When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

 

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.

When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen will be published on 15th May 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for a review copy.