THE LONG RETURN
The Long Return is a collection of essays, field notes, and reflections written from Norway and beyond.
More than a century and a half after my great-great-grandfather left Norway for America, I now find myself tracing the journey in reverse, building a life in the country he once left behind.
In 2026, several timelines meet. It has been ten years since my first visit to Norway, five years since I left full-time life in the United States, and nearly two years since I applied for residency in Norway.
Part field journal and part personal practice, this site explores place, belonging, wonder, and the long process of finding one's way home.
I write about Norway and the U.S. Midwest, migration and family history, music, nature, grief, and the stories that connect us across distance and time.
About Me →
Notes from a life between landscapes.
A few of my favorite things.
Below you'll find some of my favorite books related to Norway and Scandinavia. Images are clickable (book links will go to the book's page on Bookshop.org).
Norwegian Wood: Chopping, Stacking, and Drying Wood the Scandinavian Way (Lars Mytting)
Norwegian Wood provides useful advice on the rustic hows and whys of taking care of your heating needs, but it's also a thoughtful attempt to understand man's age-old predilection for stacking wood and passion for open fires.
Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings (Neil Price)
Based on the latest archaeological and textual evidence, Children of Ash and Elm tells the story of the Vikings on their own terms: their politics, their cosmology and religion, their material world. Known today for a stereotype of maritime violence, the Vikings exported new ideas, technologies, and beliefs to the lands and peoples they encountered.
The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day (Linda Åkeson McGurk)
In The Open-Air Life, Swedish-American writer Linda McGurk introduces readers to a wide array of Nordic customs and practices that focus on slowing down and spending more time outdoors.
The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living (Meik Wiking)
Why are Danes the happiest people in the world? The answer, says Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, is Hygge. Loosely translated, Hygge--pronounced Hoo-ga--is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being.
Winter Swimming: The Nordic Way Towards a Healthier and Happier Life (Susanna Søberg)
This beautifully illustrated exploration of cold-water traditions in Scandinavia and around the world shows how it can have a significant positive impact on our physical and mental health, confidence and well-being, providing such a boost to body and soul.
Growth of the Soil (Knut Hamsun)
When it was first published in 1917, Growth of the Soil was immediately recognized as a masterpiece. Ninety years later it remains a transporting literary experience. In the story of Isak, who leaves his village to clear a homestead and raise a family amid the untilled tracts of the Norwegian back country, Knut Hamsun evokes the elemental bond between humans and the land.
The Emigrants: The Emigrant Novels (Vilhelm Moberg)
Considered one of Sweden's greatest 20th-century writers, Vilhelm Moberg created the characters Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson to portray the joys and tragedies of daily life for early Swedish immigrants in America. His consistently faithful depiction of these humble people's lives is a major strength of the Emigrant Novels.
Giants in the Earth: A Saga of the Prairie (O. E. Rölvaag )
O. E. Rölvaag's classic novel of a family of Norwegian settlers in the Great Plains--a vivid and intimate portrait of the nineteenth-century immigrant experience and the exploration of America.
The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life (Anu Partanen)
Finnish journalist Anu Partanen compares life in the U.S. and Nordic countries, focusing on key relationships like family, gender, work, and government. After moving to America in 2008, Partanen realized the complexities and anxieties of American life and argues that the U.S. can learn from these models to create a healthier, more equitable society.
Kon-Tiki (Thor Heyerdahl)
Kon-Tiki recounts biologist Thor Heyerdahl's daring 4,300-mile journey across the Pacific Ocean on a balsa raft to prove his theory that Polynesia was settled by ancient people from South America. In 1947, Heyerdahl and five companions set sail from Peru, enduring storms, sharks, and isolation for three months before reaching the island of Puka Puka. Kon-Tiki is a timeless tale of adventure and courage.
Nordic Tales: Folktales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark
Transcribed by 19th-century folklorists, this collection of Nordic tales is brought to life with vibrant contemporary illustrations that evoke dragons, princesses, and the northern lights. Magical, humorous, cozy, and chilling, Nordic Tales will captivate fairy tale lovers and those fascinated by the rich traditions of Nordic culture.
The Mystery of Nils: Learn Norwegian, Enjoy the Story (Werner Skalla)
The Mystery of Nils is an engaging and educational story designed to teach Norwegian through a compelling narrative. The story uses the most frequently used Norwegian words and includes grammar explanations, exercises, and multimedia resources to make learning the language fun and effective. Ideal for beginners, The Mystery of Nils blends language learning with an intriguing tale.