2022
‘It won’t be long now,’ Idun said.
‘You don’t have to arrange anything for me,’ I said.
Idun smiled.
‘Of course we do,’ Idun said.
‘No, it’s fine,’ I said.
‘Are you afraid it will be too much fuss?’
I gave a slight nod.
‘Are you in a lot of pain?’
Another nod.
‘But don’t tell dad anything,’ I said.
It’s winter, and it’s snowing, but not everyone is out playing in the snow. Some can’t do anything but stand at the window looking out at the snow crystals. Some doesn’t want their dad to know that it hurts, even though dad knows that they're ill, seriously ill. Some are about to celebrate their birthday. Some are soon going to die.
Quick to read but hard to forget. A book that both comforts and touches. (...) This is literature on a completely different level than what I encountered in my sentimental devouring youth.
Sometimes the most low-voiced stories are the best at producing great emotions … Totland’s low-voiced and snow-filled young adult novel is a quiet storm – a raw and gripping read.
If you are to read only one YA novel this year it should by Angel in the Snow by Anders Totland.
Snow Angels is well written, precise, easy to read and subtly illustrated by Rune Markhus … Totland’s crystal of a novel made me cry and that is quite alright.
Anders Totland
Sara Berntsen
