When We Sing takes place in the 1970s. A family has left the city to live in an isolated house in the countryside. The young girl Agnes observes the adults’ lives and her own family after her parents lose their baby. The story is addressed to the nameless child. A foster child enters the family as a hope, but the parents are unable to provide the care needed. Violations – as well as an exploration of her own sexuality – intertwine, adding a darker undertone to Agnes’ longing for close – ness and a kind of solace.

Merethe Lindstrøm can portray life’s fragility like no one else. Her brilliantly beautiful, tender, and precise language contributes to making When We Sing an extraordinary read.