Oodi is a house of literature open to all in the middle of the city. The Book Fest has become a tradition, reflecting the diversity of literature and reacting to our changing times. This year’s themes will juxtapose conflicts and disasters with hopefulness and renewal.
“At the Oodi Book Fest, we will get to see and hear how literature takes many forms and intersects with other forms of art. Literature lives in images, songs and performances as much as it does within the covers of a book. When literature transforms, it creates and speaks to new kinds of audiences,” comments Information Specialist Niina Holm.
The Moomins are coming to Oodi
The Book Fest will mark the start of Oodi’s event cooperation with Moomin Characters, and going forward, the Moomins will be present at Oodi in various ways.
“In Moominvalley, you can belong without having to be like everyone else. Everyone is welcomed and accepted as they are. This is a great starting point for our cooperation with Oodi as well – the library is a place open to all and full of life!” comments Managing Director of Moomin Characters Roleff Kråkström.
2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of the publication of Tove Jansson’s first Moomin story, The Moomins and the Great Flood. The echoes of war are present as an influence in the first Moomin story, but the book also speaks to modern readers from the perspective of climate change.
In the conversation Katastrofit, resilienssi ja toivo Muumilaaksossa ja muissa kuvitteellisissa maailmoissa (‘Disasters, Resilience and Hope in Moominvalley and Other Fictional Worlds’), Kira Schroeder, a specialist at Moomin Characters, will talk with authors Linda Bondestam and Paula Nivukoski about the timeless themes of disaster, hope and renewal. The conversation will be bilingual.
The event cooperation between Oodi and Moomin Characters starting at the Book Fest will also be represented by a Minun Muumitaloni (‘My Moominhouse’) building workshop in the children’s area. Attendees can submit their works to an exhibition and contest, which will be part of the Moomins’ 80th anniversary. The workshop is for all ages.
Conflicts, classics and poetic folk
Contemporary authors Terhi Törmälehto and Irene Zidan will meet each other on the Saarikoski Art Rug of Oodi. Törmälehto’s novel He ovat suolaa ja valoa focuses on Finnish Christian Zionism. Zidan’s book Isäni appelsiininkukkien maasta deals with the cross-generational impacts of the conflict between Palestine and Israel. Törmälehto and Zidan will have a conversation with Senior Research Fellow Timo R. Stewart from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, who has researched the ideological history of Finnish Christian Zionism.
Aulikki Oksanen, who celebrated her 80th birthday this year, is not only a beloved author, but also an illustrator and a singer. Helena Ruuska’s biography Hyppy syreenien tuleen recounts Oksanen’s bold artistic path in the middle of life’s challenges. After giving an interview, Oksanen will recite her own poems.
Comic artist Emmi Valve will be interviewed about her work and her fourth comic book, Polte. Valve’s book is an autobiographical account of searching for one’s sexuality.
Veera & Senni is a poetic folk duo formed by kantele artist and singer Senni Heiskanen and poet Veera Milja. The duo’s style is a combination of soundscapes created with a kantele and a harmonium, magic, songs of longing and heart-melting stage poetry expression.
Oodi poet of the year 2024 Taneli Viljanen and sound artist Alsa Ojala will perform their new works in the second-floor Kuutio space. Viljanen’s Laventelisuu. Koreografia is a poetry and sound work focusing on the relations between the body and language, sensory experiences, imagination and freedom, and layers and creases of sound. Äänten hengitys is Alsa Ojala’s sound poetry performance that seeks a connection between human sounds and melodies.
In the pop-up area of the lobby, Kimmo Konsala and Tapani Sammalvuo will present the second edition of the classic book Shakin maailmanmestareita.
In Maijansali Hall, author and reporter Janne Flinkkilä will talk about his biographical book Pedro. Artist Pedro Hietanen will also be commemorated by musician Jarkko Martikainen. The evening will be closed by DJ Minna, i.e. Minna-Kaisa Kallinen from Minna Records. Kallinen is also known by her stage name Hulda Huima.
Oodi author of the year award to be handed out
The Oodi author of the year award will be handed out at the Book Fest. The award is granted to an individual, act of art, or collective for significant work for Finnish literature. The works of the selected author(s) can be seen and heard in various way at Oodi throughout 2025.
The recipient of the award is chosen by a board consisting of library and literature professionals, whose members are brought together by work at Central Library Oodi. The award was handed out for the first time a year ago, to author and sound artist Taneli Viljanen.
The Oodi Book Fest event is free and open to all.
The entire programme of the Oodi Book Fest (in Finnish)
Photo: Ioannis Koulousis / Helsinki Marketing