Point of View

When the Cranes Fly South is unique in its perspective as it is written largely from the second point of view as Bo addresses his wife, Frederika, directly through much of the novel. In this way, Bo references their shared past and presents details of his current life to his wife who no longer remembers him due to her dementia.

This point of view has numerous effects on the novel. First, it gives Bo someone to relate to personally when most of the people around him seem, to him, to be working against him. He believes that Hans, Ellinor, and most of his carers are being cruel when they plan to take Sixten from him. Frederika cannot weigh in on the issue because of her dementia, so she is a ready ally for him. She can take whatever side he needs her to take. While...