A Finnish author who writes in Swedish—and who, quite unexpectedly, resonates in Russian...
There is plenty here to ponder! Moreover, Stella Parland’s poems are a kind of verbal balancing act, where the "how" is sometimes more important than the "what." At times, a clear narrative emerges, while at other times, the "plot" is built around a single image, a detail, or even a visual arrangement—take, for instance, the poem "In Babylon," which must be read from bottom to top—or perhaps just a sound or a rhyme. Consequently, the book contains many "sound-based" poems, reminiscent of counting-out rhymes; yet these are no ordinary rhymes—they invite deeper reflection. After all, reading can be a game every bit as engaging as the pastimes we enjoy at home or out in the world.
And just look at the peculiar characters that fill this book! There’s Fröken Baklazhanka (Miss Eggplant), trying to sneak away from her garden patch; old men and women—not just "human" ones, but "ant" ones, too; all sorts of strange animals and insects; the "gloomycrats" (a term the poet coined for bureaucrats) who pester everyone; the homegrown scientist Hampus Rüttar, who cares more about how a word is pronounced than what it actually means; the eccentric Kilkeström, who decides to water his baby teeth to make them grow faster; and even characters who have wandered in from other works of literature... It’s fun to see an unusual take on the story of Romeo and Juliet, or to chat with the book’s most popular character, Don Giovanni (who is, in fact, none other than Don Juan—just rendered with an Italian flair; remember how much Stella Parland loves Italy?)....
In short, there’s something here for every taste! And the experience is further enriched by Linda Bondestam’s wonderful illustrations, which plunge us into shades of black and red—much like the poems themselves—those "strophe-catastrophes"—that sweep us from a world of nocturnal shadows and lullabies into the clamor and bustle of a bright, vivid day...