This year, the Helsinki Book Fair dives into the significance of language. The Estonian programme is focused particularly on Friday, 23 October.
Throughout the day, visitors can meet Estonian authors Triinu Laan, Urmas Vadi and Tõnu Õnnepalu, as well as award-winning illustrator Anne Pikkov. The evening programme also includes an Estonian-language book club with Urmas Vadi. In addition, Antto Terras will present his new book Verinen Viro.
13:30-14:00 | Triinu Laan: Luuranko-Juhanin loppuelämä
Triinu Laan presents her award-winning children’s book Luuranko-Juhanin loppuelämä. She will be joined in conversation by Kirsi Bongwirnso. The book was translated into Finnish by Heli Laaksonen and published by WSOY.
14:30-15:00 | Miten tarina muuttuu kuviksi?
Award-winning Estonian illustrator Anne Pikkov talks about her work and how stories are transformed into images on the Kumpula Stage. Pikkov has illustrated, among others, Andrus Kivirähk’s Oskarin ihmepuhelin (translated into Finnish by Anja Salokannel) and Kari Hotakainen’s collection of stories Naurulokki ja pastori huvipuistossa. The discussion, organised by Orava-kirjat, is moderated by Minna Castrén.
14:30-15:00 | Urmas Vadi: Neverland
Urmas Vadi is an acclaimed Estonian novelist and playwright whose novel Kuun toinen puoli (translated by Petteri Aarnos) received an excellent reception in Finland. He will be interviewed by Ella Kanninen on the Töölö Stage. The discussion is organised by Enostone.
17:00-17:30 | Tõnu Õnnepalu: Pienet talot ilta-auringossa
Tõnu Õnnepalu and Finnish author Sirpa Kähkönen discuss journeys, humanity and what it means to be human through Õnnepalu’s newly translated book Pienet talot ilta-auringossa. The book was translated into Finnish by Jouko Väisänen and published by Kirjokansi.
18:00-18:30 | Estonian-language book club: Urmas Vadi – Neverland
Urmas Vadi joins the Estonian-language book club of Töölö Library. The discussion is moderated by Grete Ahtola, Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of Estonia, and Mariliis Kuukuma, librarian at Töölö Library.
18:30-19:00 | Antto Terras: Verinen Viro
Antto Terras presents his new book Verinen Viro (Into), which explores Estonia’s criminal history, with a particular focus on the turbulent 1990s.
The Estonian programme at the Helsinki Book Fair is organised by the Estonian Publishers’ Association, Estonian Literature Centre and Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, in cooperation with Finnish publishers.
Urmas Vadi. Photo: Argo Ingver / ERR