A review by te_books
Brightly Shining by Ingvild H. Rishøi

emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Absolutely gutting. A sad Christmas story that’s a powerful reminder for how challenging the holidays can be, especially for economically struggling families. Themes of addiction, loss, and trying to hold it together. While originally Norwegian, the story transcends the setting and I easily pictured Ronja, her youthfully innocent Christmas wishes, and all her encounters with the kindness of strangers. The whole story is told in a very stream-of-consciousness way from the perspective of Ronja that’s energetic and fast paced, even during slower moments. The only thing keeping me from loving the story was the confusing ending. The book felt very well translated— I think my confusion about the finish was only because of how abstract and ambiguous it was. 
Thanks to Grove Atlantic Publishing and NetGalley for the English translation ARC.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings