‘An extraordinary story’ Fredrik Backman, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
Meet Máriddja: eccentric, eighty-five years old, and facing a cancer diagnosis. She’s determined to keep the truth about her illness from her dear husband Biera, while also finding someone who can take care of him once she’s gone.
Meet Kaj: a new transplant to the village, recently engaged to Mimmi, and mourning the death of his mother. One day, when Kaj unexpectedly finds a box of Sámi-the indigenous people of Scandinavia-handicrafts belonging to his mother, he unlocks something he never anticipated, something that will change his life for years to come.
A debut that is at turns tender, funny and devastating, The Secret of Snow introduces a cast of loveable, quirky characters perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and Jonas Jonasson. Translated by Alice Menzies.
Meet Máriddja: eccentric, eighty-five years old, and facing a cancer diagnosis. She’s determined to keep the truth about her illness from her dear husband Biera, while also finding someone who can take care of him once she’s gone.
Meet Kaj: a new transplant to the village, recently engaged to Mimmi, and mourning the death of his mother. One day, when Kaj unexpectedly finds a box of Sámi-the indigenous people of Scandinavia-handicrafts belonging to his mother, he unlocks something he never anticipated, something that will change his life for years to come.
A debut that is at turns tender, funny and devastating, The Secret of Snow introduces a cast of loveable, quirky characters perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and Jonas Jonasson. Translated by Alice Menzies.
Reviews
'An extraordinary story'
-Fredrik Backman, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
'I have been reading, laughing, and crying. This is a debut novel, but that word almost sounds cliché. The author is part of the story, the dialect, and the Sámi memories. . . I am so glad that this story has been written.'
-Dast Magazine
'Tina Harnesk plays with language and lets the details speak. . . Instantly charming, melancholic, and poetic. . . bringing forth images of life rooted in the Sámi spiritual nature. It is often wild and hilarious. . . but the absurd is interlaced with realistic portrayals of defiant bodies, minds, and hearts. A brilliant debut.'
-Aftonbladet Söndag
'How is it possible that this is a debut novel? The book is believable and intricate with a rather large and colourful cast of characters. . . An earnest, unique, warm, and personal story that captivates, enthralls, and leaves a deep impression.'
-P4 Västernorrland
'Tina Harnesk makes her debut with a multifaceted novel from northern Sweden, with distinct roots in oral storytelling. . . She sprinkles her text with comedic similes and effective punchlines, but underneath the burlesque surface lies a throbbing pain. The Secret of Snow is a beautiful novel about two generations who are steeped in the northern Sámi experience.'
-Vi Läser
'Tina Harnesk lives on a mountain outside of Arvidsjaur and has joined the authors who are writing about Sami life and culture. And how she does it! Her novel is burlesque and daring, populated by colorful, unforgettable characters. But underneath the cheerful exterior rests a grief over the traditional reindeer herding life that was lost.'
-Ingalill Mosander, Aftonbladet
'This is a magnificent story and reading experience. Told with love and a language so vividly beautiful it almost makes the eyes of an old journalist and editor tear up. The phrasing is elegant and accurate, the language so colorful that you - even without any Sami connection - are unfazed by the Sami words and expressions and can truly see these people and places in your mind's eye while reading.'
-Norrbottens-Kuriren