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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
The Year of the Hare in Estonian
Review of the Loomingu Raamatukogu Kuldsari (Gold Series) nr. 13 (January, 2022 #1) reissue of Loomingu Raamatukogu [b:Jänese aasta|22927336|Jänese aasta|Arto Paasilinna|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408293600l/22927336._SX50_.jpg|642989] (1995 nr. 28-30) translated by [a:Sirje Kiin|900020|Sirje Kiin|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] from the Finnish language original [b:Jäniksen vuosi|8765928|Jäniksen vuosi|Arto Paasilinna|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311789838l/8765928._SX50_.jpg|642989] (1975)
I had already read/listened to Finnish writer Arto Paasilinna's The Year of the Hare in an English language translation several years ago, so it was an easy choice to pick up this recently republished Estonian translation. Knowing the story in advance would help my comprehension in reading in my heritage language. Sirje Kiin's translation was very comfortable to read and the story was as entertaining as I remembered it.
As with all of the Loomingu Raamatukogu translations there was a very informative Afterword by the translator which provided an overview of the prolific one-book-a-year writer. The Year of the Hare is his most popular work and it also established his style of the picaresque adventure.
His story of the disillusioned journalist Vatanen adopting an injured hare, abandoning his wife and job and then carrying the animal along on his often crazy plots and adventures throughout Finland remains as entertaining as ever, even with a spot of magic realism towards the end.
Actor Antti Litja and the hare in the 1977 Finnish film adaptation of "The Year of the Hare". Image sourced from Rare FilmM.
Trivia and Links
The Year of the Hare has been adapted twice for film. The first adaptation was the Finnish language Jäniksen vuosi (1977) directed by Risto Jarva. There does not appear to be a trailer available for it, but a clip excerpt can be viewed on YouTube here. It is the scene where the fisherman Hannikaisen reveals his conspiracy theory to Vatanen about the Finnish President Kekkonen having been replaced by a body double.
The second adaptation was the French language Le lièvre de Vatanen (2006) directed by Marc Rivière. A French language trailer without subtitles can be viewed on YouTube here.
The LR Kuldsari (Estonian: Golden Series) presents readers with a selection of works published in the Loomingu Raamatukogu (Estonian: The Creation Library) throughout the ages. These are favorites from over the past six decades which confirm that the classics never get old! Six books will be published annually, one every two months. - translated from the publisher's website.
The Loomingu Raamatukogu is a modestly priced Estonian literary journal which initially published weekly (from 1957 to 1994) and which now publishes 40 issues a year as of 1995. It is a great source for discovery as its relatively cheap prices (currently 3 to 5€ per issue) allow for access to a multitude of international writers in Estonian translation and of shorter works by Estonian authors themselves. These include poetry, theatre, essays, short stories, novellas and novels (the lengthier works are usually parcelled out over several issues).
For a complete listing of all works issued to date by Loomingu Raamatukogu including those in the Golden Series (at the bottom) see Estonian Wikipedia at: https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loomingu_Raamatukogus_ilmunud_teoste_loend_aastak%C3%A4iguti
Review of the Loomingu Raamatukogu Kuldsari (Gold Series) nr. 13 (January, 2022 #1) reissue of Loomingu Raamatukogu [b:Jänese aasta|22927336|Jänese aasta|Arto Paasilinna|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408293600l/22927336._SX50_.jpg|642989] (1995 nr. 28-30) translated by [a:Sirje Kiin|900020|Sirje Kiin|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] from the Finnish language original [b:Jäniksen vuosi|8765928|Jäniksen vuosi|Arto Paasilinna|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311789838l/8765928._SX50_.jpg|642989] (1975)
I had already read/listened to Finnish writer Arto Paasilinna's The Year of the Hare in an English language translation several years ago, so it was an easy choice to pick up this recently republished Estonian translation. Knowing the story in advance would help my comprehension in reading in my heritage language. Sirje Kiin's translation was very comfortable to read and the story was as entertaining as I remembered it.
As with all of the Loomingu Raamatukogu translations there was a very informative Afterword by the translator which provided an overview of the prolific one-book-a-year writer. The Year of the Hare is his most popular work and it also established his style of the picaresque adventure.
His story of the disillusioned journalist Vatanen adopting an injured hare, abandoning his wife and job and then carrying the animal along on his often crazy plots and adventures throughout Finland remains as entertaining as ever, even with a spot of magic realism towards the end.
Actor Antti Litja and the hare in the 1977 Finnish film adaptation of "The Year of the Hare". Image sourced from Rare FilmM.
Trivia and Links
The Year of the Hare has been adapted twice for film. The first adaptation was the Finnish language Jäniksen vuosi (1977) directed by Risto Jarva. There does not appear to be a trailer available for it, but a clip excerpt can be viewed on YouTube here. It is the scene where the fisherman Hannikaisen reveals his conspiracy theory to Vatanen about the Finnish President Kekkonen having been replaced by a body double.
The second adaptation was the French language Le lièvre de Vatanen (2006) directed by Marc Rivière. A French language trailer without subtitles can be viewed on YouTube here.
The LR Kuldsari (Estonian: Golden Series) presents readers with a selection of works published in the Loomingu Raamatukogu (Estonian: The Creation Library) throughout the ages. These are favorites from over the past six decades which confirm that the classics never get old! Six books will be published annually, one every two months. - translated from the publisher's website.
The Loomingu Raamatukogu is a modestly priced Estonian literary journal which initially published weekly (from 1957 to 1994) and which now publishes 40 issues a year as of 1995. It is a great source for discovery as its relatively cheap prices (currently 3 to 5€ per issue) allow for access to a multitude of international writers in Estonian translation and of shorter works by Estonian authors themselves. These include poetry, theatre, essays, short stories, novellas and novels (the lengthier works are usually parcelled out over several issues).
For a complete listing of all works issued to date by Loomingu Raamatukogu including those in the Golden Series (at the bottom) see Estonian Wikipedia at: https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loomingu_Raamatukogus_ilmunud_teoste_loend_aastak%C3%A4iguti
A Finnish journalist rescues a wild hare that has been hit by a car, and then walks away from his old life. A paean to just doing what you feel like, I really loved this book. That said, I wish that someone had lopped off those final two pages. A.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a weird book. It's good though, a real page turner that reads like a collection of vignettes. The chapters are extremely short and it barrels along at a blinding pace telling the story of Vatanen who adopts an injured wild hare and leaves his Helsinki life behind to take up odd jobs in Finland's northern region. There's a lot of action. Vatanen is broadly likable but often does things that are morally grey or actively unkind. In short, he is believable and multifaceted. The last third of the book loses it's way a bit for me, but I still enjoyed the conclusion.
I thought this was a great story up until the last few chapters. Granted the last two were great chapters, but there is the part leading up to the very end, in essence one of the very last very climatic parts of the story that I thought was a bit out of character for the main character.
Aside from that, truly a great story! I love the adventure in it, the ties to nature, the hare, and the shenanigans that our heroes embark on.
Aside from that, truly a great story! I love the adventure in it, the ties to nature, the hare, and the shenanigans that our heroes embark on.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 - 4 This a quirky, fantastical tale that made me laugh with joy as a man escaped his life to set off on adventures with a hare. I got distracted towards the end and found that I didn't really care how it ended, but it was a fun lark while it lasted.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced