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The Secret of Snow

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What to expect

'This is a story about culture and identity and about fighting to keep your memories while being robbed of your history, but it's written with a warmth and humor that never leaves the reader alone on the journey' Fredrik Backman, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove

Máriddja is eight-five years old and more than a little eccentric. When she finds out she has cancer, her first thought isn't for herself. It's for her beloved husband. Without children or grandchildren, Máriddja and Biera have only ever had each other. She's determined to keep her diagnosis a secret from Biera, and to find the one person who might take care of him when she's gone.

Kaj is new to the village, recently engaged to the love of his life, and mourning the death of his mother. One day, he finds a box of Sámi handicrafts that once belonged to his mother, the carefully wrapped objects placed together like a crisp new set of jigsaw pieces. If he can solve the puzzle, it will unlock a secret he could have never imagined.

Tender, heart-wrenching and often laugh-out-loud funny, The Secret of Snow is a stunning, award-winning debut about family, loneliness and community. Perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and Jonas Jonnasson.

Critics Review

'An extraordinary story'
-Fredrik Backman, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove

'I have been reading, laughing, and crying. This is a debut novel, but that word almost sounds cliché. The author is part of the story, the dialect, and the Sámi memories. . . I am so glad that this story has been written.'
-Dast Magazine

'Tina Harnesk plays with language and lets the details speak. . . Instantly charming, melancholic, and poetic. . . bringing forth images of life rooted in the Sámi spiritual nature. It is often wild and hilarious. . . but the absurd is interlaced with realistic portrayals of defiant bodies, minds, and hearts. A brilliant debut.'
-Aftonbladet Söndag

'How is it possible that this is a debut novel? The book is believable and intricate with a rather large and colourful cast of characters. . . An earnest, unique, warm, and personal story that captivates, enthralls, and leaves a deep impression.'
-P4 Västernorrland

'Tina Harnesk makes her debut with a multifaceted novel from northern Sweden, with distinct roots in oral storytelling. . . She sprinkles her text with comedic similes and effective punchlines, but underneath the burlesque surface lies a throbbing pain. The Secret of Snow is a beautiful novel about two generations who are steeped in the northern Sámi experience.'
-Vi Läser

'Tina Harnesk lives on a mountain outside of Arvidsjaur and has joined the authors who are writing about Sami life and culture. And how she does it! Her novel is burlesque and daring, populated by colorful, unforgettable characters. But underneath the cheerful exterior rests a grief over the traditional reindeer herding life that was lost.'
-Ingalill Mosander, Aftonbladet

'This is a magnificent story and reading experience. Told with love and a language so vividly beautiful it almost makes the eyes of an old journalist and editor tear up. The phrasing is elegant and accurate, the language so colorful that you - even without any Sami connection - are unfazed by the Sami words and expressions and can truly see these people and places in your mind's eye while reading.'
-Norrbottens-Kuriren

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