The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten , Alison McCullough (Translator)

genre: magical realism

The Ferryman, Nils Vik, has lived his life on the water.  Up and down the fjord his boat has traveled, ferrying people for every kind of circumstance and the stoic Nils has stood as witness to everything from birth to death.  So when he knows his time has come, he takes one last trip, gathering the ghosts of those who were a part of his life for decades or for one unforgettable journey.  He remembers the way their stories wove with his own to create the tapestry of his long life.

This spare and meaningful story ends so tenderly.  The excellent translation captures the stark beauty of the landscape and Nils's absolute knowledge of where he belongs - on the fjord, in his boat, with his people.  You can imagine him so easily, at the helm, and then when we get snippets of who is inside, it's so moving.  I definitely recommend the audio for pronunciations and for the gruff voice of Nils's beloved dog that joins him on his final crossing.