Praise for Brightly Shining : Named a Best Book of the Year by Oprah Daily Nominated for the Dublin Literary Award Finalist for Big Other Book Award for Translation "An emotionally packed little gem . As the story unfolds, your heart aches for the girls--but also for all of us in this world we''ve built, where money too often means more than kindness. And yet, there are small joys to be found, and a dose of Christmas magic is delivered too."-- Jen Doll, New York Times Book Review "A bittersweet tale of Christmas past."-- Ron Charles, Washington Post "A winning holiday tale with just the right proportions of hardship and hope . For all of its irony about holiday consumerism, Ms. Rishøi''s book never quite gives up on the spirit of Christmas."-- Sam Sacks, Wall Street Journal "This tender novel does exactly what it promises: shines brightly despite the darkness.
"-- Oprah Daily , "Best Books of 2024" "Ronja''s ever hopeful voice is tenderly rendered from Norwegian by Caroline Waight."-- Suzi Feay, Financial Times "Explores capitalism, caretaking, and loneliness with sparkling prose and a gorgeous Nordic setting."-- Electric Literature "The perfect literary stocking stuffer."-- Julia Vitale, Air Mail "An unexpected emotional force disguised by its small stature . Radiates hope and goodness, a perfect companion for the holiday season."-- Shelf Awareness "A beautifully written story . Wonderfully festive."-- Claire Allfree, Scottish Daily Mail "Heart-warming and memorable.
"-- Michael Giltz, Parade "Charming . Rishøi''s choice to tell the story from the 10-year-old''s point of view proves fruitful, as Ronja conveys genuine hope amid the family''s dire circumstances along with hints of wisdom beyond her years. This has the feel of a classic holiday tale."-- Publishers Weekly "Told with the clear-eyed candor of young Ronja, this beautifully crafted novel explores the challenges of a child''s unpredictable life with an alcoholic father and the band of kind people who try to help, including an older neighbor and the tree-stand worker about to become a father himself. This moving tale, with not a single wasted word, asks how we keep going when hope fades and life''s burdens become too much to bear, leaning on the power of imagination and connection to find a way forward."-- Booklist "There is real magic in this charming novel about care, community, and the kindness of strangers. It is a deeply affecting story, beautifully told, that is sure to touch the hearts of many readers."-- Douglas Stuart, Booker Prize-winning author of Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo "Ingvild Rishøi''s Brightly Shining is a dazzling contemporary fable of hardship and grit about two sisters who refuse to lose hope.
Curl up with it for instant hygge and a warming of the heart."-- Lily King, author of Writers & Lovers "Deceptively simple, deceptively innocent, told from the perspective of a bright-eyed, too-wise child, Brightly Shining has the power of a classic. You will read it in a single sitting, then carry it in your heart."-- Claire Messud, author of This Strange Eventful History " Brightly Shining feels fresh as spruce needles and ancient as bedrock. The clear and hopeful voice of Ronja slips easily into your heart and takes up residence like a breathless memory, like a song of unbearable beauty. I want to read more Ingvild Rishøi, and the sooner the better."-- Leif Enger, author of I Cheerfully Refuse "Ingvild Rishøi creates distinct yet multifaceted characters. The protagonist Ronja is truly precious but it''s not only her that we are taken by as the story unfolds .
A vivid story inducing laughter and tears, indignation and class-consciousness and, not least, a major dose of Christmas spirit."-- Adresseavisen (Norway) "The portrayal of two sisters'' attempts to survive Christmas is masterful, inescapable and deeply moving."-- Aftonbladet (Sweden) "Probably going to stay with me for the rest of my life . A magnificently beautiful story, at the intersection between Astrid Lindgren and H.C. Andersen . In the same league as the absolute best that has been written in Nordic literature." -- FriFagbevegelse (Norway) "A little miracle of literature.
"-- Les Echos (France) "Ingvild Rishøi performs an extraordinary balancing act . Through ten-year-old Ronja''s eyes, the author portrays a tragic upbringing--but with the help of Ronja''s lively imagination she succeeds in turning the novel into a magical Christmas story."-- Dagbladet (Norway) "Rishøi doesn''t lose control for even a second. Her reins are tight, the words are exactly where they ought to be . Rishøi makes her vulnerable and tender Christmas story grow into the reader and take place there."-- Dagens Nyheter (Sweden) "A poetic, magical Christmas tale that has the potential of becoming a modern classic."-- Bücher Magazin (Germany) "With its finetuned and striking meditation of the sparkling Christmas dream--and for many icy reality--[it has] all the makings of a modern classic in its genre. Rishøi makes Ronja and Melissa timeless heroes in their search for a Christmas where the adult world''s ruthlessness, chaos, and short-lived sparks of benevolence no longer set the limits.
"-- Expressen (Sweden) "[Ingvild Rishøi] has an unmistakable talent for conveying a lot with very few words. Meanings and feelings flow quietly between the lines and involves the reader to interpret the text for themselves . This story settles well and thoroughly in its reader and stays there. In any case, I''m left with a lump in my throat and a moved heart."-- Litteratursiden (Denmark) "Simply the most heartbreaking Christmas story . Rishøi''s social realistic style is ingenious. With very few words, very few thin strokes and ultra-short dialogues, she succeeds in portraying Ronja''s inner emotions."-- Jyllands-Posten (Denmark).