This story is about an elderly man who lives on his own and is attended several times a day by caregivers. He has a dog that is his companion and he worries that the dog will be taken away from him.
A sad, slow moving tale about what it’s like to be alone and unable to care for yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House, Transworld Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review. 3⭐️ 15 May G

Aftertaste by Darin Lavelle.
After the death of his father Kostya started getting the taste of of his father’s favourite food in his mouth without eating it. As he grew older this kept happening.
He found that he was getting tastes from ghosts in the afterlife.
A story unlike anything I have read before.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

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 written. The character of Bo is written with such attention to detail one cannot help but come care for him as his health deteriorates and he loses his strength and independence. His love for Sixten had me in tears. The relationship between Bo and Hans was written with such poignancy and care. Reflecting on the rough as well as the smooth. Added to this the descriptions of the changing Swedish scenery during Bo's last few months were amazing. Anyone who has lived through the death of parents or a close loved one could not fail to be moved by this book. I cried buckets. A wonderful if very sad book I don't hesitate to recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

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 story. Elderly Bo can no longer manage to care for himself or his dog Sixten. His wife has dementia and lives in a care home and his son thinks it best if Sixten is re-homed. As Bo reflects back over his life we learn of his growing up and his relationships with both his father and his son. The book is also interspersed with diary details from his carers. Many thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for gifting me an early read of this wonderful book. Highly recommend this 5star book...and also that you keep the tissues nearby.

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 Sixten. Unfortunately, his son now thinks looking after the dog is too much for his father and wants to re-home Sixten, setting father and son at loggerheads.

Oh my, I do hope that when When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen is published each purchase comes with a free packet of tissues because they'll certainly be needed.

Bo is eighty-nine and fiercely independent, determined to see out his days in the home he's known all his life. Acknowledging his fathers ever-increasing limited mobility his son has arranged for carers to visit throughout the day to see to Bo's personal needs.

My heart went out to Bo, the frailties of an aging body are so sad. He hates the revolving door of carers, some are familiar and respectful, others temporary, young and distant. Alongside this is the loss of dignity as they bathe and dress him.

The only things Bo has for company are his dog and his memories. As he whiles away the hours alone he reflects on his life; the strict upbringing he had as a child, his love for his wife and the fractious relationship he has with his only child, Hans. Unfortunately, even the good memories can bring heartbreak. Bo hasn't slept in the marital bed since his wife was moved into a care home, he now sleeps on a day bed in the kitchen. He keeps a scarf that belonged to his wife in a jar to preserve her perfume but his hands no longer have the strength and dexterity to open the jar.

Bo's faithful companion is his dog, Sixten, an elkhound (imagine something similar to a Husky/German Shepherd cross). As Bo dozes, lost to his memories, the dog lies next to him. Hans is worried that the dog has become too much for his father to look after, concerned that he'll fall and be unable to seek help. The suggestion that Sixten be re-homed does not go down well and puts pressure on an already strained relationship. It was clear that the suggestion was made from a place of love and concern but lacked a real understanding of Bo's motivation. Having Sixten around helped to overcome the loneliness and looking after the dog's needs were the only thing keeping him active and determined to get out of bed each day.

As time moves on we see Bo become frailer and frailer. I was very surprised that I managed to hold back the tears at one poignant moment. Having survived this point in the story I thought I was going to be ok, and then the final few pages were my undoing. I gave up fighting back the tears as the story reached its natural conclusion, an emotional and sentimental one. This is a story that is going to stay with me for a very long time.

Emotional, emotive reading.

As a dog lover I knew I would need the tissues at the ready, and boy I was not wrong. A story taken from a totally different angle. An elderly mans story told by the person as to his feelings and disappointments throughout his life.

Bo was such a strong character that asked for nothing apart from the love of his dog Sixten. The humiliation he felt with having the careers come in to wash and feed him was heart rendering.

A novel that will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this excellent book..

A tender, thoughtful depiction of the end of life of a man still living in his own home with the help of carers. He reflects on his life and still enjoys his routine and the seasons but is frustrated by the gradual deterioration of his body. His end is peaceful and filled with love. An emotional read as I lost my elderly mother recently.

Bo lives with his dog Sixten and has carers four times a day. He can do some things for himself but is getting slower and his son is concerned about him , having said it would be easier without Sixten. As any dog lover knows, this is a very hard decision and Bo is fighting against it- Sixten is his constant companion. Bo remembers when his wife was alive and his son was small and takes us through some of his memories.

Oh be still my beating heart. My heart was in my mouth all the way through, desperately wanting Bo and Sixten to stay together.. Companions mean the world, whatever age or ability as has been proven and the end reflected this. It’s a beautifully descriptive read, telling of more than just Bo’s life. A reflective, powerful, emotive tale that had me in bits at the end leaving me speechless. One that blew me away and one most certainly to remember. Wow, just wow.

This was a beautiful and gentle read about lots of things including the frustrations of ageing; the relationships between fathers and sons (and the differences in parenting expectations/realities depending on the generation involved) and of all those things you want to say/cover off before you die and worry that you might not "clear the air". I loved the format - all told through Bo and supplemented by diary entries from his carers which enabled you to have a real sense of the days passing and the fact that Bo's health was declining as time went on. Adult children have it hard sometimes when the roles gradually reverse as parents age and some hard decisions have to be made in the parent's "best interests". It saddened me a little that Bo, when looking back on his long life had clearly not had a warm and loving relationship with his own father (there were hints at mistreatment and bullying at times) and yet he was worried that despite not wanting it to, perhaps his own relationship with his son had not been that great as he got older, although some of the flashbacks suggested things had been much better between him and his son during his son's childhood. There was also a lot about hiding feelings both in terms of his relationships with his family and also his friend Ture's sexuality. All in all a well written and very moving novel.

An engaging, reflective, and raw character study focusing on someone living out their last days and looking back at their life and their regrets. This isn't a book where a lot happens, and it is rather slow and draining at times so it won't be for everyone but I felt that it tackles some important issues well and is a really beautiful and moving character study.

This had a lot of promise but I found it a little slow. Maybe I found the book too difficult to identify with or maybe it resonates issue that I do not wish to explore. It was very well written but not for me especially given my poor headspace and anxiety at present. Thanks for the ARC from NetGalley

Bo still lives alone. His team of carers visit him daily to support him with the daily tasks he often forgets. At the age of 89, Bo knows he is approaching the end of his life but with his beloved elkhound Sixten at his side he is determined to maintain his independence as long as he can.
We follow Bo through his days, learning about his child Hans and beloved granddaughter. We learn about his wife and her gradual decline as she lives with the effects of dementia. Bo shares with us details of his past and his own childhood. And through the little notes left by his carers we learn just how difficult things are for Bo.
This book was emotional. It’s hard not to feel for Bo as he struggles to accept the limitations placed on his body by his ageing. We only see his perspective so it’s easy to see his son as callous for wanting to place his dog with a family who can better cater to his needs.
As the book draws to its inevitable ending I couldn't help but feel this is such an important book for getting people to think about how we manage our ageing. Breaking down some of the stigma associated with caring for elderly relatives might result in a more compassionate approach. While it felt rather depressing, there was a stoic acceptance of the inevitable that I felt left Bo with the semblance of autonomy he craved as he grew less capable.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.

Oh my goodness, I'm still recovering from this.! What a tender, beautiful book. Simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, a book about life, about generations and about being... you.

"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 is the story of Bo- at 89 years of age he relies on carers to visit and support him through his daily life. His wife Fredrika is in care home unable to recognise or remember him as she has alzheimers and he feels distance from his son Hans.

Bo takes us through his life as he remembers key events and his relationship with his parents, wife, best friend Ture and granddaughter Ellinor.
His daily life is interspersed with the visits from a team of carers who leave notes about how Bo is doing.

Bo lives quietly and has his dog Sixten for companionship - that is until his son feels the dog is too much for Bo as he can't safely walk him any distance.

This is a story of millions- a story that will connect to all of us in some way- the relationships and unspoken words between generations. The well- intentioned love and care which sometimes does not recognise the denial of another person's pleasure, security and desires.

Bo's reflections and his need to talk to his son in a way that he couldn't communicate with his father his incredibly moving. Hans' love for his father- his need to do the best and get his father's approval is so reminiscent of families. The damage and regret in the relationship between Bo and his father and the impact upon his mother is so heart breaking- a story we all know of from family and friends.

This is a powerful novel- simple in its premise but full of depth, love and life.

This should be read by everyone - a book that could help heal the divisions between men and fathers, the young and the old and hopefully peel back the suppression and pride to share love.

This could be viewed as a highly sentimental book - yes, sentiment is there but this is about an exploration of the generations ( in particular men in rural communities ) who were never encouraged to express emotions and the animosities and regrets that can foster

Lisa Ridzén has written a beautiful and life-affirming novel - a book that should make us all reflect .

Alice Menzies translation is pitch perfect.

And as an older male reader, I won't deny I was feeling tearful by the last page.

A must read of 2025

Quotes:

What I want to do is to scream that no one should treat their son the way he treats me, but I can’t move a muscle.

There’s nothing that compares to that, to raising a child. No one ever said a word about it before you got pregnant. That it would be this hard. How can something as natural as starting a family be so complicated?

I regret never thanking her ( my mother) for being her. For being so much better than my old man. I should have told her that, but I never did. I realise now that I let my anger towards him get in between us, and that meant I could never truly be happy when we spent time together.

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.. Also his relationship with his father and his son, Hans. He tells exactly what is it to feel like as an old man reliant upon carers, having no say in his care, and includes their entries into a diary of his care. Every care giver must read this book, The most emotional book I have ever read .

This story is packed with feelings and reminds you how important a decent functioning care system is for people at the end of their lives. After his faithful hound Sixten is removed from him, Bo spends more and more time looking back at his own life and those of his family and best friend as he gradually fades away.

A beautiful empathetic tale of a complicated man and a tough life. I was really captured by the world of Bo and his carers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Highly recommended

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 is running out of time - his wife is no longer living with him as her dementia progresses. His day is broken up by visits from his carers and his son. He has one friend, Ture, who he regularly speaks to and his dog.

He spends his time remembering his childhood, married life and his son. The same son who now wants to take his beloved dog away.

The story was beautiful and bittersweet. Bo, helpless with age unable to do anything for himself, watching everything he loved slipping away. Hans, his son, worrying about his parents and trying to do his best in an impossible situation.

Hard to read but beautifully written.

Beautiful, hopeful, and reflective.
As Bo nears the end of his life, his story and recollections are interwoven with the notes from his daily caregivers.

This isn't a page-turning plot driven novel, but a gentle expose of the care of an elderly man as he nears the end of his life. I think it's a novel many will relate to and it was handled with great warmth and empathy.

Bo is an elderly man whose wife has dementia, and no longer recognises him. He is fond of his dog Sixten, and has a complicated relationship with his son.
We hear his life from his POV.
It is a touching and honest accounting of a life lived with regret, resentment, love and all the emotions we may share, and experience.
This was nearly a 5-star read for me, had there been more action, more incidents, a bit more plot, but this is out of personal taste and I highly recommend it.

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 children and all the lovely times we had together. That is what fills Bo’s days in this beautifully written book about the slow ending of a long life.

Bo spends most of his days lying on his day bed in the kitchen with Sixten, his dog, lying by his side. Carers come in several times a day and his son, Hans, visits often. Fredrika, Bo’s wife, is in a nursing home with dementia and no longer recognises either of them. Theirs was a happy marriage and he misses her terribly. His relationship with his son is more complicated and takes a turn for the worse when Hans decides to re home Sixten as Bo can no longer look after him. That is a heartbreaking wrench for Bo who feels he has no control over anything in his life any more. The only person he can talk to about this is his best friend, Ture, but they can only speak on the phone now as neither is able to visit.

Bo is conflicted about so many things, especially his complicated relationship with his father when he was younger and later his relationship with Hans. Has he been a good father, he asks himself? He knows when he could have done better but struggled to show his emotions to Hans or to anyone else. He doesn’t know if Hans knows how much he loves him and is unable to tell him now.

The author is a doctoral student who is researching masculinity norms in small communities in the far north of Sweden. The idea for this novel came from reading the notes her grandfather’s carers left each day as he neared the end of his life. It does seem a very personal story despite the author being two generations younger than Bo.

5 stars - this is a beautiful first novel with an excellent translation.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.