whats a good finnish book?

rokingit · Post by **rokingit** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:10 pm

hello all! merry early christmas!

Do any of you know of a good finnish novel that is suitable for beginners? I dont really want to read a childs book. preferably this book would be by a finnish author and maybe it has been translated into english just in case i cant finish it in finnish also it would be abit on the short side. but any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!!!

**Sponsor:**

mCowboy · Post by **mCowboy** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:19 pm

Kalevala

You could try the books by Arto Paasilinna; Jäniksen vuosi and Ulvova mylläri.

I think those books have translated and some even made into movies, so you could learn by watching the movie as well. They are also very typical illustrations of Finnish culture and mentality.

rokingit · Post by **rokingit** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:50 pm

i thought about the kalevala but ive heard that it written in old finnish that might be nearly impossibl for me to read

mCowboy · Post by **mCowboy** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:51 pm

rokingit wrote:i thought about the kalevala but ive heard that it written in old finnish that might be nearly impossibl for me to read

I don't think there's not that many Finns that have read the whole book either... they have watched the Rauta-aika -series instead...

simon · Post by **simon** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:06 pm

Unknown Soldier

mCowboy · Post by **mCowboy** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:49 pm

simon wrote:Unknown Soldier

Which is also available on DVD in couple of versions.

Jukka Aho · Post by **Jukka Aho** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:13 am

rokingit wrote:Do any of you know of a good finnish novel that is suitable for beginners?

Do you have any preference for the genre? War novel, detective/crime novel, historical novel, science fiction, humorous stories, etc.

You said you don’t want to read children’s books, but the best of them are quite good and can work on multiple levels... (think of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Winnie-the-Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Huckleberry Finn, Narnia, etc... there are intriguing children’s novels in similar style by Finnish authors, too.)

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:24 am

Well, I wouldn't say even the books are "childrens books" the language would be anything easy.

I've found someone intermediate benefits from say Mma Ramotswe detective stories. The language is easy, the character build keeps you learning new words and the plot is not too obfuscated... you can take a rooibois break every now and then.

Other easy readers are off papunet's selkokieli site, but those won't have 1:1 translations.

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:26 am

Roman Schatz, From Finland With Love.

It is in both Finnish and English, within the same book, very eary to flip over to the English if you need to clarifiy your understanding of the Finnish.

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland