"Sovinto" Audiobook by Meritta Koivisto

INTRODUCTION

Sovinto is a poignant and unflinching novel about a family torn apart by the upheavals of World War II. At the heart of the story lies Finnish Ingria, through whose narrative the loss of innocence and the sacrifices demanded by war are revealed, along with the enduring power of warmth and humanity. This novel, which explores themes of memory, naivety, unbearable losses, and the healing power of art, spans a sweeping arc from 1938 Vienna to 21st-century New York.

“You could describe Meritta Koivisto’s historical novel The Vienna Sketchbook, first published in 2017, as a forgotten gem. (…) Koivisto carries the story along at a rapid pace, but keeps the tension right to the end. (…) She uses very small tools to say something unbelievably large about how war can change a person."

-Kirsinkirjanurkka, read more

REVIEWS

Newspaper article about Sovinto by Meritta Koivisto, featuring a portrait of the author and a photo from a book event.

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The book describes in a distinguished way how evil begins to creep forth, little by little, first as whispers in the nooks of apartments, and in talks at street corners. Veilleux writes skillfully about the change that no one wanted to believe in, but which in the end changed everything. (…) Veilleux’s novel is a touching depiction of tragic occurrences.

Carita Lonka, Kuohu

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Sovinto is in many ways an influential book. If you didn’t know that the novelist is Finnish, you could not tell that from her writing style. (…) Veilleux writes elaborately and with respect for the readers’ intelligence, not explaining too much. (…) Sovinto is enjoyable reading experience in spite of the heavy topic.

Blogi, Kirjaluotsi, read more

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Skillful text creation. (…) Sovinto is in many ways an impressive book. It tells in an impactful way how quickly everyday life can change from normal to horror, downright to unreal.”(…) “It is a small-gestured, yet a big story. There is a strong whiplash effect. This book left me thinking about these two families for days after I finished reading.” (…). ”Holocaust stories overall leave imprint on your mind, but when also written skillfully, its flame does not decay soon.

Blogi, Jarjellajatunteella, read more