This is one of those spare little novels that you read in a couple hours, and then it stays with you a while...like, forever. The setting is beautifully invoked- you can hear gulls cry and feel the cutting wind off the sea. The unnamed heroin is an unforgetable character- part plucky kid sister "Littless" from Hemmingway's Nick Adams stories, part Mersault from "The Stranger", and a good bit of Scout Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird" (but imagine Scout older, wised-up, and struggling to deal with MUCH more complicated feelings for her brother) By the close, male readers will wish they could insinuate their way into the pages, and take a shot at rescuing "Sistermine" from herself. But, it's hopeless- she's found Siberia all right. A bleak, haunting story of love and loss.

Having just completed, "Out Stealing Horses," I was really anxious to get my hands on this one. But I was sadly disappointed. In essence, I missed the poetic beauty and earthy simplicity that gave me so much pleasure the first time around.

I was swept away by Per Petterson's outstanding novel, "Out Stealing Horses" and I was literally waiting at the door for the UPS driver to deliver this latest release. I was not disappointed! However, this not an easy read and it took me a little longer to get thru this story than normal, but it was well worth the trouble.

This is not your ordinary "coming of age" novel, but pure poetry in the way the author can put words to paper to make the reader actually feel like you're right there with that cold Scandinavian wind blowing in your face. Like another reviewer stated, there are some loose ends in the story but it's my feeling that Mr. Petterson intends to leave those ends hanging in order to let the reader put their own personal feelings into play as to the how's and why's of what he's trying to tell us.

I highly recommend this book and although it sometimes seems to drag at the beginning, stick with it, savor every word because you will not be disappointed when you finish this gem.