The Crane Wife

Praise forThe Crane Wife :

“When George and his daughter, with their seemingly ordinary quirks and heartbreaks, are befriended by an enigmatic woman, art, beauty, and myth become living forces in their lives.  This poignant novel echoes with the longings and sorrows of the ages. But what came as a most delightful surprise is the humor and humanity that Patrick Ness brings to this story.”
—Eowyn Ivey, New York Times bestselling author of The Snow Child

“Patrick Ness is on top form here . . . The Crane Wife is a tale full of bittersweet wonder with a very human soul.  A treat.”
—Matt Haig, author of The Radleys

“This is a novel that treads with feather-deft steps through ordinary lives touched by magic, then takes flight on wing beats of powerful storytelling.”—Ali Shaw, author of The Girl with Glass Feet

“What’s striking is the beauty and humanity of Ness’s writing.”
—Ben East, The Observer

“The Crane Wife is a special novel: a perfect fusion of surreal imagery and beautifully crafted internal logic.”
—Helen Brown, The Telegraph

Enthralling and delightful . . . The dialogue is natural and inspired, and sparkles with latent tension.”
—Leyla Sanai, The Independent
 
“A fusion of mid-life crisis comedy and classic storytelling.”
—Kate Saunders, The Times
 
“Ness is a highly accomplished storyteller and the gravitational pull of the earthbound strand of his tale is strong enough to stop it from floating off into whimsy. He also has a rare ability to cut poignancy with humour. . . .the mood he creates is unsettling and potent.”
—Michael Prodger, Financial Times
 
“The story is lively and often quite funny.”
—Ursula Le Guin, The Guardian
 
“The Crane Wife is a magical and beautiful book – spellbinding from start to finish.”
—Herald on Sunday (New Zealand)