When the Cranes Fly South

★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10

320 pages

What’s it about?

Bo is towards the end of his life. His days consist of caring for his beloved dog, Sixten, and visits from his care team. When his son Lars begins to think it is too dangerous for Bo to walk Sixten- real heartache begins.

What did it make me think about?

Aging

Should I read it?

Oh, this was a good one! It was also incredibly sad. Bo was a beautifully written character, and everyone was doing their best. But aging and death are just not easy. Finding the balance of keeping our loved ones safe without treating them like children is a difficult line to walk. I think this book would be a good selection for anyone dealing with elderly parents. It gently reminds us that everyone deserves their dignity. Especially at the end of life.

A passage I marked

"I don't know when it happened, but we've switched roles. He has never come close to being as big or strong as I was, but he has all the authority now. He's the one in charge of my life. I'm the reason he's alive today, but I'm also the one who has to bow down, who has to go along with his decisions. He's the person people listen to, not me."