Ilosia aikoja, Mielensäpahoittaja

Mielensäpahoittaja #3

by Tuomas Kyrö

Itse tehty on aina paras. Koti, sarkahousut tai arkku.

Mielensäpahoittaja valmistelee omia hautajaisiaan, koska kuka muukaan sen tekisi. Arkku on valmis, muistokirjoitus ruutupaperilla. Testamenttia varten tarvitaan mustepullo, mutta tämän ajan kirjoitusväline on ATK.

Mustetta etsiessään Mielensäpahoittaja kurkistaa myös elämän alkuun. Itsensä ja läheisimpiensä syntymään ja lapsuuteen. Kaikkien niiden ihmisten, joista hänkin on lopulta riippuvainen.

Sivistyneeltä lättähatulta Mielensäpahoittaja oppii, että menneisyyteen pääsee helpoimmin nykytekniikan kautta. Sylitelevision ruudulta näkyvät Arvi Lindin lukemat uutiset. Naapurin Kolehmaisen kotona on thaimaalainen vaimo, pieni poika ja kummalliset puikot haarukoiden sijaan. Kirkoissa ja sairaaloissa naiset tekevät miesten töitä ja juuri niin sen pitää olla.

Tuomas Kyrön Ilosia aikoja, Mielensäpahoittaja pysyy sysisuomalaisten perusasioiden äärellä. Elämän, kuoleman ja puurakentamisen. Se on mahdottoman hauska romaani mahdottomasta aiheesta.

Genres: Finnish Literature, Fiction, Humor, Audiobook, Contemporary, Drama

248 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

Tuomas Kyrö is a Finnish author and comic book illustrator.

FI: Tuomas Kyrö on suomalainen romaaneja, kolumneja, pakinoita, draamaa sekä sarja- ja pilakuvia tuottanut kirjailija ja sarjakuvapiirtäjä. Kyrö on palkittu muun muassa Kalevi Jäntin rahaston palkinnolla vuonna 2005 ja Nuori Aleksis -palkinnolla 2006. Hänen teoksensa Liitto oli ehdolla Finlandia-palkinnon saajaksi vuonna 2005. Kyrö oli Eeva Joenpellon kirjailijakodin ensimmäinen stipendiaatti vuosina 2005–2009. Nykyisin hän asuu perheineen Janakkalassa.

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read "A Man Called Ove" I was really looking forward to this book "The Happy Days of the Grump" by Thomas Kyro - however, sadly it didn't live up to my expectations.
The Grump at 80 years old, plans for his own demise by building his own coffin and writing his will. But when he finds himself in hospital after a fall, his life passes before his eyes.
Although very similar in premise, it didn't have the depth of characterisation or storyline I was hoping for and I was left quite disappointed.
There are some amusing parts to the story and is still worth a read especially to new readers of these type of 'grumpy old man' stories but anyone who has read 'Ove' may find this lacking emotionally and in dry humour too.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have full praise for the writer Tuomas Kyro making Happy Days of the Grump an exciting fresh new idea novel. I am now following Tuomas Kyro on goodreads. I found this story comical, but had some serious issues. Grump is eighty years old and I thought for an old man he had sharp memory of the past. He spends his days visiting his wife in a care home. Grump seems to have the idea of making his own coffin, and a will that he writes in pen. He's not like us today who do everything by some kind of computer. Unfortunately Grump is about to take a nasty fall and end up in hospital. I really enjoyed reading Happy Days of the Grump. A book that I have read similar is The World Is A wedding by Wendy Jones where Wilfred Price is busy with funerals.

[Laika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jotkut kirjat luettuaan on vähän parempi ihminen. Tämä oli sellainen. Ensimmäiset luvut mietin että eihän tämä ole hauska, tämä on traaginen! Ja sitten se oli myös hauska. Ja traaginen. Ja hauska. Ja sitten se oli niin tarkka ja viiltävä että hyvä on, Tuomas Kyrö, annan sinulle anteeksi sen kelvottoman esiintymisen Turun kirjamessuilla joitakin vuosia sitten. Menköön.

Jos jotain elämässä on hyvä oppia niin tästä kirjasta se löytyy. Ei tolkku, ei se että ennen oli kunnollista, ei se että mieli pitää pahoittaa. Vaan ihmisen kohtaaminen. Se että kaikki ollaan pohjimmiltaan ihmisiä ja että samat pelot ja toiveet on kaikissa, eri muotoisina vain. Kiitos.

[Suvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kyllä minä mieleni niin hyvitin, kun oli paksumpi kirja kuin edelliset. Lähti ehkä hitaammin liikkeelle kuin aiemmt osat, mutta käynnistyi kuitenkin kuin Voortti Eskortti talvipakkasella.

[Linda Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Grump is building his own coffin and wants to write his will in ink on paper, but life doesn’t always allow a person to do what they want!

Initially I found the translation of Happy Days of the Grump slightly clunky and it took me a few pages to acclimatise to the style, especially as I wasn’t familiar with many of the cultural aspects of Finnish life so I think I missed some of the nuances. Once I got used to the style, however, I thoroughly enjoyed the read. I appreciated the lack of speech marks for the Grump’s thoughts, and frequently his speech, as it placed me firmly inside his head and allowed me to understand him more.

The characterisation was highly empathetic and made me feel slightly ashamed of my sometimes slightly dismissive attitude to others, especially when aspects of the Grump’s character are gradually revealed. I ended up feeling that the Grump had every right to fulfil his wishes to orchestrate his own funeral. Even the more minor characters such as the Grump’s wife and daughter-in-law felt vivid and real.

Given that Happy Days of the Grump is a book more about a man’s attitudes and thoughts than anything else, I was surprised by the plot. There’s quite a bit happening so that the whole concept of the novel remains fresh and interesting throughout.

The most enjoyable aspect of Happy Days of the Grump was the fact that it made me laugh aloud, which I rarely do when reading, and nod frantically in agreement right the way through. I loved the fact that the Grump says what so many of us think – and that he doesn’t always realise he’s saying aloud what he’s thinking.

Happy Days of the Grump is a book that takes a while to attune to but that rewards the reader with a life affirming set of guidelines that we would all do well to live by. I heartily recommend it.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little while ago I was asked to be a part of the blog tour of ‘Happy Days of the Grump’ by Toamas Kyrö. Since I was looking for a read, a little different from my normal reads, this book sounded like a great next read. So after I received the book, I started reading as soon as possible.

In ‘Happy Days of the Grump’ we meet, yes, the Grump. The Grump is an eighty year old who has had enough of life. He is building his own coffin, and writing his own will all with the idea of being dead soon. But then the Grump falls and is hospitalized and soon the Grump is forced to think about his plans and the life he led.

Although this book definitely had its funny moments, it was much more serious than I anticipated. The Grump really is this old grumpy man I would probably dislike in real-life. Especially since the Grump has very old fashioned ideas about woman. But aside from that he has his charms. And in the end I really came to like him.

The writing in ‘Happy Days of the Grump’ was definitely a little different. And it took some getting used too! But after a little while I started to appreciate, being inside the Grumps head. It was different, but good.

Overall this book was a fun read, but I did miss a little more depth into the character. But it was definitely an enjoyable read.

[Simppu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vääjäämättä lähestyvän kuoleman motivoima, mutta vahvasti elämässä kiinni oleva kirja. Edeltäjiään selkeämmin juonivetoinen.

[Kyriakos Sorokkou]

 Διαβάστε τις 3εις κριτικές σε μία για τα βιβλία σε μετάφραση στο μπλογκ μου βιβλιοαλχημείες

In the last two weeks of November I read three books in translation, another chapter in my journey of reading the world. The drawbacks of this journey is that most of the time I'm drawn by the nationality of the author and not the book's story. Especially when I haven't read from said country before.

Why a drawback? Because most of the time I encounter mediocre books, or to be less offensive, books that didn't work for me.
All of these three books with the exception of de Sade's carbuncle, were just good, not amazing, but not mediocre either.

The books
The Yacoubian Building
Happy Days of the Grump
The 120 days of Sodom

This Book
Ilosia aikoja
COUNTRY: Finland
LANGUAGE: Finnish

Happy Days of the Grump by Tuomas Kyrö is as the title indicates a book for those who are fans of A Man Called Ove a story taking place in neighbouring country Sweden.

I haven't read it but what I felt when I finished this book was that it was a cute book, and that's all.

An 80 year old man disappointed from life decides to give an end to everything, his life included, but a serious accident will make him see things differently and will start reconciliating with people, situations, problems that he was avoiding until that moment.

I think it's a mistake to compare this book with Ove. It's unsafe, because comparisons in favour of Ove are unavoidable.
Comparisons are usually for the sake of marketing and promotion.

I suggest to read this book first before moving on with Ove.
I don't think the other way round would be ideal.

[Annyliis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Torisejaga olen nüüd ka tuttav. Ovega sain eelmisel kuul tuttavaks. Ega Toriseja Ovest suurt ei erine, kuigi Ovele elasin rohkem kaasa (neid kahte raamatut võrrelde meeldis Ove mulle palju rohkem). Aga ka torisejal oli palju vahvaid mõtteid. Muhelesin õrnalt tema elutarkustele kaasa. Neid tasub kõrva taha panna.
Näiteks nõustun Toriseja arvamusega müüjate eest põiklemise kohta. Arvan sama, et müüjate koolis on ilmselgelt puudu tunnist, kus räägitakse, et vägisi pakkumine peletab eemale palju häid kliente. ;)
Ove ajas mind naerma ja nutma. Toriseja vaid veidi muhelema. Ah, mis sest pidevast võrdlemisest ikka. ;)
Muide Toriseja on kahel korral Eestis käinud. Tema muljed meie kodumaast on naljakad. Testamendis mainib ta narvakast taksojuhigi ära.

[Mikko Saari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hauska ja liikuttava. Vanhan jäärän pakinakokoelmasta on kasvanut täysimittainen henkilöhahmo ja juonellinen romaani. Mielensäpahoittaja ryhtyy pistämään asioita järjestykseen, muun muassa nikkaroimaan arkkua ja laatimaan testamenttia. Rintaperillinen ei oikein osaa suhtautua, ja monta muutakin perin herkullista käännettä aikaiseksi saadaan. Hieno kirja.

[Karen Mace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little more serious than I was expecting, and I found myself feeling quite sorry for the Grump as he faced his demise! His mind is sharp as a tack, but his body is failing him and to be stuck in that quandry of wanting to carry on as normal, but unable too makes him question the world around him. I also found myself feeling a little sad for him that his family seemingly couldn't wait to get him into a care home instead of talking through other options with him. He seemed to be the one coming up with the workable options on that front!

The Grump is very set in his ways, so when life starts to change for him he isn't sure how to accept it other than to find fault with all that the modern world has to offer - hard to disagree with him about some of his well made points!!

It made for an engaging read, even if it didn't really go anywhere and felt a bit flat at times. It was fascinating to see the world through his eyes and I admired his spirit of never wanting to give up, even if those around him seemed to be giving up on him living a somewhat independant life.

[Laura Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious dark comedy that made me want to read it cover to cover in just two nights! The 'Grump' is of course, grumpy, but equally very funny with it! I'm not sure he realises how funny he IS or in fact if everyone would find him funny but I certainly did.

Many topics are covered - albeit briefly - it makes you think, it makes you consider your own life and it makes you laugh.

I was a little confused with the ending but hey - it was very early in the morning and I will give it a re-read to get a better grasp on it!

I would recommend this to anyone who has a sense of humour - or who is indeed a grump - or who isn't a grump but knows a grump - oh - it is just a book everyone would enjoy surely - if you have a sense of humour - I think that bit is necessary !!

[Margaret Wakeling · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story obviously of a grumpy old man - he has difficulty embracing the modern world. Parts of it are very funny - he makes his coffin which he then falls out of when trying it for size and this leads him to go back over his life. I am sure there are many of us who have come across such grumpiness maybe I am guilty of it myself. I enjoyed reading it but I think it needed more input from other characters.

[Julia Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle and amusing read. I don't think he was that grumpy really just content in his own skin.

[Jenna Kallio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rakastan Mielensäpahoittajaa koko ajan yhä enemmän <3. Ja rakastan siteerata häntä myös. Tässä yksi oivallinen miete: "Kuinka paljon helpompi maailma olisikaan, jos kaikki ajattelisivat niin kuin juuri minä." :D

[Pia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mukavaa kuunneltavaa, hauska ja yllättäen myös paljon ihan hyviä oivalluksia elämästä ja ilmiöistä.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one gets a 4+.
It is just a laugh-out-loud and then get teary eyed book about an old codger preparing for his death. The codger is set in his ways, and his children are worried about what he might do.
There are many people we all know that are like the grump, irritating but lovable. Full of information that needs to be recorded for us all to learn from.
Read the book and don't forget to drink you coffee and have some potatoes.
But mostly enjoy this old Finn.

[Jukka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ihan viihdyttävä, muistelen näiden olleen hauskempia.

[Janne Paananen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Itse en osannut olla emännän kanssa pitkään riidoissa, kyllä se useimmiten alle vuoteen jäi."

Ei tarvinnut lukijan pettyä vieläkään. Ei ollut huono mielensäpahoittajan kolmas osa. Hyvä oli.

Mielensäpahoittaja tajuaa oman aikansa vähyyden. Arkkua ei osteta, se valmistetaan etukäteen itse. Testamenttikin kirjoitetaan. Itse. Oikealla musteella. Ikäihminen ei ilman sairaalareissujakaan selviä ja kun sellaiselle lähdetään, niin mennään sitten Helsinkiä myöten. Ja nykyteknologia on hapatusta, paitsi jos siitä voi katsoa vanhoja yleisurheilukisoja vuosikymmenten takaa tai Arvi Lindiä.

Jälleen kohtaa kaksi sukupolvea. Vastaan hangaten, kyynelehtien, mutta kuitenkin lämminhenkisesti. Ja samalla tavalla hoidetaan oma vaimovanhus, joka on vuodeosastolle päätynyt.

Kyrö kirjoittaa kauniisti ihmisten välittämisesta ja tunteista. Ei siihen ylimääräisiä sanoja tarvita, sitäkin enemmän hiljaisia tekoja.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a blurb that compared this book to A Man Called Ove, which I really liked, so I thought I'd give it a try. Happy Days of the Grump is about a grumpy old widower pragmatically facing his end days while lamenting times gone by and the loss of old ways. It has its humorous moments. I thought this comment was pretty funny, "When I was young irony hadn't even been invented. You said what you meant, or else kept quiet."

All in all something is missing. Perhaps because the almost stream of consciousness style it's written in gets monotonous or maybe I just expected too much. Regardless I thought it was just okay.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paras lukemani Mielensäpahoittaja (Miniä on lukematta)! Alkuaikojen hupipätkistä on syntynyt täysverinen romaani, tarinassa on kunnon juonen kaari ja dialogia pelkän monologin sijaan. Myös toistoa on vähemmän, ja kuuluisaa "Kyllä minä niin mieleni pahoitin" -lausahdusta kulutetaan vain todelliseen tarpeeseen. Aluksi pelkäsin mielensäpahoittajan vakavoituneen, sillä pääteemana oli nostalgian sijaan vanheneminen ja kuolema, mutta onneksi näin ei ollut. Tätä voisi suositella kenelle vain, joka vain suomea ymmärtää - ja tietää keitä on Lindin Arvi ja Rädyn Seppo!

[KM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oli kyllä paras Mielensäpahoittaja tähän mennessä. Alkuun epäilytti, että vieläkö samasta aiheesta ja tutusta asenteesta saadaan jotain uutta kaluttua, mutta kyllä vain oli uutta syvyyttä ja tarinallisuutta mukana. Lisäksi tuntui, että kirjan jutuille tuli hykerreltyäkin nyt tiuhempaan kuin edellisten osien parissa.

[Ronny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarisch, maar de nagel op de kop!

[Marjorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Grump in the title of this book may well be an 82 year old Finnish man but the sentiments expressed through the book just as easily apply to a 40-something British Woman.

It is such a real feeling book that it is hard, in places, to reconcile the fact that is a work of fiction. The Grump expresses thoughts that we have all had pass through our heads. Mainly along he lines of how much better things were when we were young. How the world was a brighter place, time moved much more slowly and out lives were led at a leisurely pace. Now the world runs ahead of us clippity-clop and we struggle to keep pace; losing along the way that social niceties that make us a society.

Billed as a Dark Comedy I found it to be a much more straightforward comedy - what that says about my current mental state or general sense of disillusionment with the world in it's current state I cannot accurately quantify. I certainly did feel both myself and my husband reflected back at me through the pages of this book.

It is hard going in places and this is due to decidedly Finnish cultural references that mean little to someone who has not so much visited the country. The translation also seems at a loss to translate that cultures unique words and grammatical structures in to British English. This is not a bad thing but worth mentioning.

The Grump dwells, as we all must, on the impending visit from the Grim Reaper and all this may mean for his family so he sets about setting his affairs in order, building a coffin, writing a will and visiting the Minister to plan his funeral. Once this is done he can get back to living life at his pace and not the pace of those around him. In many sections of the book it is unclear if The Grump is articulating his musings on a situation or his remembrances of the past or if he is actually having a dialogue with someone. I suspect he is having an internal dialogue but out loud - something I have been guilty of on many an occassion.

Not a light read as the word Comedy would suggest but not one that leaves you wondering why you bothered. A sturdy tale told within a slim volume.

I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Tuomas Kyro's Happy Days of the Grump, an 80-year-old man prepares himself for the end of his days while reflecting on his own life, his relationships, the state of the world today, smart phones, hard work, neighbors who borrow tools and never return them, and computers. 

After a long and mostly happy life, The Grump has decided that it's time to write his will and build his own coffin. He doesn't cotton to those who sell coffins, It's just some wood and velvet; The Grump certainly doesn't need any special features on his, and he definitely doesn't want to have to pay for them. So he purchases what he needs to build his own and gets to work. 

As he works, he finds old photos that bring back ancient childhood memories. His son visits, giving him much to be grumpy about, what with his son's interest in computers, his phone, and the GPS. That, and the fact that his favorite office supply store has closed and he has to drive much further to try to find ink just adds to his grumpiness about the current state of the world. A bad fall sends him to the hospital, where he has further time to reflect on his life and on the times he has found himself in. 

A darkly comic novel, Happy Days of the Grump offers us a reminder of what life is really about. Although there are plenty of things out there to make us all grumpy, we still get to choose how we feel, how we live, and how we love. Although it can take a lot of patience to make it through all the grumping, this novel is a lovely reminder of all the things that take away our grumpiness every day. I didn't find this one laugh-out-loud funny, but I think it's because I relate a little too much to his complaints. I admit it--I'm a grump too! So this book has been a charming reminder to notice all the beautiful things in my life too. 



Galleys for Happy Days of the Grump were provided by Bonnier Zaffre through NetGalley.com, with many thanks. 

[Kon Frankowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Days of the Grump is a story about someone you know. Might be your cranky neighbour, your delightfully ranty grandad, your own dad, or even you. We are all a 'grump'. J'suis Grump.

This nicely rounded story follows a man in his eighties who is ready to take a leap over the rainbow bridge. So much so that he decides to build himself a coffin... The premise of the story is the exploration of the state of the world we live in. Kyrö provides comical yet poignant commentary on the wholesomeness we yearn for whilst chasing the next shiny thing. The style of writing is easy and gentle, yet not simplistic. If anything, the language (and the translation) provides a high degree of authenticity.

Is it a feel-good story? Even though it's been its marketing hook I wouldn't describe it as such. Yes, it provides a number of a laugh out loud moments, but it doesn't leave you nicely full like a sundae with extra sprinkles and a cherry on a top. It actually makes you feel like you had a McDonald's Big Mac large meal, whilst you know you should have a sensible meal. It will fill you up and keep you happy for a while, but soon you'll remember that perhaps a roasted chicken breast with a salad would be a much better idea.

One important element of the story is the intergenerational disparity which is illustrated by the interactions between the main character and his son and daughter-in-law. But as we read it becomes more and more apparent that being 'a grump' is not an 'age' thing. It's a human thing.

[Angela L · Rating 4 out of 5]

The grump is 80 and very set in his ways. This leads to a book full of quirky habits, funny anecdotes and clashes with his family.
It's translated from Finnish so there are a few "local" references that go a bit over the head of a reader from another country but these are few and far between.
As a reader it was far more interesting to look at the grump's character and recognise things that I might well do myself in years to come (and things my Dad probably already does). The generation gap between a highly practical elder man and his younger relatives is charming to behold. When he tries to use a 20 odd year old voucher for a hotel you can't help but admire his dogged insistence that it states no expiry date on it.
This is typical of the funny moments that fill the book - you certainly admire him when it transpires his frugal living habits have resulting in unknown savings/property (meticulously bequeathed in a will that MUST be written on paper with a fountain pen and ink).
Even when he has a stroke he refuses to bow to his family's wishes and continues to live life in his own indomitable style.
A joyous portrait of a grumpy old man!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been so conflicted about this book. I couldn't decide whether I liked it or not, and then just as I decided that it wasn't for me, the last two chapters arrived and completely changed my perspective.

I totally get it. As a twenty-one year old, I was 'against' the Grump until the last two or three chapters, when it all became clear. The Grump suddenly morphed into an image of my granddad, who is my favourite person in the entire world, and it all made sense.

The world changes incredibly quickly, and as this book says, 'everyone knows a Grump'. They are the people, generally older, who can't keep up with how quickly life changes, especially with the introduction of things like technology, which gets more and more advanced every year.

The moral of the story, as I have chosen to understand it, is this: phone your grandparents more often. Visit them. Gently introduce them to the technology that comes so naturally to you. And remember that without them, you wouldn't even exist.

[buzylizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Grump is an eighty year old man, who like many people believes things were better in the past. The book is made up of the constant stream of his thoughts, sometimes expressed out loud to those around him without reserve, except where emotions are involved. This makes him often trying company for his son and daughter-in-law, but his actions show him to be very caring both to his family and others, whether an Estonian taxi driver, a neighbour's Thai step child or a confused lady in the care home with his wife.
The translation by Hildi Hawkins is excellent (despite one or two sentences that don't quite make sense) so only the Finnish cultural references remind us that English is not the Grump's first language.
Although billed as a black comedy, presumably due to the time the Grump spends planning for his own death, the book is more gently amusing than this label might suggest. There are also plenty of positive messages to be drawn from the philosophy of this endearing grumbler, who is not as wedded to the past as it might first appear.

[ClaireMar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from Readersfirst so here's my review:

The story of this book follows an 80 years old Grump in his quest to prepare for his own death by making his own cofin and writing his will. With the help of his own son he runs his errands while ranting about various matters and we witness some parts of his life and history.
Although the concept may sound a bit dark, I found the main character and the writing so amusing and charming! I wouldn't really call it a black comedy, as it was advertised.The Grump's unique perspective had me laughing so many times.
Another thing I enjoyed was the occasional glimpse of life in Finland through the eyes of an older, more tradiional person. Tuomas Kyro is a Finnish writer and the story is set there, so I felt I got to know a little bit of another culture, which is always something I particularly enjoy in books.
This book definitely made me think of my own grandpa, who wasn't grumpy a day in his life, but that's another story!
Great and easy read!So glad I won this!