About two years ago, I was lucky enough to be accepted to an academic conference in Helsinki.  And because I don’t really deal in the world of reality all that well, I immediately went to the Library Catalog and found some books set in Helsinki in order to get a feel for the place.  Though these books didn’t really help me navigate the streets of Helsinki, it did give me a few wonderful weeks of reading, and the incredible range of stories that were currently being told in Finland.

The facts, so to speak, are these: Finland is the eighth-largest country in Europe by area, and with a population of roughly 5.5 (including over 9,000 indigenous people known as the Sami) , it is also the least sparsely populated country within the European Union.  Historically speaking, it was considered a part of the country of Sweden, before becoming incorporated into the Russian Empire in 1809.  Though it declared its independence during the Russian Revolution in 1917, it was still deeply effected by the lasting violence of the Russian Civil War, which divided Finland’s population, and resulted in the Soviet Union maintaining political influence over the country throughout the Cold War.  Finnish nationalism was sustained, particularly during the time it was under Russian rule, through folk tales and poems.  Novels by Finnish authors began to appear in the late 19th century, beginning with Aleksis Kivi’s Seven Brothers in 1870.  Because of literature and identity are so bound together, Finland is a highly literate country that genuinely loves its books.

Finland has been ranked among the top performers by international organizations for education, civil liberties, quality of life, freedom of the press, and human development.  It is also home to the Akateeminen bookstore, one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, according to a number of tourist and literary sites.  From personal experience, I can also say that the people I met were genuinely kind–especially the reindeer herder I met at the Hakaniemi Market (a beautiful outdoor market featuring crafts, food, and reindeer pelts), who very patiently explained all about the reindeer in Lapland to me, even after I got all excited, because the only thing I knew about Lapland was that the Snow Queen lived there, and maintained an impressive equanimity when I face-planted into the display of reindeer pelts he had for sale (the softest. things. ever.  Seriously).

So pull up some salmon, and come along with me on a brief tour of the literature of Finland in all its many and wonderfully varied forms, with the benefits of remaining jet-lag free!

Tales from Moominvalley: Tove Jansson is probably the most well-known of Finland’s authors, mostly because of her utterly charming Moomins, a family of fairytale animals who kind of resemble hippos.  The Moomin family is made up of Moominmamma, Moominpappa, and their son, Moomintroll, who live in the Moominvalley with their many friends and neighbors.  Though the Moomins were created for children, the lessons and messages in the stories are just as meaningful and engaging for adults, perhaps even more so, because Jansson’s stories are so multi-layered and the messages are presented subtly.  She stated in interviews throughout her life that the characters in the books were inspired by her friends and family, but that she herself was a combination of Moomintroll and Little My, the little girl who lives with the Moomns and is brash, disrespectful, delights in disorder, but, ultimately, is a good friend to those she loves.  I love that Jansson made her own bad qualities into the protagonist of her book, because it makes it so much easier for readers to appreciate everything about themselves, good and bad, as well.

The Unknown Soldier: Väinö Linna’s first major novel is considered a classic work of Finnish literature, and offers a stunningly, often brutally honest look into the lived experience of the Continuation War, fought between Finland and the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1944 (though a part of World War Two, it was also seen as a war for Finnish independence).  Linna specifically wanted to combat the notion of the stupidly loyal Finnish soldier, and thus portrayed men from all across the country, their inner thoughts, fears, and dreams, and their very, very real experiences on the front-lines of war, with many stories drawn from Linna’s own battle experiences.  Though the English translation of the book edited the harsh language that Linna used, it is still an eye-opening read that deserves a much wider audience.

The Healer: Antti Tuomainen’s dystopian crime thriller was an enormous hit in Finland, and this translation by Lola Rogers conveys the intensity of the story deftly, making for an engrossing, and sometimes genuinely unsettling read.  Set in a near future where climate change has led to Helsinki disappearing under flood waters, ravaged by diseases and torn about by social collapse, Tuomainen tells the story of Tapani Lehtinen, a poet who had resolved to remain in Helsinki, along with his journalist wife, Johnana.  But when Johnana disappears while hunting down a serial killer, Tapani risks everything to find her–and, in doing so, uncovers the deadly secrets his wife was hiding.  Secrets that tie her much closer to the murders than Tapani ever dreamed.  Antti Tuomainen has a very sparse writing style, making the emotions and revelations in this book feel like a sucker-punch.

The Year of the Hare: Arto Paasilinna’s utterly charming story was first published in 1975, at the height of the “return to native” movement, but this modern-day-fable is just as readable and prescient today.  Helsinki journalist Kaarlo Vatanen accidentally hits a young hare on the road one night, but rather than driving on, he stops and tends to the hare (who survives, Mom!), ultimately abandoning his job, his wife, and his life to follow the hare into the wild.  Together, Kaarlo and the hare stick together, getting into a number of odd, surreal, and bizarrely funny adventures together, gradually wandering father and farther away from civilization.  Though some have said the translation is a little clunky in places, this is a gentle, charming story of two of the most unlikely friends you can imagine, on a journey of self-discovery and solitude that can be read in a few hours–but will brighten your entire day.

Until next time, dear readers…safe travels!

As I type, dear readers, the rain has at last ceased (for now, at least…), and the wind is howling outside; a suitable atmosphere indeed for those of us who love horror novels and ghost stories, but hardly a fit setting for those anxious for a bit of spring and a helping a sunshine.

Now, I fully understand that the rain is necessary, and I can accept that we don’t precisely live in an area that is guarantee nice–or even reliable–weather on a regular basis.  But even I, who am a lover of all things stormy and dreary, have to admit that the gloom of a rainy, windy spring can get a trifle wearing after a while.

Sunlight has a number of health benefits for the human body…most importantly, it causes the body to produce serotonin, which helps us feel alert, focused, and positive (and also help us sleep at night, when that serotonin gets converted to melatonin to make us sleepy when it’s dark).  This is part of the reason why, when the weather is cold and rainy, you want nothing more than to curl up until a comforter and ignore everyone…at least, I’m assuming other people feel that way.  It’s not just me, right?

Now, I’m not really about to propose that reading about sunshine can have the same effects as sitting in the sun, but I am arguing that it can make these rainy, windswept days a bit more entertaining.  Many of these books may also be beneficial if you are suffering from a case of literary wanderlust, and need a few moments’ of far-flung adventure in the safety of your own reading nook.  So come and take a literary adventure with us today.  You won’t even need to worry about sunscreen! *

*Unless you choose to read outside.  Then you might want to worry about sunscreen.  And a hat.

The Sun is God: We’ve discussed Adrian McKinty’s Irish noir novels here before, but I was surprised and quite excited to hear that he’s also written an historic mystery, set in one of the most bizarre colonies to emerge from the Imperial Projects of the 19th Century.  In 1902, August Engelhardt, a German subject, arrived in the colony of German New Guinea, with the intention of starting his own colony of sun worshippers, who would live off the land and consume only coconuts.  Seriously.  They were to be known as cocovores.  The colony wasn’t really successful; within a few years, Engelhardt would be the only white inhabitant on the island of Kabakon, but he himself remained until is death in 1919.  There were stories of German troops ships passing by during World War One and slowing down to wave at him as they sailed by.  There were also stories of some mysterious deaths taking place on the island….and those stories create the backbone for McKinty’s tale, featuring the somewhat enigmatic former British military police officer Will Prior, who is called upon, as a neutral party, to investigate the goings-on at Kabakon, with some seriously unexpected results.  I’ve personally always found Engelhardt’s bizarre colony a fascinating story, so this blend of historic detail and murder mystery, set in one of the most remote places on earth, was an instant success.  Interestingly, McKinty actually visited Kabakon while writing this book, so the setting is a spot-on representation.

The Comedians: Considered one of Graham Greene’s most overlooked masterpieces, this novel also focuses on a journey to a remote and distant world…this time, though the land is Haiti of the 1960, a country in the grip of the corrupt and ruthless Papa Doc Duvalier and the Tontons Macoute, his nightmare-inducing secret police.  The travelers are Brown a hotelier, Smith a wide-eyed American, and Jones, a delightfully sharp and yet tragic confidence man.  This book is part satire, part tragedy, set in a stunningly depicted world of voodoo superstition and very real-world dangers.  What always sets Green’s novels apart, however, is that he makes you feel like you have been on this journey with his characters, and shared their experiences, all the fear and the doubt and the wonder right along with them–without seeming to put any effort into the effect at all.  Thus, this story is the perfect escapist book, filled with a good deal of insight and introspection, and enough adventuring to leave you quite satiated.

Swamplandia!: If it’s a bit more of a wild adventure you seek, then look no further than Karen Russell’s phantasmagoria of a novel that features twelve-year-old Ava Bigtree and her quest to save her family’s  Bigtree alligator wresting dynasty following her mother’s death and her father’s disappearance.  Set in the deepest heart of the Florida Everglades, Ava’s world is one where anything can happen–and very often does.  Her sister is in love with a creature known as The Dredgemen, who might just be an actual ghost, her brother has defected to their competitor, a slick show known as the World of Darkness, and Ava herself is forced to care for the Bigtree’s ninety-eight gators, and navigate a world of ancient lizards, mysterious tropical entities, and the utterly mysterious depths of human nature, in order to keep her family afloat.  Though outlandish in its premise, there are some very realistic, heartfelt themes running through Russell’s book that make it accessible to anyone (but especially to those of us who delight in the fantastic).  Plus, the seemingly depthless nature of her imagination means that nothing in this book is quite what it seems to be, creating a story that will snap you up and hold on tight…much like the Bigtree alligators themselves, come to think of it….

I think it’s pretty safe to say that we here at the Free For All are huge fans of traveling…whether from the safety of our armchairs (or blanket forts), or in reality.  We’re also fascinated by the worlds that books can open for you, whether it’s through reading travel guides, or tales of the adventures of others, or journeys through time, space, and across fantastical words, we’ve logged more literary frequent flyer miles than most.

So I thought it might be fun if we started assembling reading lists from various, specific places, and offer you a selection of books that will allow you vicariously explore a country’s past, present, people, and scenery through the books and films available at the Library.  Fiction is often a surprisingly helpful source for exploring new places–authors can make commentary on social issues and culture that non-fiction works can’t always incorporate, and the way that people tell stories are often deeply influenced by the world in which they were brought up.  So these reading lists are going to feature a good deal of fictional works, as well as an non-fiction.  This way, you’ll be able to explore both the terrain and the soul of a place–all without the jetlag, or the risk of having your suitcases mangled or lost!
Our first stop is Belfast, a city I’ve talked about here in the past.  Though it is making a concerted effort to present the best possible face to tourists and to its people, Belfast is still a city with a dark history, and a very long memory.  Because of The Troubles (sectarian violence between Protestants, Catholics, and forces of the British government), Belfast was, for a number of years, the most bombed city in Europe, and the scars can still be seen on a walk around the city.  Perhaps this is why crime novels set in Belfast, or featuring Belfast citizens, are so popular, and so darn good.  Authors who truly engage with the history inherent in the city can make stunningly beautiful observations while telling a ripping good tale–the perfect combination for someone looking for a bit of an escape.  So here, without further ado, is our Wanderlust Reading List of crime novels set in (and around) Belfast, Northern Ireland:

The Cold Cold Ground: Adrian McKinty has lived in many places, and his novels feature a number of diverse locations.  My favorites, however, are still the Sean Duffy mysteries, set in 1980’s Belfast, during some of the most frenzied years of The Troubles.  Sean Duffy is a Catholic policeman in the Protestant-dominated Royal Ulster Constabulary.  He lived in a mostly Protestant neighborhood, and, as a result, doesn’t take a single day for granted.  Nevertheless, he still manages to keep a fairly level head on his shoulders, and remains devoted to his work in spite of the many  complications and prejudices that stand in his way.  In this, his first outing, Sean is forced to confront the fact that there has never been an Irish serial killer…until now?  When two bodies are found mutilated in a way that intimately links them together, Sean realizes that his first case in Belfast may be the most important–and deadliest–of his career.  Adrian McKinty does a sensational job capturing the near suffocating tensions of his city, especially in this novel, where young IRA prisoners are dying in British prisons of a hunger strike, ensuring that tensions between Catholics and Protestants are treacherously high.  Sean’s love of music only adds to the atmosphere–and provides a sensational soundtrack for those who are interested.

The Journeyman Tailor: Gerald Seymour rose to become one of the best known thriller-writers in Ireland, thanks to this book and Harry’s Game, which both deal with British intelligence operatives and their desperate attempts to infiltrate the IRA.  This book, however, deals much more with the politics of rural Northern Ireland, and the effects of the Troubles on women–those married to IRA leaders, those married to British civil servants, and one remarkable, enigmatic woman at the heart of British intelligence.  Getting into this story is a bit of a struggle, as Seymour shifts perspectives without warning, but once you get used to his style, this is a book that will keep you up at night–even after it’s over.

The Ghosts of Belfast: I mentioned this book in my last discussion of Belfast books, but I think it deserves to be mentioned once again.  This book is a thriller, yes, in that it deals with a former hitman with a vendetta, and on the run from British spies and his own comrades alike, but more than anything, this book is a memorial to the Troubles, to the impossible decisions that people were forced to make, and to the unimaginable pain that they caused so many people.  Couching his work in fiction allows Stuart Neville the necessary perspective to talk about life in Belfast, but make no mistake–none of the stories here are entirely false.  For those that want to read more from Neville, be sure to check out Ratlines, which is set in the Republic of Ireland right after World War II.