We have two international interns from Austria at the moment. They’ll introduce themselves and give book recommendations below.
Agnes
Who are you and where do you come from?
My name is Agnes. I’m 21 years old, and I live in the north of Austria. Currently I’m working at a bookshop in Vienna as an apprentice and learning to become a bookseller.
How did you choose to have your internship in Finland and Seinäjoki?
My colleague and I learned about the possibility of an internship abroad, and I immediately wanted to go north. I was always drawn to Nordic countries and their cultures, so Finland was my first choice.
What are your first impressions of Seinäjoki and the library?
Very welcoming. Everyone is nice, and you can always ask for help. The first thing I noticed right at the airport was that it is so much more quiet and relaxed than the busy and loud Vienna I’m used to. Another thing is the nature — it’s beautiful and right in front of the doorstep.
Do you want to say anything else?
Thank you to everyone at the library for the warm welcome, the help, and for showing everything the library has to offer.
Book recommendation – The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
“The Night Circus” is written by Erin Morgenstern. It is her debut novel, and it got second on the New York Times bestseller list. Her second novel, “The Starless Sea,” is also a fantasy novel that I can warmly recommend.
I came to read this book because I am a big fan of fantasy books, and a colleague from the bookstore recommended it to me very passionately. Now that I’ve read it, I know why. This book is like a beautiful picture painted with words. You can feel the magic.
The story takes place in Victorian London. Celia has a talent to perform marvelous magic from an early age. Her father challenges an old rival of his to let one of his students participate in a challenge against her. Their arena is the Night Circus. A circus that appears out of nowhere without warning and lets people experience wonders and magic.
Reading this book gives you the feeling, as if you went to the circus yourself and saw magic with your own eyes. Beautiful writing, beautiful story.
Check the availability of the book (in Finnish)
Sarah
Who are you and where do you come from?
My name is Sarah, I am 21 years old, and I grew up in Vienna, Austria. I am currently in the last year of my apprenticeship to be a bookseller.
How did you choose to have your internship in Finland and Seinäjoki?
Growing up bilingual (Serbian and German), I always had an interest in different languages and cultures, so I always knew that I wanted to do some learning abroad. Due to the pandemic, studying internationally wasn’t an option, so when I found out that I could take my apprenticeship across the borders of Austria, I knew I had to take this chance. My colleague and I have heard a lot of positive things about the book industry in Nordic countries, so we both picked Seinäjoki in Finland.
What are your first impressions of Seinäjoki and the library?
The Finns are super nice and helpful. With lots of different facilities and spaces to hang out, the library here is absolutely the place to be! Thank you so much for having me!!
Book recommendation – Bolla by Pajtim Statovci
Before coming here, I wanted to read a book by a Finnish author. So during the summer I read all the translations available by Pajtim Statovci, who won the Finlandia prize in 2019. One novel in particular really struck me, though: Bolla. Now this is quite a heavy read, but an important one nonetheless.
In Albanian mythology, a “bolla” is a snake-like figure that each year opens its eyes and devours every human in sight. And just like this mythical creature, we slither into the lives and minds of Arsim, an Albanian writer who meets the Serb Milos. Dark confessions and terrible truths get revealed as we follow the affair of the two men, who get torn apart by the war. Beautifully written with a captivating story.
Check the availability of the book (in Finnish)
Check the availability of the book (in English)
