Status Updates From Kesäkirja

"Midges – not to be confused with mosquitoes – dance in vertical clouds and always in tempo. Millions and billions of microscopic midges rise and fall in perfect precision, singing stridently."

"The house was crouched like a long, squat animal, and the black swallows circled above it with piercing shrieks, like knives in the air."

"Write: I hate field mice. No. Write: I hate field mice, but I don’t like it when they die. They make tunnels in the ground, and then they eat up Papa’s bulbs. And they teach their children to make tunnels and eat bulbs. And at night they all sleep with their arms around each other. They don’t know they’re unfortunate creatures. Is that a good word?”

"“Stop talking in symbols, it’s old-fashioned. I talk about taking root and right away you’re into grandchildren. Why do you use so many euphemisms and metaphors? Are you afraid?”

"Papa did nothing but work at his desk. One evening, Sophia wrote a letter and stuck it under the door. It said, 'I hate you. With warm personal wishes, Sophia.' All the words were correctly spelled."

"“Crooks are famous for eating crayfish,”

"“I’m not going to pray to Him again,” said Sophia. 'He knows, anyway,” said Grandmother, who was lying on her back in the bow. The thing about God, she thought, is that He usually does help, but not until you’ve made an effort on your own.'"

"Spring rewarded Papa’s labours with great gentleness."

"New roots were seeking a foothold all over the island, and every stem and stalk was infused with life."

"Smell is important. It reminds a person of all the things he’s been through; it is a sheath of memories and security."

"'Solitude,' Grandmother said. 'Yes, indeed. That is a luxury.'"

"Dreams burn a lot of petrol."