When the Cranes Fly South

A Novel

De: Lisa Ridzén, Alice Menzies - translator

Narrado por: Ifan Huw Dafydd

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE SWEDISH BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD • A profoundly moving debut novel that follows an elderly man’s attempts to mend his relationship with his son before it’s too late: an emotional story of love, friendship, fatherhood, dogs, and atonement that is already an international sensation.

"One of those ‘you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to buy twenty copies and give them to everyone you love’ books.”—Fredrik Backman, bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, in The New Yorker

“A powerful, sneakily emotional meditation on life and death, and the foundational relationships in our lives. This is a book that will echo in your soul.”—Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

Bo is running out of time. Yet time is one of the few things he’s got left. These days, his quiet existence is broken up only by daily visits from his home care team. Fortunately, he still has his beloved elkhound Sixten to keep him company … though now his son, with whom Bo has had a rocky relationship, insists upon taking the dog away, claiming that Bo has grown too old to properly care for him. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotion, leading Bo to take stock of his life, his relationships, and the imperfect way he’s expressed his love over the years.

©2025 Lisa Ridzén (P)2025 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A tender tale about aging, our own and others, and the quiet brutality of love. About what being a man is, and what being a human is, about fathers and sons and fathers and dogs. It’s really a book for anyone who’s had to say goodbye. The kind of book you give to someone when you’re really trying to say 'I’ve been thinking about you' but don’t know how.”—Fredrik Backman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove

A beautiful tender read

I loved the narrator of Bo. The book touches so tenderly on issues of death and dying, relationships both family snd friends and the importance of pets in our lives. It's a beautifully told story.

Powerful

Beautifully written. Realistic story of aging and death. Characters were both endearing and frustrating—real life. I wish I would have read this before my parents died.

Beautiful story and performance

The story is so simple, but so universally true and heartfelt. The narrator was a perfect choice for this English translation, playing the role with such honesty it was hard to believe he wasn't the real character. A lifetime of hate and love, despair and hope, joy and sadness are all wrapped up in the final weeks of Bo's life, seamlessly told through memory, present moments and private thoughts. Truly one of the best books I've read.

An ordinary and extraordinary story about a father’s last months. Touching, sad, funny, and ultimately satisfying.

I liked the every-dayness of the story, its ordinary trials that became so difficult, the relationships that evolved.

A Life Lived

An old man coming to the end remembers his life in poignant snap shots while dealing with his wife away in memory care and his son's concern about caring for his beloved dog. The relationships that form our lives and how they seem when looked back on thru the years. Beautifully written, very moving.

Exquisite story of a subject we all tend to ignore

The human condition of the aging described in exquisite detail from the perspective of an “old man” who simply wants to spend his final years with his faithful, fur friend by his side. Highly recommend the audio version.

A Beautiful, Emotional Perspective on Aging and Love

When the Cranes Fly South touched me so deeply. It gave such a moving perspective on what it must feel like to be old, lonely, and yet so loved. Reading it stirred up so many emotions, especially since my own grandpa is 93 and living alone after losing both his wife and his dog. My mom and aunt are his caretakers, so this story felt incredibly close to home.

The way the book captured the inner world of the old father was both heartbreaking and beautiful. I felt every bit of his grief, longing, and quiet dignity. It’s rare to read something that makes you stop and think about life, aging, and family love in such a profound way.

Start to finish, this was a stunning, emotional read—beautifully told, unforgettable, and deeply human.

The narrator was great!

Such a difficult book to listen for me, very sad but believe it is a good lesson of how to care for our elderly loved ones.

I enjoyed this story

It was a beautiful story of love and relationships. A poignant reminder of what is important.

The best book I have listened to in a while

Another book from the Goodreads Summer Reading Challenge — and I’m glad, because it’s pushing me to read stories I wouldn’t normally pick up. This is definitely one of them. If I had come across it on my own, I probably would have passed it by, but I’m so grateful the challenge led me to it! I loved hearing about their way of life in Sweden, and it really made me reflect on my own life and how I don’t want to have regrets when the time comes. By the end, I had tears in my eyes. I absolutely LOVED this book!