Guest writer Juha Itkonen – Free Mondays

Juha Itkonen, one of the top names in his generation of writers, talks about his book, Teoriani perheestä (Gummerus 2023), during his Kanneltalo visit.

The interviewer is author and journalist Esa Mäkijärvi.

Teoriani perheestä is a personal story about family life. Juha Itkonen describes the way he grew up as the first child of his family in Hämeenlinna, as well as how he became a parent and the dynamics of his own family as a father of four children with the sensitivity of a skilled prosaist.

The story, which weaves together vivid memories with light and heavy moments, shows the change in gender roles and society from the 1970s to the present day. It does not provide parenting instructions, but much of it is easy to identify with.

Juha Itkonen (b. 1975) is one of the most prominent names in Finnish contemporary literature. His first novel, Myöhempien aikojen pyhiä (2003), which enchanted his audiences, and his other works include, in addition to novels, a correspondence book and plays. Itkonen has received, among other things, the State Prize for Literature, the Kalevi Jäntti Prize and the Veijo Meri Prize, and has been nominated for the Finlandia Prize on two occasions.

In cooperation with the Kannelmäki Library and the Helsinki Adult Education Centre.

Language: Finnish