Burnt Out Town Of Miracles - Roy Jacobsen

As the Russian army moves into Finland in December 1939, the people of the village of Suomussalmi flee, leaving their homes and possessions behind them to be burnt by the retreating Finnish forces. Only one person remains, Timo Vatanen, a simple logger regarded by most as lacking intelligence. It’s certainly an act of madness to remain in the village as it is taken over by 50,000 Russian troops who use it as a base camp to fight the war in the surrounding districts.

Disregarding questions of collaboration as the village is alternately occupied by Russian and Finnish troops, Timo attempts to remain in favour with both, doing whatever is necessary, working with other prisoners and deserters as a logger, cutting wood to keep the fires going in a brutally cold winter, and trying to maintain a semblance of home in one home that hasn’t been burnt-out. Despite issues with language and personality, Timo forms deep bonds with several of the men has come to know in extreme adverse conditions.

Viewed entirely from the perspective of Timo (though curiously varying from a first to third person perspective), with little indication about the wider ebb and flow of the war, it’s a narrow perspective from a person with a very limited awareness and the novel can consequently be rather dry and dull. Essentially however the novel is about survival. It does raise some interesting psychological questions and the marks left on Timo from the experience are nonetheless deep.