'I Curse the River of Time' is a poignant exploration of the complex ties between a mother and her son. Arvid Jansen, grappling with an impending divorce, confronts another devastating blow: his mother's cancer diagnosis. Set against the backdrop of Communism's collapse in 1989 Europe, the story unveils Arvid's journey through present challenges and reflections on the past. From seaside holidays with his siblings to his ideological ardor during his youth, Arvid must reconcile his working-class allegiance with his mother's aspirations for him. Per Petterson weaves a tale that is as much about personal reckoning as it is about the deep bonds that define and confound us.