
I visited Waterstones to buy a book that I wanted but unfortunately they didn’t have it so I wandered around looking for something else and I came across t... READ MORE
Beautifully written book
I absolutely loved this book. It was so touching and you felt every word that was written. The story is so relatable for so many who have seen a loved one ... READ MORE
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Heartbreaking, hopeful, and unforgettable
When the Cranes Fly South moved me completely. It’s a deeply emotional novel that captures the complexity of human relationships, especially the role rever... READ MORE