Winter stories

Can a lifetime of struggle be distilled into a single moment? Oslo-based Rishøi, author of the best-selling novel Brightly Shining (2024), shows it's possible in her riveting latest, three stories examining the multitudes contained within just a few short hours. With sympathetic characters, expert pacing, and palpable tension, Rishøi builds each tale toward a gripping conclusion. First, a young mother, almost out of cash, finds kindness from a stranger, her daughter's dreamy-eyed take on the world for once winning out over her own harsh reality. Then, a man recently released from prison prepares for a much-anticipated visit from his son and reflects on his relationship with the boy's mother, as a fuller picture emerges of what drove him to crime. Finally, a 17-year-old out of options tries taking her half-siblings to a refuge, under the looming threat of discovery or disaster. In a department-store fitting room, a pillow shop, or a snowed-in country road, Winter Stories explores how seemingly everyday interactions can carry extraordinary consequences. The past meets the present as promises, regrets, and betrayals intertwine; relationships that are over but not forgotten surface for characters tracing the choices that led to their current crucible moments--all while Rishøi finds light amid the darkness of a Norwegian winter.

Rishøi (Brightly Shining) deftly creates three vivid, completely separate experiences in this story collection. In "We Can't Help Everyone," a young single mother struggles to tries to shield her four-year-old daughter from adult worries but isn't always successful at changing her compassion for others. In "The Right Thomas," the title character is surprised that he's going to be a father but will do anything to make sure mother and baby are cared for. "Siblings" features eldest daughter Rebbeka, who is managing her family's household after her mother becomes less reliable. Nearing graduation, Rebbeka reaches a breaking point, and the only path she sees is to take her siblings and run away. Rishøi uses just the right words to bring these characters to life, allowing them their strengths and weaknesses and establishing feelings of connection to readers. Although the difficulties are real and could be overwhelming, bright sparks of hope come from moments in which strangers lift up and express belief in the characters. VERDICT Every page in this slim story collection packs a punch. A great suggestion for fans of Claire Keegan, Margot Livesey, or Ann Patchett.--Stacey Hayman