Friday, January 19, 2007

A BOOK WRITTEN BY A FINN

Arto Paasilinna, an exceptional Finnish writer, has been well translated into English by Herbert Lomas. The book " The Year Of The Hare " is one from the UNESCO collection of representative works and published by Peter Owen Publishers. It has been a best seller in France as well as more northern lands. But it is a shame that many English speaking folk seem not to have come across this book.
To say too much about the story, a novel, would be awful but if you can imagine the adventures of a journalist quitting his job to help a hare, hurt in the forest, then you might get the feeling for this wonderful piece of literature.
Translations are also in Hungarian, Greek, Italian, Dutch, Swedish ( sorry about that) and German.

" Early next morning Vatanen woke up to birdsong in a sweet smelling hayloft. The hare was lying in his armpit ....... "

" Was he drunk?", asked his wife ..."

" Where is that Vatanen now?", asked the editor. "

Really I am not going to tell the story. It is too good to spoil.

( No Anticant it is not postmodern and for fu..s sake do not give it to the beadle )

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

That sounds like my kind of book Zo Zo.
Thank you that.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps we could do a collection for Lavender and buy her some new coloured pens for Christmas?.

zola a social thing said...

G'Day Mort : One reviewer of the book wrote that : " There is an enchanted lightness .... This is such an inventive novel .... that one does not want it to end."

A) I have a wonderful collection of books from Finland to post. Just wait.
B) Nowt wrong with coloured pens.
C) LB is strong enough to look after herself.
D) Keep on truckin

Anonymous said...

A) Will look forward to it very much
B) I prefer watercolours
C) Don't I know it
D) Never let the bastards get you down

I like harey armpits

zola a social thing said...

Make yer eyes water I will

Anonymous said...

Cynical, that is what you are....

I shall search it out, ZoZoBear.
I love Childrens' books.......looking at one earlier about' the little Yellow Duckling who couldn't Swim.'
Lovely, lovely.....wouldn't be allowed now........can't have Duckling splashing around on her own.......
and I like Bedtime Stories too....my favourite being Under Milkwood.....

anticant said...

The Beadle will absolutely love it. He's an old softie at heart, you know.

zola a social thing said...

Another reviewer said : " No wonder the French have made this book into a cult. Finnish wit is as sharp as the Arctic weather."
Unfortunate however that that was from the Mail on Sunday.

zola a social thing said...

Another quote : " But it was the lady who decided she couldn't do without it - Vatanen muttered. It was your damed hare that caused all the trouble. And don't permit youself to refer to the lady or what she wants..." ( page 98)

Anonymous said...

My eyes are Vatering.

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