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New book alert! “Kalevala“ by Elias Lönnrot. An epic poem compiling Finnish oral folklore including the creation of earth. An influence on J.R.R. Tolkien.

Available to read in 62 issues with Serial Reader!

#serialreader

The story of Kullervo's birth, life & death runs from tragedy to tragedy, with some moments of dark comedy. He is born into the household of an uncle "of hasty temper" who slaughtered Kullervo's people over a dispute about "fishes entrails", and violent overreaction to minor slights is a thread through the story. Kullervo is abused as a child, mocked as a youth, and his anger & sullenly vengeful nature are understandable, even if his actions ??

I've lost count of the number of times I've started reading the Kalevala over the past 30-odd years, and never finished it. I love the stories & the combination of mythic awesomeness and homely detail, but each time I've found the repetative metre begins to cloy. New tack: having just bought Sibelius' Kullervo Symphony, I'm reading just that episode, listening to the music & finding it easier to stay with the poem. Maybe I'll finish it one day! 😏

Thanks you for the tag @Trashcanman 🤗
#20factsaboutme #20thingsaboutme
@LibrarianRyan , thanks for the idea! 💕

@Violetta @MellieAntoinette @NatalieR @BookNAround @BiblioLitten @TorieStorieS @sudi @Author_RaJean @JessClark78 @Lel2403 @tournevis @Blaire @CarolynM @PickwickPlockPlock @Tamra @kaysworld1 @Nute @Lynnsoprano @Pricel101 @MirrorMask @RaimeyGallant 😉

What a cool way to welcome the new bride....by explaining how everything has been waiting for the moment of her arrival.

I am not a huge poetry fan but this is like the Finnish version of the Odyssey.

And this is how you get into trouble 😝😓 *is rereading The Kalevala*