Part of Series

Neshov Family

Series · 7 books

By Anne B. Ragde

Just before Christmas on a farm in Northern Norway, 80-year-old Anna Neshov, matriarch of a troubled family, is taken gravely ill. Her three sons have been quietly immersed in their work: one an undertaker, one a window-dresser, and the eldest running the family farm, but now they are forced to reunite for the first time in many years. Their personalities are as disparate as their careers, and tensions mount from the second they meet, climaxing over Christmas dinner when the matter of inheritance prompts the revelation of disturbing family secrets. Anne B. Ragde has created an engrossing dark comedy brought vividly to life through extraordinary characters. While perfectly in tune with their professions the Neshov sons as a family are little short of dysfunctional; nevertheless, the real theme of the novel is a sense of belonging. The farm itself defines this, with its power to draw people back to their roots, whether they like it or not.

Avg Rating

3.81

Number of Ratings

4,433

5 STARS

23%

4 STARS

44%

3 STARS

25%

2 STARS

1 STARS

goodreads

Author

Anne B. Ragde

Author · 23 books

Norwegian author Anne B. Ragde (b 1957) made her literary debut in 1986 with the children’s book HALLO! HER ER JO! Since then, she has written several books for children and young adults, among them a biography about Sigrid Undset, for which she was awarded the Brage Prize. Her first novel for adults, EN TIGER FOR EN ENGEL was published in 1990. She has since written several novels, crime novels and short story collections. Her novel BERLIN POPLARS received a warm welcome from both readers and critics, and has so far sold more than 250 000 copies in Norway, and is translated to more than 15 languages. It was reviewed favorably by the Financial Times on April 28, 2008. The sequels HERMIT CRABS and PASTURES GREEN were a no lesser success. The trilogy has been made into a TV series, which had more than 1 million viewers when showed on Norwegian Television.