A review by livrad
Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name: A Novel by Vendela Vida

5.0

Abandoned by her mother at 14 and mourning her father’s passing as an adult, Clarissa discovers her biological father is a man from Lapland, a Sami priest. Telling no one, she disappears to northern Finland to find him and uncover anything she can about her mother, learning about the Sami culture along the way.

This novel had a beautiful starkness. With an economy of words and a darkly witty tone, every phrase and line perfectly propelled the story. Every facet was wielded with precision and craft, and it is clear why it was named a NYT notable book of the year. Usually such quiet and artful books aren’t exactly page turners, but this was an exception. It will most likely make my top fiction list of the year.

CW: intellectual disability slurs, sexual assault