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The Howling Miller
When Gunnar Huttunen turns up in a small village to restore a dilapidated mill, its inhabitants are instinctively wary. He's big. He's a bit odd. And he's a stranger. Everyone loves his brilliant animal impressions but these feelings soon sour when he starts to howl wildly at night.
And once the mean-spirited, small-minded locals realise Gunnar won't conform, they conclude he must be mad. Hounded from his mill and persecuted for being different, only the love of his life and the local drunk stand by him. Can he survive? And how?
And once the mean-spirited, small-minded locals realise Gunnar won't conform, they conclude he must be mad. Hounded from his mill and persecuted for being different, only the love of his life and the local drunk stand by him. Can he survive? And how?
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
60 people are currently reading
1672 people want to read
About the author
Arto Paasilinna
79 books751 followersArto Tapio Paasilinna was a Finnish writer, being a former journalist turned comic novelist. One of Finland's most successful novelists, he won a broad readership outside of Finland in a way few other Finnish authors have before. Translated into 27 languages, over seven million copies of his books have been sold worldwide, and he has been claimed as "instrumental in generating the current level of interest in books from Finland".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
April 16, 2020
no moomins here!
so this is a book written in finnish, translated into french and then translated from that into american, so who knows what kind of stew i just read. whatever flavor it was, i liked it, but i can't help but wonder how far removed it was from the original. to complicate things further, to me it feels very eastern european, in tone and subject matter - it just feels gombrowicz-y or like a somewhat wackier kundera or kafka. just in bits, though. and i usually ignore translator/tion issues simply because i have to. i figure there is no way i will ever learn every language, or even one language, really,but at my last book club meeting, we were reading a story by heinrich boll which i liked, but when i grabbed someone else's book with a different translation, i liked theirs a lot more. (i have since ordered the "good" translation from abe.com you will no doubt all be pleased to know)
i liked this little book, although i am sure i did not grasp every ounce of import from it. i feel like it must have allegorical qualities that i am just reading right past, with my weak understanding of finnish mores.
however.
i personally love the word howl.
HOWL HOWL HOWL
and if i weren't afraid of having the authorities called in to my home to remove me, i would give in to my primal howling urges always and howl whenever i was sad. like this miller. the one from the title, who howls.
and this is what would happen to me: they would take away my mill and make me live in the wilderness! and eat boiled bacon!! that is no way to treat bacon.
you want to root for the underdog, or i usually do, but this underdog is kind of a dick. he's not a sweet man pushed outside of society like edward scissorhands or powder or whatever - he's kind of an asshole. and sure, it could simply be the manifestation of some deeper psychological or chemical imbalance easily treatable with modern medicine, but i'm no analyst. to me, he is just kind of an asshole who when he feels frustrated, destroys the property of others. man, if he dumped my barley in the river, i would want him locked up too.but he lives in a town of assholes, too, so their singling him out seems hypocritical. but i guess it's a case of containing the most obvious asshole and feeling a sense of accomplishment to the greater good of the community.
i liked this book, especially the ending, but maybe i will learn me some finnish in my spare time and read it in the original.
pause forever for laughter.
come to my blog!
so this is a book written in finnish, translated into french and then translated from that into american, so who knows what kind of stew i just read. whatever flavor it was, i liked it, but i can't help but wonder how far removed it was from the original. to complicate things further, to me it feels very eastern european, in tone and subject matter - it just feels gombrowicz-y or like a somewhat wackier kundera or kafka. just in bits, though. and i usually ignore translator/tion issues simply because i have to. i figure there is no way i will ever learn every language, or even one language, really,but at my last book club meeting, we were reading a story by heinrich boll which i liked, but when i grabbed someone else's book with a different translation, i liked theirs a lot more. (i have since ordered the "good" translation from abe.com you will no doubt all be pleased to know)
i liked this little book, although i am sure i did not grasp every ounce of import from it. i feel like it must have allegorical qualities that i am just reading right past, with my weak understanding of finnish mores.
however.
i personally love the word howl.
HOWL HOWL HOWL
and if i weren't afraid of having the authorities called in to my home to remove me, i would give in to my primal howling urges always and howl whenever i was sad. like this miller. the one from the title, who howls.
and this is what would happen to me: they would take away my mill and make me live in the wilderness! and eat boiled bacon!! that is no way to treat bacon.
you want to root for the underdog, or i usually do, but this underdog is kind of a dick. he's not a sweet man pushed outside of society like edward scissorhands or powder or whatever - he's kind of an asshole. and sure, it could simply be the manifestation of some deeper psychological or chemical imbalance easily treatable with modern medicine, but i'm no analyst. to me, he is just kind of an asshole who when he feels frustrated, destroys the property of others. man, if he dumped my barley in the river, i would want him locked up too.but he lives in a town of assholes, too, so their singling him out seems hypocritical. but i guess it's a case of containing the most obvious asshole and feeling a sense of accomplishment to the greater good of the community.
i liked this book, especially the ending, but maybe i will learn me some finnish in my spare time and read it in the original.
pause forever for laughter.
come to my blog!
June 11, 2018
quattro stelle di ammirazione sconfinata per gunnar che, nel tempo che impiego io a scrivere 'ste due righe, rimette in sesto mulini abbandonati, allestisce accampamenti nel bosco, si procaccia il cibo e soprattutto resiste, resiste, resiste. daje!
September 3, 2021
Eine unspektakuläre Geschichte über den Umgang der Gesellschaft mit Sonderlingen. Märchenhaft, aber für mich nicht bezaubernd. Der skandinavische Humor bleibt für mich verschlossen (mit Ausnahme von Kinderbüchern).
April 24, 2022
Након нимало пријатних свједочанстава о злочинима њемачке тајне полиције са којима се сусретох у претходно прочитаној књизи, дошао је ред на мало опуштајуће егзотике. Арто Пасилина, новинар и писац који је младалачке дане провео у завејаним гудурама Лапоније, написао је роман о аутистичном ратном ветерану који досељењем у поменуте крајеве уноси хаос и немир међу локално становништво. Кроз згоде и незгоде главног јунака аутор на шаљив начин приказује животну колотечину бајковитог лапонског мјесташца у коме се за ред брине само један полицајац, а писма разноси поштар који се не одваја од своје чутурице. Истовремено, Пасилина сатирички преиспитује однос крвожедног стада и неприлагођених појединаца, али и опхођење психијатара према ментално заосталим пацијентима.
Уколико занемаримо бенефит добијен површним урањањем у једну мени прилично непознату културу, не могу рећи да је роман на мене оставио снажан утисак, а сумњам и да ће задовољити укус било кога ко од књижевности захтијева првенствено занатску убједљивост. Додуше, имам осјећај да је превод дјелимично осакатио естетску ауру оригинала, а чини ми се и да би филмска адаптација (а има их двије) могла постићи боље резултате будући да је роман захвалан за екранизацију.
Ако неко има добру препоруку за финску књижевност, нека се огласи! Стварно нема смисла да ми Мумијеви и даље буду готово једини извор знања о финском менталитету.
Уколико занемаримо бенефит добијен површним урањањем у једну мени прилично непознату културу, не могу рећи да је роман на мене оставио снажан утисак, а сумњам и да ће задовољити укус било кога ко од књижевности захтијева првенствено занатску убједљивост. Додуше, имам осјећај да је превод дјелимично осакатио естетску ауру оригинала, а чини ми се и да би филмска адаптација (а има их двије) могла постићи боље резултате будући да је роман захвалан за екранизацију.
Ако неко има добру препоруку за финску књижевност, нека се огласи! Стварно нема смисла да ми Мумијеви и даље буду готово једини извор знања о финском менталитету.
August 5, 2022
I unfortunately didn't connect much with this book. It follows an unusual hermit of a man, who purchases a local mill and manages to aggrevate most of the locals through his peculiarities. He falls in love with a charming but innocent young woman but his issues continue to escalate with the villagers.
I didn't really connect with the writing style. The original Finnish version was translated into French, then again into English, so I'm not sure if the translation was flat, or if it was true to the original style.
I didn't really connect with the writing style. The original Finnish version was translated into French, then again into English, so I'm not sure if the translation was flat, or if it was true to the original style.
November 30, 2012
This book was pretty amazing, and different. I'm still brooding over the ending. It's not exactly a happy one, but neither it is sad. It has the same small touch of fantasy as the entire novel.
Except for the description of how a mill works, which bored me a little, the rest of the novel is gripping, the kind of story which makes me live inside it, suffering and rejoicing along with the characters.
A mysterious, tall man buys the old mill in a northern Finnish village. His past is unknown and his behavior strange: his mood shifts from depression, when he is grumpy and isolated, to happiness, when he holds parties at the mill, imitating animals and neighbors. Soon, he begins to upset people with his loud howling during the night. He appears to be different and this cannot be understood by his fellow villagers, who begin to think he is insane. It's obvious that Gunnar Huttenen is not entirely normal, but he doesn't harm anyone with his peculiarities.
Soon, the events begin to precipitate and people's cruel nature surfaces, deciding the miller's fate. God, how I hated those stupid and petty bastards! Fortunately, there are a few kind-hearted people in that village who will try to help the miller, including a policeman, who shows more compassion than the priest.
I won't say anything more, in order not to spoil the story. But you should read this book, it's worth the time spent in its company.
Except for the description of how a mill works, which bored me a little, the rest of the novel is gripping, the kind of story which makes me live inside it, suffering and rejoicing along with the characters.
A mysterious, tall man buys the old mill in a northern Finnish village. His past is unknown and his behavior strange: his mood shifts from depression, when he is grumpy and isolated, to happiness, when he holds parties at the mill, imitating animals and neighbors. Soon, he begins to upset people with his loud howling during the night. He appears to be different and this cannot be understood by his fellow villagers, who begin to think he is insane. It's obvious that Gunnar Huttenen is not entirely normal, but he doesn't harm anyone with his peculiarities.
Soon, the events begin to precipitate and people's cruel nature surfaces, deciding the miller's fate. God, how I hated those stupid and petty bastards! Fortunately, there are a few kind-hearted people in that village who will try to help the miller, including a policeman, who shows more compassion than the priest.
I won't say anything more, in order not to spoil the story. But you should read this book, it's worth the time spent in its company.
May 12, 2011
Gunner Huttunen è un mugnaio. Non si sa da dove viene, ma si sa che nei lavori manuali è bravo.
Non si sa cosa gli passa per la testa, ma si sa che quando è felice imita gli animali della foresta, e quando è triste e si sente oppresso ulula.
Queste poche caratteristiche sono sufficienti perché il paesino bigotto in cui vive, lo tacci di pazzia.
Adesso per un attimo estraniamoci dalla storia.
Paasilinna è finlandese. Se per caso pensate di trovarvi davanti, un uomo dagli occhi di ghiaccio, dallo stile freddo e pacato, e dall'umorismo assente vi sbagliate di grosso. Paasilinna è un ex poeta, un ex giornalista, ma anche un ex guardiaboschi. E in questo racconto si vede, eccome se si vede!
Per fare questo romanzo Arto credo abbia mischiato i seguenti ingredienti:
-le inquadrature panoramiche della casa nella prateria (vi ricordate il telefilm? Quello!)
-Il manuale delle Giovani Marmotte, livello esperti
-4 manciate di tenerezza
-3 sporte di umorismo
-2 spruzzate dell'umanità dei discorsi di Don Camillo con Gesù
-1 cucchiaio e mezzo della solitudine dell'Uomo Tigre
-l'ultima inquadratura di una qualsiasi puntata di Walker Texas Ranger, dove campeggia il lieto fine e viene dato largo consenso alla speranza (togliete però la parte in cui la certezza che i buoni vincono sui cattivi ha il sapore stucchevole e nauseabondo).
Mettete nel mixer il tutto e voilà: Il mugnaio urlante.
Ultimo ingrediente, ma non per importanza.. è la morale, come giustamente ci si aspetta in un racconto scritto come Dio comanda. I cattivi in questo libro sono l'ignoranza, la stupidità e l'ipocrisia della massa uniforme. Massa ancor più solidale quando si tratta di dar la caccia alle streghe; la morale invece rimanda a una frase di Basaglia:
«Voce confusa con la miseria, l'indigenza e la delinquenza, parola resa muta dal linguaggio razionale della malattia, messaggio stroncato dall'internamento e reso indecifrabile dalla definizione di pericolosità e dalla necessità sociale dell'invalidazione, la follia non viene mai ascoltata per ciò che dice o che vorrebbe dire. »
E aggiungerei.. Specialmente quando il confine tra pregiudizio e reale malattia/insanità/invalidità sfuma dentro la mediocrità di chi attribuisce l'etichetta di “folle”.
Non si sa cosa gli passa per la testa, ma si sa che quando è felice imita gli animali della foresta, e quando è triste e si sente oppresso ulula.
Queste poche caratteristiche sono sufficienti perché il paesino bigotto in cui vive, lo tacci di pazzia.
Adesso per un attimo estraniamoci dalla storia.
Paasilinna è finlandese. Se per caso pensate di trovarvi davanti, un uomo dagli occhi di ghiaccio, dallo stile freddo e pacato, e dall'umorismo assente vi sbagliate di grosso. Paasilinna è un ex poeta, un ex giornalista, ma anche un ex guardiaboschi. E in questo racconto si vede, eccome se si vede!
Per fare questo romanzo Arto credo abbia mischiato i seguenti ingredienti:
-le inquadrature panoramiche della casa nella prateria (vi ricordate il telefilm? Quello!)
-Il manuale delle Giovani Marmotte, livello esperti
-4 manciate di tenerezza
-3 sporte di umorismo
-2 spruzzate dell'umanità dei discorsi di Don Camillo con Gesù
-1 cucchiaio e mezzo della solitudine dell'Uomo Tigre
-l'ultima inquadratura di una qualsiasi puntata di Walker Texas Ranger, dove campeggia il lieto fine e viene dato largo consenso alla speranza (togliete però la parte in cui la certezza che i buoni vincono sui cattivi ha il sapore stucchevole e nauseabondo).
Mettete nel mixer il tutto e voilà: Il mugnaio urlante.
Ultimo ingrediente, ma non per importanza.. è la morale, come giustamente ci si aspetta in un racconto scritto come Dio comanda. I cattivi in questo libro sono l'ignoranza, la stupidità e l'ipocrisia della massa uniforme. Massa ancor più solidale quando si tratta di dar la caccia alle streghe; la morale invece rimanda a una frase di Basaglia:
«Voce confusa con la miseria, l'indigenza e la delinquenza, parola resa muta dal linguaggio razionale della malattia, messaggio stroncato dall'internamento e reso indecifrabile dalla definizione di pericolosità e dalla necessità sociale dell'invalidazione, la follia non viene mai ascoltata per ciò che dice o che vorrebbe dire. »
E aggiungerei.. Specialmente quando il confine tra pregiudizio e reale malattia/insanità/invalidità sfuma dentro la mediocrità di chi attribuisce l'etichetta di “folle”.
August 4, 2024
Oh ist das lange her, ich weiß noch, dass ich mich so gut amüsiert habe, dass ich eine zeitlang verfolgt habe, was sonst noch so vom Autor folgt, vieles hat aber dann nach „mehr vom selben“ geklungen; das sich dann zu sehr nach lauwarmem Aufguss angehört und so ist es beim heulenden Müller geblieben.
Skurrile Szenen, absurder Humor, liebenswürdige Gesellen, Pleiten, Pech und Pannen alles leichtfüßig und süffig zu lesen, aber weil der Humor so stark das tragende Element des Romans war, konnte es mich nur teilweise erreichen. Bei solchen Büchern muss dann alles zumindest augenzwinkernd rüberkommen, das heißt, alle anderen Grundstimmungen, die auch zum Leben gehören, werden bewusst ausgeblendet oder bestenfalls mal angedeutet, dann aber schnell wieder ein Gag; insofern kann ich sowas mal zwischendurch lesen, mich amüsieren, muss das aber nicht ständig haben.
Für Ausflüge ins Lachformat habe ich über die Jahre auch noch interessantere Autoren kennengelernt, ganz vorne John Fante.
Skurrile Szenen, absurder Humor, liebenswürdige Gesellen, Pleiten, Pech und Pannen alles leichtfüßig und süffig zu lesen, aber weil der Humor so stark das tragende Element des Romans war, konnte es mich nur teilweise erreichen. Bei solchen Büchern muss dann alles zumindest augenzwinkernd rüberkommen, das heißt, alle anderen Grundstimmungen, die auch zum Leben gehören, werden bewusst ausgeblendet oder bestenfalls mal angedeutet, dann aber schnell wieder ein Gag; insofern kann ich sowas mal zwischendurch lesen, mich amüsieren, muss das aber nicht ständig haben.
Für Ausflüge ins Lachformat habe ich über die Jahre auch noch interessantere Autoren kennengelernt, ganz vorne John Fante.
September 15, 2024
Doamne, ce weird! Weirdulică rău cartea asta! Dar am râs, mi-am ținut respirația. Chiar a scris-o fain Arto Paasilinna!
Deși poate părea neverosimilă, în lumea asta ciudată în care trăim, nu m-ar mira ca lucrurile să stea în 80% chiar așa cum le-a imaginat finlandezul.
Povestea morarului hărțuit de un sat întreg este undeva la limita dintre real si fantastic, dintre umor si tragedie, într-o lume lipsită de empatie și toleranță.
Deși Gunnar Huttunen este un om îndemânatic și muncitor, sătenii limitați nu-i pot trece cu vederea ciudățenia - urlatul la lună, iar de aici până la dezlănțuirea nebuniei...mai caut Arto Paasilinna!
Deși poate părea neverosimilă, în lumea asta ciudată în care trăim, nu m-ar mira ca lucrurile să stea în 80% chiar așa cum le-a imaginat finlandezul.
Povestea morarului hărțuit de un sat întreg este undeva la limita dintre real si fantastic, dintre umor si tragedie, într-o lume lipsită de empatie și toleranță.
Deși Gunnar Huttunen este un om îndemânatic și muncitor, sătenii limitați nu-i pot trece cu vederea ciudățenia - urlatul la lună, iar de aici până la dezlănțuirea nebuniei...mai caut Arto Paasilinna!
June 3, 2020
Set in 1951 in Finnish Lapland Paasilinna’s novel reads like a fable, telling of Gunnar Huttunen and his relocation to a backwoods village and his strange ways. Huttunen sets up a successful sawmill, but his impersonations of animals and neighbours, and his howling at night make the locals suspicious of him. It’s a sad story, but memorable for occasional moments of hilarity. Less obvious are the author’s occasional sentences about war. As Huttunen seeks refuge living wild in the woods, I couldn’t help but see similarities to last years’s wonderful film, Leave No Trace , which also deals with the mental health of an ex-serviceman.
December 25, 2014
За мен това се оказа сериозна книга, не смешна.
Освен основната тема, е и книга за любовта и приятелството.
А най-трудният въпрос - как бих се отнесла аз, ако наоколо имаше подобен "случай".
„Захвърли фаса и пак зави жално, продължително, заплашително и пронизително като притиснат в ъгъла звяр. Веднага му олекна. Стана му хубаво, защото отдавна не беше вил на воля.“
Освен основната тема, е и книга за любовта и приятелството.
А най-трудният въпрос - как бих се отнесла аз, ако наоколо имаше подобен "случай".
„Захвърли фаса и пак зави жално, продължително, заплашително и пронизително като притиснат в ъгъла звяр. Веднага му олекна. Стана му хубаво, защото отдавна не беше вил на воля.“
June 21, 2021
Jaa-a. Mitähän tähän sanoisi. Ensimmäinen lukemani Paasilinna, ja ehkä myös viimeinen, ainakin toistaiseksi. Kirja oli nopealukuinen ja paikoin jopa huvittava. Pidin myös siitä että loppu ei ollut ennalta-arvattavissa. Päähenkilö oli kaikessa äkkipikaisuudessaankin sympaattinen. Kyllähän tämän luki, mutta ei mitenkään merkittävä lukukokemus.
March 12, 2009
I've never read a book - or perhaps fable is the more appropriate word - quite like this one. The blurb on the back compares our protagonist, Gunnar Huttunen, to Ignatius Reilly, but the comparison is inapt. Huttunen is an eccentric, to be sure, but is not as malicious in nature as Reilly. Huttunen howls (hence the title) which is surely annoying, but not dangerous. He is a productive member of society, running the mill which had become dilapidated when he bought it. But the main problem seems to be he is not like the others (consider the scene where, after the doctor, also an avid hunter, mimics the movements of a bear he once shot, he is astounded to see Huttunen mimicing a crane - an animal that he hadn't even shot!). In contrast to Reilly, again, Huttunen is captured and sent to an asylum. He promptly escapes to the Los Angeles Underground (no, wait, that's the A-Team). Huttunen returns to his village, but is hunted for the remainder of the book, becoming far more dangerous as an outcast than he was as a member of society. Although there were some problems, either in the translation (from the French instead of the original Swedish) or in the editing, nonetheless the story is engaging. Arto Paasilinna is an author I look forward to reading more from in the future.
March 21, 2015
Iată un roman minunat pe care l-am citit cu mare plăcere și a doua oară. Am resimțit aceeași emoție, m-am întristat și m-am amuzat citind din nou aventurile morarului Huttunen, respins de societate din cauza firii lui ciudate și a felului radical în care tratează prostia și răutatea semenilor săi. „Morarul care urla la lună” este o poveste înduioșătoare despre lipsa de toleranță a oamenilor, despre libertate și imposibilitatea de a o obține.
Personajul lui Gunnar Huttunen este unul memorabil - de câte ori ați întâlnit în literatură (sau în realitate) un morar care să urle la lună? Cu toate că este un pic nebun, având și tendințe violente și piromane, este imposibil să nu-l îndrăgești pe Huttunen, un erou atipic, parcă descins dintr-o saga islandeză. Iar Arto Paasilinna, cu mult umor și ironie fină, își supune personajul la tot felul de încercări care mi-au trezit câteva accese de revoltă, nu prea diferite de cele ale hulitului morar.
După cel de-al doilea Război Mondial, un bărbat un pic cam ciudat sosește într-un sat din Laponia, unde cumpără moara dezafectată și o repune în funcțiune. Trecutul lui este misterios, iar sătenii află doar că vine din sud, unde moara i-a fost mistuită de foc și, odată cu ea, și nevasta. Bărbatul alternează între stări de deprimare, când este taciturn și arțăgos, și o veselie debordantă, când îi distrează pe cei strânși la moară cu povești și glume, dar mai ales imitând cu iscusință diverse animale și păsări. Sătenii i-ar trece cu vederea stările schimbătoare de spirit dacă morarul nu i-ar deranja în timpul nopții cu urletele sale prelungi și tânguitoare, care stârnesc toți câinii din sat, astfel că nimeni nu mai poate dormi până în zori. Societatea nu poate accepta o deviere de la normalitate atunci când este afectată în mod direct, astfel că Huttunen se confruntă cu tot felul de plângeri care degenerează în conflicte, pentru că morarul nu poate tolera nedreptățile care i se fac.
Este imposibil ca acest roman să nu atingă în cititor câteva coarde sensibile. N-ai cum să nu te revolți alături de morar împotriva prostiei și răutății omenești, împotriva lumii care nu-și poate recunoaște propria nebunie, însă o condamnă vehement la alții. Într-o lume meschină și avară, morarul cinstit și muncitor apare mai „normal” decât toți ceilalți la un loc. Însă el nu este pregătit să-și ascundă ciudățenia pentru a fi acceptat de către societate. Lupta lui pentru libertate este o bătălie pierdută, pentru că cei „normali” sunt mulți și au legea de partea lor.
Dacă aveți chef să citiți mai mult decât atât, varianta lungă se află pe blog: http://lecturile-emei.blogspot.ro/201...
June 30, 2018
What a load of fun to read!
The story deals with a miller named Huttunen who is kind and gentle-hearted, but suffers from psychological problems that causes him to howl like a wolf every time he is in extreme anguish or excitement. This has caused many nights of sleeplessness in his small village in Finland that the villagers chose to banish him to a mental hospital (from which he escaped later).
However, instead of being a tragedy, the story was actually somewhat comical as Huttunen is actually quite smart. He has always sought a way to express his appreciation towards those who did him right, and fury towards those who wronged him. The book did mention that the village doctor diagnosed Huttunen with a certain diagnosis (I forgot to take note of the term), but if I were the doctor, I'd probably diagnose him with autism or Asperger's Syndrome.
Along the way, there are other villagers who sympathized with him and chose to feed him and gave him shelter upon knowing of his escape from the mental hospital. One of them, a horticultural adviser, even became his lover despite knowing about his insanity diagnosis!
These connections that the villagers make towards Huttunen the outcast, whether they affect him in a positive or negative manner, sure warmed my heart. And if you read this novel as well, I am sure you'd find many of the characters (including the somewhat cuckoo Huttunen) easy to sympathize with.
Unfortunately, this is the second of two Arto Paasilinna's work that has been translated into English. As far as I am aware of, there are two of his other works that has been translated into French...while the other 10+ novels are only translated into other languages I don't speak (Swedish, German, Czech, among others).
Hopefully his works can gain more popularity so they can get translated into English or French as well!
The story deals with a miller named Huttunen who is kind and gentle-hearted, but suffers from psychological problems that causes him to howl like a wolf every time he is in extreme anguish or excitement. This has caused many nights of sleeplessness in his small village in Finland that the villagers chose to banish him to a mental hospital (from which he escaped later).
However, instead of being a tragedy, the story was actually somewhat comical as Huttunen is actually quite smart. He has always sought a way to express his appreciation towards those who did him right, and fury towards those who wronged him. The book did mention that the village doctor diagnosed Huttunen with a certain diagnosis (I forgot to take note of the term), but if I were the doctor, I'd probably diagnose him with autism or Asperger's Syndrome.
Along the way, there are other villagers who sympathized with him and chose to feed him and gave him shelter upon knowing of his escape from the mental hospital. One of them, a horticultural adviser, even became his lover despite knowing about his insanity diagnosis!
These connections that the villagers make towards Huttunen the outcast, whether they affect him in a positive or negative manner, sure warmed my heart. And if you read this novel as well, I am sure you'd find many of the characters (including the somewhat cuckoo Huttunen) easy to sympathize with.
Unfortunately, this is the second of two Arto Paasilinna's work that has been translated into English. As far as I am aware of, there are two of his other works that has been translated into French...while the other 10+ novels are only translated into other languages I don't speak (Swedish, German, Czech, among others).
Hopefully his works can gain more popularity so they can get translated into English or French as well!
March 16, 2009
Gunnar Huttunen moves to a village in Northern Finland, an outsider bringing with him a tragic past and a small complex of eccentricities, including an irresistible need to sometimes howl for long periods during the night. Before very long, the village leaders turn against him and do everything they can to forcibly expel the odd man. Against his will, Gunnar is cast in the roll of pariah and takes to the wooded hills surrounding the village, intent on recovering, in time, his honor, his mill works, and the woman who loves him.
Arto Paasilinna’s The Howling Miller is an effortless and very involving read. His characters, plot scenario, and narrative style draw you in right from the start and sustain interest till the end. Unfortunately, the story’s ending is so abrupt that it appears as though Paasilinna chose his stopping-point more from arbitrary decision than from design. Also, there are a number of small plot and thematic loose ends that reinforce this appearance.
So the novel piqued my interest in this author, but it’s unlikely I’ll ever read it a second time. There are other, more-memorable Scandinavian novels that have a similar appeal--in particular, Knut Hamsun’s Pan and Torgny Lindgren’s Hash.
Arto Paasilinna’s The Howling Miller is an effortless and very involving read. His characters, plot scenario, and narrative style draw you in right from the start and sustain interest till the end. Unfortunately, the story’s ending is so abrupt that it appears as though Paasilinna chose his stopping-point more from arbitrary decision than from design. Also, there are a number of small plot and thematic loose ends that reinforce this appearance.
So the novel piqued my interest in this author, but it’s unlikely I’ll ever read it a second time. There are other, more-memorable Scandinavian novels that have a similar appeal--in particular, Knut Hamsun’s Pan and Torgny Lindgren’s Hash.
July 22, 2011
All the books written by Paasilina that I have read are amazing, but this was my first, that's why I consider it a very special one. The whole story is like a strange fairy tale, where characters are almost real but perhaps, too human to be real. Gunnar Huttumen, the miller, is special because he doesn't care about being different and behaving the way he feels, no matter what his "normal" neighbours think. He paints his mill the colour that he wants, he doesn't talk if he doesn't think it is necessary and when he is sad... he howls. The entire book is a chant to freedom, wrapped with a hard criticism to a society which refuses to accept anything different just because it is different, without even bothering to look at it.
July 1, 2015
i enjoyed this book very much
on the surface this is a humourous canter through a series of escalating events in the remote north of finland, but there are deeper observations about sanity and the way that sanity is in part subjective - particularly where we are considering what is "normal" behaviour
on the surface this is a humourous canter through a series of escalating events in the remote north of finland, but there are deeper observations about sanity and the way that sanity is in part subjective - particularly where we are considering what is "normal" behaviour
January 25, 2018
What a wonderfully strange book. I can honestly say I have never read anything like this. Having never been to Finland, I enjoyed the cultural nuances, even if the book is set in Post WWII. I found myself utterly addicted to this book, enthralled with the main character and wanting to know what happened next. Well worth a read, especially if you are looking for something a little different.
September 9, 2024
In Year of the Hare, Paasilinna 's flat characters didn't matter since they were rarely in more than a few pages. Howling Miller is another novel pointing out the contradictions in society and what we perceive is normal, but suffers from flat archetypes inhabiting a village. I read it in one sitting, so I imagine it'll haunt me a bit.
January 18, 2023
Фінська післявоєнна глибинка. У волость з півдня приїжджає «новенький» - Ґуннар Гуттунен. Він купує занедбаний млин, приводить його до ладу, а ще додає до нього ґонторізний верстат, що дозволяє місцевим не їхати світ за очі за цінним будівельним матеріалом. Ґуннар працьовитий, тямущий майстер, чесна людина, але є в нього дивацтва. Коли чоловікові сумно, він виє. Виє так, що мало хто може відрізнити цей звук від голосу справжнього звіра. А коли йому весело, то він дуркує: копіює голоси тварин та птахів, мавпує повадки місцевих. Це неабияк веселить дітей, але дратує дорослих. Та й те виття завжди полохає всіх собак та жінок. Якщо ж Гуттунен буде не в гуморі, то може й справ наробити: викинути крамничні ваги, або висипати у річку зерно, що привезли на молотьбу. І хоча всі ці випадки були наслідками несправедливості, хто на це дивиться? Дивацтва та неадекватні вчинки запросто можуть трактуватися як божевілля. А кремезний, дужий божевільний пугає пересічних селян. А що робить натовп, коли боїться? Травить, переслідує, виживає… От і Ґуннару довелося відчути на собі всю «любов» громади до не такого, як всі…
Сумна повістина про долю людини, яку не розуміли і не хотіли розуміти. Ваги можна було дістати з колодязя, вартість зерна компенсувати, за ненавмисне травмування виба��итися. Але простішим і азартнішим виявилося інше. Мені було невимовно жаль цього здорованя, якому просто не дали шансу. Я поставила нейтральну оцінку, бо з одного боку історія мене збентежила, але з іншого написана вона мовою, яка схожа на самого Ґуннара.
Сумна повістина про долю людини, яку не розуміли і не хотіли розуміти. Ваги можна було дістати з колодязя, вартість зерна компенсувати, за ненавмисне травмування виба��итися. Але простішим і азартнішим виявилося інше. Мені було невимовно жаль цього здорованя, якому просто не дали шансу. Я поставила нейтральну оцінку, бо з одного боку історія мене збентежила, але з іншого написана вона мовою, яка схожа на самого Ґуннара.
July 5, 2022
Myliu šį autorių. Labiausiai už “Grupinės savižudybės magiją”, bet ir už kitas knygas, kurių, deja, tiek mažai išversta į lietuvių kalbą. Keistokas, liūdnas ir daug minčių sukeliantis kūrinys yra apie keistuolius ir likusį pasaulį. Dažniausiai nemokantį priimti kitokio žmogaus arba per prievartą bandantį jį nuglūdinti, kad neliktų aštrių kampų ir išskirtinumo.
April 29, 2021
Φιλανδικό διαμαντακι για τις κωμικοτραγικες περιπέτειες του μυλωνά που ούρλιαζε σαν λύκος και ήθελαν να τον μαζέψουν στο τρελαδικο
August 6, 2024
Lief en zielig verhaal
3,5 ster. Kan dat ook?
3,5 ster. Kan dat ook?
July 23, 2025
W trakcie czytania, a szczególnie przy zakończeniu, sama miałam ochotę wyć
July 11, 2018
Įdomi knyga, rašymo stilius pasirodė neįspūdingas, bet galbūt dėl vertimo kokybės. Turinys ir siužeto plėtotė įtikinama.
October 8, 2023
Inizialmente l'ho pensato come un Calvino del Nord (un po' meno capace) ma poi l'ho rivalutato. Le avventure picaresche del personaggio fanno sorridere, ma di un sorriso amaro.
January 5, 2015
И докато в „Годината на заека“ абсурдът достига кулминацията си на срещата с военните аташета, то в „Мелничарят, който виеше срещу луната“ героят Хутунен официално е обявен за луд и изпратен в лудница. Спонтанен и необуздан в реакциите си, той контрастира на подреденото еснафско общество по необичаен начин. Изважда навън цялата мъка, самота, жажда за свобода и тъга като вие нощем срещу луната. С което предизвиква смут и поредица от необичайни събития за малкото финландско селце.
И така по цели нощи „насам-натам за едно най-необичайно виене.“
Повтарящ се епизод във фабулата на двата романа е тайнството, свързано с варене на домашна ракия, което явно и в най-трудноконтролируемите ширини е преследвано от закона. Варенето на домашна ракия е ритуал, който сгрява самотната северна душа в студените нощи и ражда верни мъжки приятелства. Добре познато е и по нашите по-южни ширини.
И ако задълбочим темата за сгряването на самотната душа, ще открием ролята на жената за житейския катарзис на героите и в двата романа. В тези две книги на Паасилина образът на жената напълно хармонира с представите за натуралната финландка – внушителна, пищна, устойчива и по мъжки оправна, овладяно романтична. Това разбира се е добрият женски образ в романите му. Прототипът на злата разновидност е универсален за всяко кътче на света.
Общ елемент за двата сюжета е символиката на църквата. Тя е предразполагащо към уединение духовно място освен, когато строежът й не е плод на мегаломанията на селските първенци. Тогава може и да се случи да бъде осквернена. От луд или дори от свещеник. Набожността по правило не е присъща за свободния горски дух, бродещ из горите на Лапландия.
Прочети повече: http://knizhka-s-mishka.eu/
И така по цели нощи „насам-натам за едно най-необичайно виене.“
Повтарящ се епизод във фабулата на двата романа е тайнството, свързано с варене на домашна ракия, което явно и в най-трудноконтролируемите ширини е преследвано от закона. Варенето на домашна ракия е ритуал, който сгрява самотната северна душа в студените нощи и ражда верни мъжки приятелства. Добре познато е и по нашите по-южни ширини.
И ако задълбочим темата за сгряването на самотната душа, ще открием ролята на жената за житейския катарзис на героите и в двата романа. В тези две книги на Паасилина образът на жената напълно хармонира с представите за натуралната финландка – внушителна, пищна, устойчива и по мъжки оправна, овладяно романтична. Това разбира се е добрият женски образ в романите му. Прототипът на злата разновидност е универсален за всяко кътче на света.
Общ елемент за двата сюжета е символиката на църквата. Тя е предразполагащо към уединение духовно място освен, когато строежът й не е плод на мегаломанията на селските първенци. Тогава може и да се случи да бъде осквернена. От луд или дори от свещеник. Набожността по правило не е присъща за свободния горски дух, бродещ из горите на Лапландия.
Прочети повече: http://knizhka-s-mishka.eu/
December 25, 2023
The first part of the book was promising. I was intrigued by the main character, miller who has some eccentric habits like imitating different kinds of animals and howling in the night like a wolf when he is feeling anxiety. I found the miller a symphatetic character and actually felt bad when the villagers were constantly harassing him for his behaviour.
The second part however was a big letdown for me. I was expecting to learn something more about the miller, maybe there would be some trauma or something that would give some insight to his behaviour. Or maybe he would find some new community later on where he is better accepted. But instead the second part of the book is just this depressing hunt where the miller is hiding in the woods and waging a rambo style one man war against the village that wants to send him to asylum. The only highlight for me in the latter part was this mailman who was crafting moonshine in the woods in secret and becomes a friend to the miller who is also escaping the law. He was a fun character and brought some light to the later otherwise kind of dark sequences.
Maybe one could argue that the book was trying to convey that there is little to no understanding for people with mental health problems in modern societies and that's why there is really no explanations for the miller's condition. No one cares enough to try to figure out that and instead everyone just wants the miller out of sight where he can't disturb anyone.
The second part however was a big letdown for me. I was expecting to learn something more about the miller, maybe there would be some trauma or something that would give some insight to his behaviour. Or maybe he would find some new community later on where he is better accepted. But instead the second part of the book is just this depressing hunt where the miller is hiding in the woods and waging a rambo style one man war against the village that wants to send him to asylum. The only highlight for me in the latter part was this mailman who was crafting moonshine in the woods in secret and becomes a friend to the miller who is also escaping the law. He was a fun character and brought some light to the later otherwise kind of dark sequences.
Maybe one could argue that the book was trying to convey that there is little to no understanding for people with mental health problems in modern societies and that's why there is really no explanations for the miller's condition. No one cares enough to try to figure out that and instead everyone just wants the miller out of sight where he can't disturb anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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