Archive - Non-fiction books

2020

Pertti Koskimies: Disappearing winter: northern animals as the climate changes, 2020 (Information book, LK 58)

Praise of winter and northern nature.
The unique pictures and expert texts tell about the struggle of the birds and mammals of the northern nature over the harsh winter - in the midst of snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Humans revolutionize winter quickly, and the animals of the north do not have time to adapt to the changes. The winters have warmed up and the snow season has shortened by weeks. The pace of change is accelerating!​
A book for those who care about Finland's nature, the changing seasons and the future of animals.

Jarkko Martikainen: Fat Skeletons: Song Lyrics and Stories, 2020

The 50th anniversary book of the beloved singer-songwriter from Riihimäki takes you behind the scenes. Jarkko Martikainen is one of the most respected artists and lyricists in our country. The celebration book contains the hundred best lyrics that Martikainen wrote for himself and others, as well as fascinating anecdotes from their background.​

The background stories shed light on different aspects of the artist's life. Many leading artists, such as Vesa-Matti Loiri, Tuomari Nurmio and Timo Rautiainen, have adventures in them. The illustrations are by Martikainen, Ville Pirinen and Ilkka Vuojala.

 

A city drawn in a mirror, 2020

The image of a culturally dry city changes when you start reading the city drawn in Peilii. Aren't the seeds of creativity hidden in childhood and youth? In that case, at least Veijo Meri, Aaro and Juha Vakkuri, Reko Lunda and Isola's sisters Irma Airisto and Maija Isola get to thank Riihimäki for the roots of their artistic work.

Samuli Paronen, on the other hand, wrote his entire production in this region. - In honor of the city's 60th anniversary, Samuli Paronen's society wanted to bring the life work of sixteen cultural people for us to read.

2019

Pentti Auvinen: Riihimäki 1918 prison camp: life before and after the civil war, 2019

The book tells about the events during the civil war, the causes that led to it and the consequences of the war, in general and from Riihimäki's point of view more broadly. The central part is a song about the prison camp located on Riihimäki. For Riihimäki, the events of the book date back to the early decades of the 1900th century. At that time, Riihimäki was still a station village belonging to Hausjärvi's parent company. The Russian garrison built on Riihimäki between 1910 and 1914 was emptying with the independence of Finland. The Riihimäki Red Guard had taken control of the barracks area for a while.

At the beginning of 1918, the civil war had started. Riihimäki in Häme was one of the central battle locations of the war. After the Germans captured Riihimäki, a large number of Reds were taken as prisoners, and the Riihimäki prison camp was established, which after the initial stages was placed in the barracks area captured from the Red Guard. Riihimäki prison camp was the sixth largest of the 1918 prison camps. The maximum number of prisoners was in the summer of 1918, when there were 8495 Red prisoners. 1040 Red prisoners died in the camp, of which 141 were executed.

The book's text is enlivened by photographs from various archives and collections, most of which date from 1918. At the end of the book, information about monuments in general and those located on Riihimäki in more detail is gathered.

The book about Riihimäki prison camp was written by Pentti Auvinen from Riihimäki. Työväenperinten Tutkimus ry published the book as part of the 50th anniversary events.

 

Fairy tale Laatikainen: Sauna people, 2019

The vestibule of the courtyard sauna thickens with steam. The mirror fogs up, and bare feet have to be lifted on the frozen carpet. I take off my clothes quickly and breathe in the feeling before opening the door to the sauna. Suddenly the heat hits my face, and for a moment I can't think of anything but the warmth that wraps in its embrace. I'm walking through a gate to something unique, yet familiar. I enter the sauna time.

The Finns are a people of the sauna, whose rhythm of life has been stopped by the sauna moment for thousands of years. The entire life from birth to death has been experienced in the twilight of the sauna, and a glimpse of the supernatural seen in the shadows of the stove in the borderland of the mundane and the sacred. Saunan kansa is a unique handbook of the sauna tradition for every sauna lover and anyone interested in the long history of the sauna.

Satu Laatikainen is a writer from Riihimäki and a professional in the book industry.

 

Hannu Narsakka: Firestorm in Kolla: Rautjärvi's men at the focal point of the winter war, 2019

In the morning of October 13.10.1939, 01.30, at 372:25.11.1939, 30.11.1939 Rautjärvi men disembarked from the train at Roikonkoski station in Suistamo, Laatokan Karjala, in the darkness and rain. The next morning, YH's raven migration and related fortification work began. This is how we ended up on November 3.12.1939, XNUMX at the positions where the first contact with the enemy was made. When the fighting started on November XNUMX, XNUMX, the tip was at the corner of Hyrsylä, in the village of Ignoila. They retreated to Kollaanjoki on XNUMX December XNUMX and were grouped into battle positions, which were also held.

This book is based on facts about the bloody battles of Rautjärvi men and their brave comrades in arms at Kollaa. The descriptions are mainly based on the experiences of soldiers and group leaders about the course of the war. The materials of their units in the National Archives have been examined. The men's ambivalent relationship with the famous Moroccan Horror company manager is revealed in the book. The battles and serious wounding of sniper Simo Häyhä are discussed in the pages of the book. The book contains 12 color maps of battle situations, numerous touching letters from soldiers to their homes and authentic photographs. The activities of the home front are also described, as well as summaries of hero funerals. At the end of the book is the crew list of the people from Rautjärvi, the composition of Aarne Juutilainen's original company on November 30.11.1939, XNUMX, information about the fates of individual soldiers, as well as strength and loss statistics.

 

Yrjö Tiippana: Always a good bath and treatment - the history of public saunas in Riihimäki, 2019

Yrjö Tiippana's work delves into the history of public saunas in Riihimäki. He got his enthusiasm for history from the work history of his own mother, who, in addition to her other activities, also worked as a sower or sauna taker at the public saunas in Vellamo and Harjunrinte in Riihimäki.

Public sauna, public sauna, public spa, workers' or people's sauna, bathhouse, commercial sauna - all these names have been used for service facilities that history deals with, depending on the era and the case. The nomination was also influenced by the image the sauna owner wanted to give to the public, regardless of the level of equipment or available services. Regardless of the designation, the saunas have one thing in common, that they have offered services to a wide range of bathers, and especially to the poorer population, who have not had the opportunity to take a sauna on their own.

Tiippana has used as sources e.g. newspapers, personal interviews and digitized material and archives as well as customer memories and photos. The book contains pictures of saunas, addresses and newspaper advertisements to support the text. The book is a great snapshot of the city's public saunas from a hundred years ago to the beginning of the 1980s, when the last public sauna in Riihimäki was removed from the trade register.

2018

Ville Hänninen: The face of the book - One hundred years of Finnish book covers, 2018

Everyone knows what the cover of Väinö Linna's Unknown Soldier looks like. However, few remember Martti Mykkäs, the man behind the iconic silhouette cover.

The face of the book depicts the work of Mykkänen and dozens of other forgotten illustrators and designers. At the same time, the first general work about Finnish book covers goes through a different story about the history of the Finnish book. For each year of the independence of the Finnish state, one work has been chosen that describes the time and its currents: from Yrjö Koko's Pessi and Illusia to Laura Lindstedt's Oneiron, Kirsi Kunnas's Tiitiäinen's fairy tale tree to Hannu Salama's Midsummer Dances. The stories of a hundred years show history as it is: as a mosaic, as a network of different and sometimes contradictory phenomena and interconnected stories.

Ville Hänninen (b. 1976) is a non-fiction writer and journalist. He has written about book covers for various magazines for twenty years. His previous works include Men of the Midday - pictures from the history of Finland (2016) and Series! – wartime Finnish caricatures and cartoons (2014).

 

Ida Salminen: Stories about Finnish girls who changed the world, 2018

Women cannot be doctors, architects, pilots, priests, ministers, they were told. You can't, you can't, you can't. It's stupid to even try! And on the other hand – anything is possible, they were encouraged. Be yourself and do what you want! They gripped their chairs, knuckles white, faces red, and remained in place when a group of men in the lecture hall told them to leave. They escaped the storms of the Atlantic with their solo flight. They make films and art, write books, develop science and improve our everyday life. Stories about Finnish girls who changed the world is a collection of true stories based on personal interviews and background literature.

In the book, we live with 40 girls from the 1800th century to the present day, strive from different starting points, stumble and make dreams come true. The life stories of well-known and lesser-known women encourage and inspire, amaze and leave a mark. The book reminds both young and older readers that we are always capable of much more than we dare to even think.

2017

Jari Olavi Rantala: The Unknown Soldier - Movie Book, 2017

A dive into the core of Finnish blockbuster cinema. The book is an extraordinary journey into the making of the film directed by Aku Louhimiehe, to its filming locations and behind the camera. The richly illustrated work opens piece by piece the new film version of the story loved by Finns and tells about working in the conditions of Finland on the set of an exceptionally large production. Film has been called a magical art form, making a written story come alive. In reality, making a film is about creativity, will and professionalism. Hard work.

The protagonists of this book are filmmaking professionals, whose work is ultimately refined into a unique experience for the viewer. Screenwriter Jari Olavi Rantala has followed the making of the film during the shooting period and was able to watch from the location how Väinö Linna's war classic is being made into a film for the third time. Jari Olavi Rantala is a Jussi-awarded screenwriter and author from Riihimäkä. He has more than a decade of experience as a screenwriter for films and TV series.

The unknown soldier is his fourth film together with the director Aku Louhimiehe. Rantala has also been a screenwriter in the films Paha Maa, Käsky and 8-ballo. In addition to films, Rantala has worked on TV dramas. He has written episodes for the series Syke, Kyns hampain, Brändärit and Virta. A new 12-part crime series is also currently in the works. Rantala has written the crime novel Premium Bananas, published by Johnny Kniga, and the collection of short stories, The Backup Plan.

 

Markku Hattula & Abdirahim Husu: I'm Husu, Finnish, 2017

The story of Husu, who became known as a popular radio personality and politician, told by himself.

Alone as a child refugee from Somalia via Kenya to Finland. From the warmth of Africa to the chilly North to the hoots of people speaking a strange language. Life's first flight and first night in Finland, from there to the reception center. In half a year, master the Finnish language and enter elementary school.

From a ship cleaner to a consultant, from a bachelor to a family man, from an angry young man to a political influencer, from being bullied at school to helping others.

Abdirahim Husu's journey from the battlefield of Somalia to becoming a Finnish citizen is a story of survival like no other.

"Finnishness in me is punctuality and hard work, Somaliness is family-oriented and caring. So I'm Finnish."

2015

Reetta Meriläinen: A girl's way, 2015

Reetta Meriläinen, who has been the editor-in-chief of Helsingin Sanomat for ten years, is one of those representatives of the baby boomers who have worked their way to the top of society from remote areas. A 1950s childhood on a farm in eastern Finland gives way to studying in Helsinki and working as a journalist at Helsingin Sanomat. He nostalgically describes his safe childhood in a country house and reflects on his hectic working years both in everyday deliveries and on business trips abroad. However, the feeling of being an outsider could strike, for example, in the middle of Linna's celebrations. The same feeling he experienced when he transferred from the municipal middle school to Joensuu high school.

At the end of the day, the courtyard of the front-line man's house in Polvijärvi is still significant, because "if you get stuck in the VIP world, the frame of reference shrinks and moves far away from the little people you are defending".

 

Virpi Mikkonen: Thank you very much: treats without sugar and gluten, 2015

Life can be sweet even without white sugar and gluten. Mikkonen's book is made for Gourmets and feel-good lovers. The book is full of delicious recipes made without white sugar and gluten. Most of them are also dairy-free, yeast-free and also suitable for vegans. The heart of the recipes are organically produced and minimally processed raw materials. The book is beautifully illustrated and the recipes are clear. Browsing the book makes your tongue water. Would it taste good, for example Pakkanen Puraisema banana cake, Fig chocolate pie or for a little sweet craving Licorice truffles or Avocado chocolate frosting? Sweet treats don't have to be vices, they can also be virtues! You can find more instructions from the author www.vanelja.com

2014

James Bowen: Bob the street cat: the cat that changed my life, 2014

The book is a true story about the meeting between a street cat and a street musician and finding a better life together. James, the author of the book, had been busy in his life for a long time. Behind them was the school bullying experienced as a child and the feeling of rootlessness, as mother and son moved several times to follow the mother's work. As a parent, alcohol, drugs and homelessness came along. However, there was something positive in James' life: his own band and music. However, the band effort dried up before the actual big success. However, the desire to play remained, and James supported himself as a busker on the streets of London. Once, when he was coming from a gig, he encountered an orange-red cat in the stairwell of his house, in quite bad shape. After making sure it didn't belong to anyone, he finally decided to give it a home. The animal-loving caller didn't guess at the time how much helping a cat would affect his own life, even in a very positive way. The book is a great story about animal and human friendship, and the power of positivity and good that can change your whole life. Katukatti Bobi's life can also be followed online: www.hodder.co.uk or www.katukattibob.fi

 

Jennifer S. Holland: Surprising friends: 47 fascinating stories from the animal world, 2014

The book contains delightful and incredible-sounding stories about friendships between animals. All stories are true and photo-proven. Would you believe that a snake and a hamster can be friends? Or what does the friendship between a dog, a cat and chicks sound like? And what is the friendship between a leopard and a cow like?
Friendship between animals is most evident in caring, but they also clearly enjoy each other's company. Some friendships are short, others have lasted for years. At times, friendship may have been the only way to survive.
The book contains true stories documented with photographs, which can revolutionize our understanding of the ways and feelings of animals. The book is a great feel-good book.

 

Kaija Juurikkala: Mother book, 2014

A deeply personal description of motherhood
Kaija Juurikkala has many motherhoods, eleven to be precise: young mother, single mother, new family mother, extended family mother, surrogate mother, housewife, career mother, children have flown the nest mother, old mother, professional mother and grandmother. Kaija became a mother for the first time at the age of 19, and the first he had his grandchild last summer. What can fit in the gap years?
The illusions of motherhood face reality in a new way every time motherhood changes its shape. Juurikkala writes about every stage of being a mother firsthand and is not afraid to put herself in the limelight. The book describes the conditions of motherhood and humanity in a very personal way. Juurikkala has not been embarrassed to talk about the difficult, hidden feelings that sometimes inevitably come with motherhood. The atmosphere of the book is positive and hopeful. Things are dealt with directly and without concealment, mistakes are learned from and every person and feeling is given room to grow.
In addition to books, Kaija Juurikkala is known for her films and paintings.

 

Vege: delicious vegetarian food, 2014

Vege is a delicious book based on recipes published in Voi Hyvin magazine. The book contains tasty recipes for starters (e.g. country root salad), main dishes (e.g. rose risotto or tatti burger and ginger tzatziki) as well as desserts (e.g. pomegranate-white chocolate pavlova). The book also contains instructions for drinks and various side dishes, as well as tips for modifying the recipe if desired. The instructions are easy to understand and the ingredients can be found in the local store. The pictures in the book are large and attractive, and inspire you to cook. If you want to try something new, Vege serves a versatile set of vegetarian food to choose from!

2013

Under the elm: Finnish writers' homes, 2013

"Sitting there, he wrote most, perhaps all of his works, from it he controlled his surroundings, gave orders and orders to the shop and the kitchen, there he entertained his guests, mourned, rejoiced, forgot his worries, rowed away his anger...".
Juhani Aho from Minna Canth 1897 Under the Elf Tree presents thirty homes that serve as museums for Finnish writers. The book is a journey into the past, the writers' lives and mental landscape.
Home has been important to Finnish writers. Although only small and modest, it is still an inexhaustible source of creativity for many. Places and landscapes live strongly in the writers' productions: southern Häme in Seitsemä veljes, Kainuu's raven in Ryysyranta's Joosepi and the barren beautiful archipelago in Myrskyluoto's Maija.
Under the Elf Tree takes the reader on a rocking chair trip to the homes of Finnish writers and acts as a perfect travel guide even on real trips.
The book's rich illustrations lead to the peaceful atmosphere of homes.
Anne Helttunen, Annamari Saure and Jari Suominen have managed to put together an excellent guide to the homes and lives of writers.

 

Charlotte Hedeman Guéniau: A colorful home: fresh ideas for interior design, 2013

"A colorful home is a happy home," says the author of the book. Charlotte Hedeman Guéniau is the founder of the interior design brand RICE. The book has collected the still lifes, interior solutions, rooms and details that he admired. The pictures are collected from different places and different homes, but they all have one thing in common, colour. Another central theme in the interior design at Charlotte is humor. There are glimpses of funny details and wild ideas here and there. Charlotte encourages the reader to take it easy, experiment and have fun. The book does not aim to renovate the home with everything new and expensive, but rather encourages thinking about how everything that already exists could be modified or used differently. A piece of wallpaper or a can of paint can already do wonders at home. Color is like a touch of magic to everyday life.

2012

Nina Banerjee-Louhija: Queen for a day: photos, memories, truth and fiction of Mariette Banerjee's life, 2012

The writer Nina Banerjee-Louhija tells a special story about the phases of her mother Marietta and her own Indian family. Orphan Marietta meets the wealthy and handsome Indian Tunu as a young student in London in the 1930s and marries him on the spur of the moment. Follow the move to Calcutta in the middle of luxury, but life in India under the pressure of the family community is not easy. After six years, Marietta returns with her two children to dreary post-war Helsinki, which offers no glamour. Changing male friends are not much comfort either, and the growing children miss their father. Marietta moves to London, but even the years in London do not bring comfort to life, instead there is a final separation from Tunus and a return to her homeland. In Finland, Marietta marries Lapland and fills her life with things, changing apartments and trips. Dissatisfaction with life is reflected in the relationship with the children, who experience the mother's lack of love. The book's diary entries and photographs tell of a woman who lived a long life, who did not find her happiness and did not know how to live an ordinary everyday life. Nina Banerjee-Louhija also tells her own story, which is colored by the difficult relationship with her mother, the longing for her father who died in strange circumstances, and the difficulties encountered in her own marriages. Marietta's hope was that her daughter would one day write a book about her. The book did not make it to her bedside table, but Marietta died at the age of 96 on the same day the book was finished.
Fascinating book!

 

Helene Gremillon: Believe me, 2012

Paris in 1975. Thirty-year-old Camille is expecting her first child and has just lost her mother. Among the messages of condolence, he receives strange letters signed by a man named Louis, a complete stranger. More letters are accumulating little by little. Louis tells an incredible story about his first love, Annie. Louis and Annie have spent their youth in a small French village in the 1930s. A childless couple moves to the village, and Annie befriends the lady. At the same time, the love of his youth Louis gets to stay. World War II breaks out and Annie goes to Paris with her wife. They have made a very special deal with each other. Years later, Louis meets Annie again and Annie tells her own story, which is attached to the letters. While reading the letters, Camille wonders why Louis is writing to her. In the end, he has to admit that the story also touches his life and the final truth is revealed on the very last page of the book. My Faithful is the first work of the Parisian Helene Gremillon. The book is both a love story and a suspense story at the same time and moves in two different eras. The story is a delicious puzzle and takes you into the twists and turns of a closely guarded family secret.

 

Anna-Kaisa Pitkänen: My eccentric friend : how my horse taught me the art of looking differently, 2012

"There are many horses in the world, good, beautiful and expensive, but in the end people choose the one that speaks to them." In her book, Anna-Kaisa Pitkänen tells about her special horse, which changed her way of thinking. The Shadow gelding was thin and stressed and couldn't handle the run. If the food was even a little late, the horse started to have pain. Traditional horsemanship did not help with Varjo, but Anna-Kaisa had to learn a completely new way of looking at things and interpreting her horse. At the same time, he also learned new things about himself. In today's hectic world that emphasizes performance, stopping can be difficult, but Anna-Kaisa realized the hard way that it is necessary for her horse. Everything doesn't always have to be so reasonable - it's enough that it's meaningful.

 

Heljä Salonen: All home!: the soul life of a mushroom picker, 2012

Being part of the mushroom people is a kind of certificate of authenticity. Man is one with nature and gets a halo over his head that smells like pitch. He is a Saint-Sienestäjä, for whom relaxation is a matter of course. Heljä Salonen is a journalist from Helsinki, who is at home in an urban delivery environment as well as in a pine-scented mushroom forest. In his book, he describes the relationship between man and nature, especially man's relationship with mushrooms and mushrooming, in a fun and inventive way, using the words of a journalist and accurate observations. It's like accidentally learning about the structure of mushrooms, their characteristics, the best places for mushroom picking, mushroom dishes and the soul life of a mushroom person. According to Salonen, people can have characteristics of mushrooms. Do you feel that you yourself are, for example, one of these? Funnel Vahvero: He is extraordinarily charming in his swagger. He often starts his sentences: I don't know, but... He never wants to offend anyone, and therefore his opinions are not always clear. Herkkutatti: As a warm and genuinely empathetic person, she does not make herself a number. Yet he is never alone. He makes everyone else feel valuable. He has a soft laugh. Or maybe you recognize more of the special features of boletus, aspen russet, or lamb's mitre? There are about 7600 species of mushrooms in Finland, so you shouldn't get frustrated when you see mostly unfamiliar mushrooms in the forest. That's part of it and you can be happy about it. An abundance of species in nature is a good sign, advises Salonen. Mushroom picking, healthy beneficial exercise or an ancient lesson about life? What is certain is that mushroom picking is good for humans, Salonen sums up.

 

Johanna Sinisalo: Encrypted Powers: A Guide to Light and Dark Paths, 2012

Johanna Sinisalo has written an inspiring hiking book for all hikers. The book contains a miniature novel, short stories about hiking and, as a nice addition, the author's own hiking experiences under the title This story is true. The fictional stories are a guaranteed Sinisalo, but they also got their initial impetus from an accident that happened to the author while hiking in the mountains. Johanna Sinisalo's typical theme, i.e. being on a journey, and the dark tones combined with it, get the imagination going. The relationship of man to the surrounding nature and, on the other hand, man's smallness at the mercy of nature also give us something to think about. At the end of the book, a 50-page practical guide for hikers is compiled: how to prepare for trips, on what basis you choose your route, determining a suitable day trip, necessary equipment and a bit about trail etiquette. When you've finished, you'll find yourself thinking about England's paths and the banks of the canals... Should we go for a walk?

 

Jennifer Worth: Get a midwife!, 2012

Young nurse Jenny Lee starts as a district nurse and midwife in the nuns' maternity care in 1950s London. The workplace is located in the poorest areas of the city, where the housing shortage after the war is dire and families even live in houses half-demolished by bombs. There is almost no information about hygiene without running water and proper sanitary facilities. At the back of the courtyard, the outdoor toilet serves the residents of the entire apartment building. Many children were born and midwives helped them into the world most of the time at home. When there were few hospital places, only high-risk births ended up there. The book warmly and humorously tells about the everyday life of these poor families. Even though life is harsh and infectious diseases and work accidents lurk, people gain strength from friendship and community. Persevering mothers often carry on their herd of ten aching children. At a time when maternity care was still in the child's shoes, the nuns' counseling service saved the lives of many mothers and children. In addition to the families, Worth also describes the nuns with whom he worked and lived in the monastery in a funny way. These women, who have given their lives to their vocation and to God, have a sense of humor and are positive about life, and are always ready to meet all kinds of their neighbors. Jennifer Worth worked as a midwife until 1973. After that, he studied music and taught piano and singing. He passed away after a short illness in 2011. Get a midwife! is Worth's first novel translated into Finnish.

2011

Logue Mark and Peter Conradi: The King's Speech, 2011

It is no exaggeration to say that Lionel Logue was the man who saved the English royal house. Australian self-taught speech therapist Logue moved to England in 1924 and opened his practice in London. In October 1926, he received Prince Albert, Duke of York, as a patient. The Duke had suffered from an embarrassing stammer since childhood. He was insecure and shy, and public appearances and especially giving speeches were pure suffering for him. His position as a member of the royal family inevitably placed him in such situations.
The prince had tried numerous speech teachers and different methods until he finally found Logue. His methods were quite personal, he e.g. you scolded the duke and demanded that he visit the reception like other patients and little by little the prince started to solve his problem.
In January 1936, King George V dies and Prince Albert's older brother Edvard inherits the crown. However, his reign will be short when he scandalously abdicates the crown for his beloved Wallis Simpson. This puts Prince Albert in a new situation, he must reluctantly ascend the throne. He becomes King George VI. The collaboration between Logue and the king becomes even closer. The speech teacher modifies the speeches written for the king to better suit his mouth and is present in live radio broadcasts to support the king. Another important support and security for the king was his wife, Queen Elizabeth. During the trials of the Second World War, the king's live radio speeches played a significant role when he shone faith and hope to his nation.
King George VI and Lionel Logue became friends and this friendship continued until the king's death.

 

Kaija Juurikkala: The magic of shadows: a journey to a past life, 2011

In her book, Kaija Juurikkala, who became known as a film director and screenwriter, openly and honestly describes her spiritual growth and journey through fear towards the light. As a child, Juurikkala was afraid of the dark and suffered from insomnia. Later, he heard strange clicks and knocks in the night that others did not hear, and even feared that he was going mad. Little by little, he came to understand that he has a special gift. A gift that allows you to participate in the world beyond. He also learned that the journey to the land of shadows did not bring darkness and fear, but liberation and the ability to help others.

In her book, Juurikkala touchingly tells about her own journey to her previous life and about facing her own fears. The book alternates between disbelief towards one's own gift of sight, as well as gratitude and amazement at the power of the gift and the possibility of using it. When Juurikkala dared to face herself and her former life, the angular pieces of her life fell into place and the meaning of things became clear.

On his journey to the land of shadows, Juurikkala not only opened his mind, but also the world opened up to him in many forms and whole. The land of shadows was no longer scary, because the light made the shadows lighter.

 

To May B. Langhe: Zigzag: sew a new one from a used one for the child, 2011

The author of the book got excited about sewing clothes while expecting her first child and wanted to do her part to lighten the burden on the earth by favoring recycling in purchasing and making clothes. Based on these values, he has put together a fresh book with beautiful pictures.

May B. Langehelle's book has 40 simple instructions that you can use to turn an unused flea market find, your own old clothes, a curtain or, for example, a pillowcase into a unique piece of clothing for a child. The instructions in the Zigzag book are designed for children aged 0-6, and the instructions are accompanied by a picture of the finished garment. The book also has pattern sheets for the works attached. In addition to clothes, the book also contains instructions for sewing bags, toys and linens, for example. At the end of the book there is a small sewing school section where you can get tips on how to do sewing work. The book's easy patterns and clear instructions entice you to dig out the sewing machine and try your own skills.

 

Kati Tervo: The spirit of the refrigerator: stories about the kitchen, food and life, 2011

"I am a lucky cook, a lucky cleaner, a lucky eater, a lucky lover. Luck depends on feeling, atmosphere and time, mental state." This is how author and author's wife Kati Tervo describes herself in her memoir, which tells small stories about life through kitchen and food memories.
The book begins with mother's blood pudding and velvet porridge - the smell of fried butter fills the narrow childhood kitchen and smoke rises from the stove. Later, the young hippie uses the kitchen to dye his hair red with sathenna. The young couple's Oskar cutlets from Elviira's Grill are replaced by vell soup and purees after the birth of the child. At the moment, a new distribution of power is going on in the writer's kitchen, when the husband also participates, and the son also explores and knocks on the cupboards.
Kati Tervo's kitchen stories are relaxing to read. They exude a lived life and sarcastic humor - welcome to the dining table of the writer family.

 

Johanna Vireaho & Sari Tammikari: Happy gardener, 2011

A nicely illustrated garden book that contains large and smaller projects that you can implement in your own garden. In addition to planning the garden, the book contains advice on making fountains and tuber paths as well as decorating the garden. Wooden terraces, pergolas and stone stairs can also be found in the book. A happy gardener is in a happy position because he is not in a hurry to do anything, but ideas are incubating in peace and come to fruition without haste. The author, who has written lifestyle-related books, lives in a 1920s wooden house, whose atmospheric pictures of the garden also provide practical tips for planning your own garden. Even those who don't own a garden can enjoy the charming pictures.

2010

Juha Korri & Susanna Korri: The goal is a top dog: dog obedience training, 2010

"Every dog ​​can be a top dog. Every dog ​​is also different and requires individual training." This is what the experienced training instructors Juha and Susanna Korri, who have successfully represented Finland in working dog competitions at the World Championship level, state in their book. In their book, they stress that a good dog owner gets to know their dog in detail. The prerequisite for a smooth coexistence is to recognize the existence of the dog's habits and instincts and to learn to recognize the most important of them. The book goes through the most important obedience movements, and different methods for teaching them, because one method can suit one person and another for another. The book aims for comprehensibility without difficult dog slang and opens up the terms of the dog hobby with the help of a short glossary. Several different methods have been put together to solve the problem points, from which everyone will find the most suitable one. The book is a real treasure for every active dog lover and it is good to return to it every time you come across problems in dog training.

 

Aila Meriluoto: About this point. Diary from 1975-2004. Edited by Anna-Liisa Haavikko, 2010

This is an unadorned description of the author's work and the person behind the book. It is a description of the speed and slowness of life. A frenzy that always creates something new, a frenzy that loves strongly and is not ashamed of anything. The wonderful Vaarallista kokeia (1996) and Mekko meni taululle (2001) appear. The needs of a creative person erupt in strong flashes and critical outbursts. The important thing is to write and love. Nearby is a husband and a large family, clan, friends and colleagues. Getting old takes strength, makes you distant, brings loneliness and insecurity."3.3.2003. Well. I am writing my last ones. That's important too. It's damn important. These messages: greetings from life. About this point. Amen….But spring is coming. Real light. We'll see!" Chickens to read and sense!

 

Raija Niemi: The building culture of Riihimäki, 2010

Did you know where Pomolinna and Nälkälinna are located in Riihimäki? Or which famous architect designed the current Adventist church, the former bank building at Keskuskatu 3? In what year was Riihimäki's current railway station completed? How have the residential areas of today's Riihimäki been formed?

Riihimäki's city planning unit has updated the publication that was published in 2000 and presents Riihimäki's significant buildings, groups of buildings and cultural landscape ensembles. The book presents both public and private buildings and cultural landscapes with abundant color pictures. A useful work for everyone interested in the building culture of their own city and its preservation.

 

Jotaarkka Pennanen: A play smaller than life, 2010

Theater director Jotaarkka Pennanen's biographical work begins with childhood memories from Riihimäki. His mother was the writer Anja Vammelvuo from Riihimäki, whose parents lived on Suvannontie in Riihimäki. Jotaarkka Pennanen remembers Aake-pappa with special warmth, who had a visible influence on the business life of Riihimäki in the early days of the township. Pennanen also remembers the special years of his early youth, 1957-1960, in Moscow, where his father, writer and journalist Jarno Pennanen worked as a correspondent for Kansan Uutisten. He also writes about his other famous grandfather, Aarne Orjatsalo, the legendary actor and bandit leader in the civil war.
Jotaarkka Pennanen goes through his long career as a director of many classic plays and as a theater manager. Career began in television theater in the 1960s, continuing in several large city theaters. Nowadays, Pennanen lives and works in Tampere. Pennanen also discusses the militancy of the 1970s and its consequences in the world of art and culture. Events in my personal life and love relationships have also overlapped and influenced my directing work.
An interesting book also for those not interested in theater history!

 

Ilkka Raitasuo & Terhi Siltala: The Clockwork Princess, 2010

The book Kellokoski's princess tells the extraordinary life story of Anna Svedholm (1896 – 1988). Anna fell ill with schizophrenia at a young age and lived her life in institutional care from the 1930s. He was treated at the Kellokoski hospital for a total of 52 years.
Anna Svedholm was called Princess because she imagined herself to be royalty and gave royal titles to other people she knew. The princess was treated with almost all 1900th-century psychiatric treatment methods, but she did not give up her fantasy world. In the end, Prinsessa was accepted with her delusions and she made many acquaintances and friends both from the hospital staff and from the village of Kellokoski.
Kellokoski's Prinsessa has also been made into a fictional film, Prinsessa, whose title role actress received a Jussi statue for her work.

 

Panu Rajala: Crystal clear, crazy brave: Aila Meriluoto's life and poetry, 2010 – also as an audiobook

Panu Rajala did it again - literary history in a popular way! Aila Meriluoto's life and work would be enough material for many literary historical studies. According to the old saying, a writer must live a writer's life, and as the now 86-year-old poet himself states: "I've lived, damn it!" The sensation of 1946 in Finnish literature was the poem collection "Glass Painting" by Aila Meriluoto in her twenties. It became a classic work of Finnish poetry, which has already been printed in 16 editions and is read from generation to generation. The young, ironically self-proclaimed poet from Hirulan shook up and stirred literary circles to the core. VA Koskenniemi's maddening infatuation and young literature student Kai Laitisen's shy approaches change to the fatal Lauri Viita.
Panu Rajala interviews Aila Meriluoto at her summer place in Pieksämäki and in Helsinki. Aila Meriluoto admits that many of her works often overlap with her real life and loves. They also fondly remember their mutual romance in the 1970s, when Rajala was involved in the script work for the film adaptation of the Peter-Peter novel. However, it has been tragic how many great loves were destroyed.
The book conveys the life of Aila Meriluoto, including difficult phases, but also the unique work of a brave woman as a writer, which has continued for more than sixty years.

 

Matti Rämö: By bike in India: cows, gods and road dust, 2010

Matti Rämö is a YLE teletext reporter whose passion is cycling. He has cycled through Europe to Africa and pedaled through India.
At the Helsinki book fair, I got stuck for almost an hour listening to Rämö talk about his travels and experiences. The fire of enthusiasm shone from the eyes and the juicy stories set the imagination in motion. His enthusiasm for cycling started with a serious illness, from which he bought an exercise bike to recover from. When I felt better, I bought a touring bike, and the journey began. An experiment in the Baltic countries and then, in 2007, the goal was Tunisia.
Rämö gave a tip to beginner bike travelers: don't hang around unnecessarily, not in traffic, and don't gobble up kilometers. The journey can be slow (approx. 10-15 km per hour), but over the course of the day, the journey is worth it. Flexibility, calmness and an open mind, they will go a long way.
Next, Rämä flew to Delhi with his bike and pedaled over 2600 km from Delhi to Mumbai in a month. India was already a familiar place for Rämö, as he had done his final work there during his studies. Now there were very personal reasons for the bike trip to India. Mother had just died of cancer and it felt right to take some ashes to Varanasi to be blessed. Rämö's daughter studied at an international high school near Mumbai.
Cycling in India is quite a challenge even for an experienced cyclist. Traffic is chaotic and
in addition to various means of transportation, cows, monkeys and elephants roamed there. The roads are often in poor condition and flat tires often occurred. The constant abundance of people and human curiosity, finding stomach-safe food and affordable accommodation became powerful. Rämö saw and experienced the everyday life and celebrations of an ordinary, poor Indian person. He describes the events vividly - as if the reader were traveling with him in a taraca. Cira Alment's funny drawings enliven the text. As the slow life lifestyle became fashionable, many books about alternative travel have been published. When walking, pedaling or rowing, the senses stay involved. The holy art of going quietly pays off; there is time to see, smell and taste the world.

 

Nick Trout: Say what hurts: A day in the life of a veterinarian, 2010

In his book, Nick Trout tells about one of his working days, which stretches almost a day. The veterinarian's unconditional will to help a sick animal warms the reader's heart along the way. Trout also talks about the various fates of people and animals that have happened along his career, which both make you laugh and cry. The ending is not always happy, but everything has a purpose. Trout reflects on the new possibilities of veterinary medicine and when it's time to just give up. Can an animal tell you what hurts?

 

Kirsi Vainio-Korhonen: The shameless: a history of midwives, childbirth and everyday life, 2010

The Shy ones dives back in history about three hundred years, to the 1700th century during the time of Sweden-Finland. Child mortality was high at that time, about half of those born died before reaching adulthood, and most of them were very young from birth complications. When, in addition, many young men had died in the European wars of the 1600th and early 1700th centuries, the kingdom's vitality had to be secured with sufficient offspring. A high population was an important economic and military resource at the time.
In order to reduce child mortality, professional midwives began to be trained. Midwives' work opened the first profession for women, the representatives of all other professions at that time were men. The training took place in Stockholm and lasted two years. The midwife had to be a God-fearing but not shy and honorable woman who had given birth herself. The midwifery profession was often the job of urban women, and often the wives and daughters of middle-class people took up midwifery. Often the profession was passed down from mother to daughter.
When a midwife had to serve her clients at all hours of the day, midwives were the only women whose breasts were allowed to flash in the dark streets of the city at night.
In addition to childbirth, midwives also had to deal with abortion, infanticide and adultery in their work, and they had the responsibility of investigating these matters given by the courts. In addition, midwives had the authority of an emergency baptizer.

2009

Benjamin Mee: Home in the zoo, 2009

Benjamin Mee has always been a great lover of nature and animals. In 2006, he implements what many consider a crazy idea and buys an old, dilapidated and endangered zoo. Benjamin's mother, sister and brother will join the project. The family sells all their possessions, takes out a huge bank loan and starts renovating the zoo so that it can be opened to the public again. There are many exotic and dangerous animals in the shelter, e.g. tigers, lions and jaguars. However, the family is lucky, many of the zoo's old employees want to continue with the new owner, and they also get to hire several top experts in their field who have good relations with other zoos. Although money is tight all the time and there are many difficult situations ahead, the project will still succeed. Of course, the funniest are the descriptions of the animals in the shelter, e.g. when the effect of the anesthetic starts to fade in the middle of everything, when the tiger is being moved to the transport cage or when the wolf has escaped from its enclosure. Benjamin's wife's desperate fight against a brain tumor brings a dark shadow to the story.

 

Vesa Karonen & Panu Rajala: Yrjö Jylhä, poet of the winter war, 2009

The poet Yrjö Jylhä is famously associated with the classic collection of winter war poems Kiirastuli, which Jylhä wrote during the peacetime in the spring of 1941. The biographical work written by two well-known literary scholars examines Yrjö Jylhä's heavy war experiences in the Taipaleenjoki battles, where Jylhä served as a company commander. Jylhä's company suffered heavy losses, which were reflected in Jylhä's entire later life.
Jylhä's Runoja collection, published in 1943, sold a record number, but after the war no more poems were produced. Instead, the Finnish translator's work continued throughout his life, and Jylhä's many classic translations of world literature are still well-known. Yrjö Jylhä's biography describes the intense youth years in the circle of Tulenkantai, e.g. a love affair with the young Katri Vala, a boxing hobby, marriage to Kirsti Svensson, who suffers from substance abuse problems, and her premature death during the war. The death of his wife, a contagious venereal disease, and traumatic war experiences finally broke Yrjö Jylhä - he committed suicide in his brother's apartment in 1956 at the age of just over 50.
The book is a comprehensive work by two well-known literary scholars about one of Finland's most important poets.

 

Arja Paasio: Dream gazebos, 2009

Olavi Virta once sang about a "blue gazebo", where you can meet your loved one. Romance has always been associated with the summer house, and the dictionary of Modern Finland mentions summer house as synonyms, e.g. joy room, fun room and entertainment place. The history of summer houses in Finland is related to the history of gardens in the late 1700th century. Both a greenhouse and a gazebo were often erected in the gardens of manors, rectory and castles. The construction of gazebos waned in the 1920s, but since the 1980s, gazebos have started to decorate the yards of detached houses and summer cottages again.
In addition to the history of gazebos, this charming book presents gazebos from different parts of Finland. All gazebos have in common that they are built either partially or completely from recycled materials. The book also provides excellent tips for those planning their own gazebo.
Although you hear the question from time to time - has anyone ever seen someone sitting in a gazebo?