Countless Moments

October brought more autumnal weather. As the rain lashes the windows, I long to curl up in the corner of the sofa with some books. After numerous moves, my own book collection is quite a curated version, but I noticed in the summer that new books have started to sneak onto the bookshelf. You don't always need to acquire books for yourself, as Finland has an excellent library system. 

I have lived in five different cities so far. Getting a library card has been among the first steps of my settling-in process in all my hometowns. As a result, quite a stack has accumulated in my wallet. The libraries of each city are different: in some the ceiling soars to great heights, in others a spirit of wisdom drifts, and in some there are so many shelves that you could even get lost while wandering. Yet libraries also share common features. I love the silence of libraries, which in this day and age is rather rare. I also love the neatly alphabetized, endlessly long and tall bookcases that hide countless adventures. 

My home library in Äänekoski is especially lovely. I got my first library card as a first-grader, and library trips were delightful moments for an eager reader. As a teen, I hung around the library to the point of being a nuisance while waiting for a ride home (sorry about that!). After moving on to upper secondary school,  I hunted classics of world literature from the library for course reading. During my studies, I noticed that sometimes you can get the course book you want from the Äänekoski library faster than from the busy libraries in student cities. I still usually find the works I need at the Äänekoski library, and by placing a request there is even more to borrow from other Central Finland libraries. An unbeatable advantage of a small-town library is also that you don't have to queue behind hundreds of reservations for new releases. 

In addition to a great selection, the Äänekoski library also has, for example, Hoikkassali downstairs, which serves as an exhibition space. There is almost always some exhibition on display there, and I've often popped in to see it during a library visit. An open book club also meets on the first Thursday of every month in the library's downstairs coffee room, behind Hoikkassali.

On Thursday 1.10.2020 I visited the Äänekoski library book club. The welcome at the book club was warm. I learned that the book club has been meeting since 2008. The most enthusiastic participants have attended nearly all the book club meetings, but everyone interested is welcomed even just once. The open book club discussion is facilitated by MA Mari Moisio, who has also worked as an information specialist. The theme of this autumn's literary evenings is racism and discrimination, which have been especially prominent in the news this year. Four books fitting the theme have been chosen for the autumn, and people sit down to discuss them on the first Thursday of the month. In Suolahti, they meet on the first Monday of the month. 

At the book club meetings, the focus is of course the work being read and its themes.  However, there's no need to stress about the reading, as you can join the book club even if you haven't read the book. Mari Moisio skillfully frames the discussion by sharing both background and key events and observations about the work. You can participate in the discussion as much as you like, with no obligations. 

On Thursday 1.10., there was a lively discussion around the table about Toni Morrison's Minun kansani, minun rakkaani (Eng. Beloved). The conversation also touched on America's current situation, history, and humanity in general. The fine discussion made room for shared reflection and interpretation. Talking about literature is often close to philosophical reflection, and I, for one, could have continued even longer.

From the world of literature, I wish you all a happy Aleksis Kivi and Finnish Literature Day today, 10 October! 

Remaining fall book club meetings: 

Äänekoski

5.11.2020 Yaa Gyasi: Homegoing (2017)

3.12.2020 Colson Whitehead: The Nickel Boys (2020)

Meetings are at 17.30 - 19.00 in the downstairs coffee room of the Äänekoski library (behind Hoikkassali).

Suolahti

2.11.2020 Henning Mankell: Ajan rannalla

7.12.2020 Yaa Gyasi: Homegoing  

Meetings are at 17.30 - 19.00 in the club room of the Suolahti library.

You can borrow fall holiday reading from the Äänekoski main library on weekdays 10-19 and Saturdays 10-14, from the Suolahti library Mon-Wed 12-19 and Thu-Fri 10-16, and from Sumiainen and Konginkangas every day 8-21. For more information about the libraries and opening hours, visit the City of Äänekoski's website.