Winter Stories

Emma — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Winter Stories, we meet a teenager on the run from social services with her younger half-sister and half-brother in tow, a young single mother struggling to provide adequately for her daughter, and an ex-convict striving to overcome personal shortcomings and build a relationship with his son. We watch these characters stumble, fall and climb to their feet again, even though the deck inevitably seems to be stacked against them. With empathy and sensitivity, Ingvild RishÃ¯ ¿ ½i beautifully illuminates the vulnerability of the human condition. In a time when levels of scepticism and distrust are rising, these stories remind us of the humanity that unites us all.

Brightly Shining

Emma — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Christmas is just around the corner, and Ronja and Melissa’s father is out of work. When ten-year-old Ronja hears about a job selling Christmas trees, she thinks it might be the stroke of luck they all need. Soon, the fridge fills with food and their father comes home smiling, covered in spruce needles. But the local pub has an irresistible pull and he quickly abandons his responsibilities.Melissa decides to take his place at the Christmas tree stand, working before and after school, and bringing Ronja with her. On rare breaks in the dark of a Norwegian December they dream of a brighter place of kindness and plenty – and find there are some people in the world who might help them.Small in stature but with an outsize impact on the reader, Brightly Shining has all the markings of a magicalmodern classic.

RishÃ¸i, Ingvild H. – The Bell Bookshop

Winter Stories

Brightly Shining