I found this book not quite as compelling as Out Stealing Horses, but I still found it wonderfully crafted and moving. It's a brutal and yet lyrical account of grieving, on par with-- though very different from-- The Year of Magical Thinking. Petterson, I find, conveys isolation like no other author, and uses, again, setting to wonderful effect. Descriptions of the wilderness of Norway make me feel like I've been there myself, and the character's relationships loom large. After reading this book, I felt the need to sit quietly and reflect for a while before moving on to the next one-- always a good sign.