Customer Reviews

Keeping the fire burning - By: N. Megahey, 25 Sep 2008
As the Russian army moves into Finlandin December 1939, the people of the village of Suomussalmi flee, leaving their homes & possessions behind them to be burnt by the retreating Finnish forces. Only one person remains, Timo Vatanen, a simple logger regarded by most as lacking intelligence. It's certainly an act of madness to remainin the village as it is taken over by 50,000 Russian troops who use it as a base camp to fight the warin the surrounding districts.

Disregarding questions of collaboration as the village is alternately occupied by Russian & Finnish troops, Timo attempts to remainin favour with both, doing whatever is necessary, working with other prisoners & deserters as a logger, cutting wood to keep the fires goingin a brutally cold winter, & trying to maintain a semblance of homein one house that hasn't been burnt-out. Despite differences with language & personality, Timo forms deep bonds with several of the men has come to knowin extreme adverse conditions.

Viewed entirely from the perspective of Timo (though curiously varying from a first to third person perspective), with little indication about the wider ebb & flow of the war, it's a narrow perspective from a person with a very limited awareness & the novel can consequently be rather dry & dull. Essentially however it's about survival. It does raise some interesting psychological questions & the marks left on Timo from the experience are certainly deep.