Lyrical, deceptively clever...the way the story folds together like the petals of a rose is one of the novel's pleasurable surprises...an intelligent journey from boyhood into manhood...
Daily Telegraph
Deeply atmospheric...concise beauty of his prose movingly captures the Norwegian landscape and rural way of life...This stunning novel will tell you more about the Norwegian countryside and psyche than the most enthusiastically well-informed guide book'
Daily Telegraph
Petterson catches so effectively the thing that haunts all of us, the knowledge of how fragile life is...He captures the essence of a man's existence with a clean-lined freshness that hits you like a burst of winter air - surprising and breathtaking...touching humour...the narrative is beautifully balanced...Petterson writes with robust unpretentiousness. His story gathers pace like growing up, and stimulates heart and mind like a brisk country walk.
Daily Express
Limpid prose...an impressive novel of rare and exemplary moral courage.
Independent on Sunday
A novel of considerable quality.
Scotsman
Remarkable...The genius of this beautiful, candid work lies in its tone of gentle reflection...A very special miracle of a book.
Irish Times
A luminous story...a genuine work of art...wonderfully resonant and rhythmic translation.
Independent