The River in My Backyard

The River in My Backyard by Mikkel Aaland is a memoir that explores themes of family, heritage, and healing, using a literal river in Norway and a metaphorical "river" of ancestral blood as central metaphors. The book combines Aaland's personal narrative with his photographs and vintage family images, detailing a journey that delves into family secrets, madness, and ultimately leads to atonement and inner peace, culminating in a pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash.