“Three Books For Finnish Nerd Under The Northern Lights…”

List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?

Ok, the title is a bit corny, but for a book lover, it definitely works. I have to say that my heart skipped a beat when I saw this topic!

I am from a generation that still used libraries to get books and did not have smartphones to fill up the time. There was nothing better than to lie down by the lake at the summer cottage and read your favourite summer novel when the sun was shining, and a slow breeze was gently caressing your skin.

So, after this short trip down the memory lane, let’s go:

1. The Lord Of The Rings

Ever since I was a small kid, I have had a thing for fantasy genre. At the age of 10, when I came across the LOTR, I simply devoured it. If I remember right, it took me less than a week to finish. After that first time, I have read the books roughly 15 times in Finnish, 25 times in English, and 1 time in Swedish.

I think that my style of writing, my imagination, and my burning desire to write a book are moulded by this cornerstone of fantasy literature. Reading this at a young age told me that it is OK to dream, it is OK to write, even though the school was all about scientific writing and I was told many times that story writing was a complete waste of time.

As a funny side note, the first LOTR book that I had is the only book that I have had that was read so many times that the front cover broke off and the bindings broke.

2. The Mists Of Avalon

If you like the Arthurian legends, this is a must-read book for you, too. The story of King Arthur is known, but this book tells the story from the viewpoint of his sister.

At the time when I came across this book, I wanted to delve deep into the old religion and pagan practises, and this book opened a window for me to see what the world might have been at that time. It also allowed me enough to keep on imagining and left me with a yearning to visit the Glastonbury Tor, which still remains on my bucket list.

Not only did the Mists of Avalon show me the other side of the Arthurian legend but it opened a door for me to imagine a continuation of a tradition from the time of the mythical Atlantis onwards.

If you have just seen the miniseries made from the book, read the book.

3. The Noble Qur’an

I didn’t even have to contemplate whether I should add the Noble Qur’an on the list or not. The Qur’an is written unlike any other holy scripture I have read before, and as such, it has had a meaningful effect on me.

I am in awe by the fact that these texts came down to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) over a thousand years ago, and it is still relevant and shows people things that modern science proves.

For me, faith, religion, and scientific thinking don’t always walk hand in hand. But since I reverted back to Islam, I have found peace within myself and tried to learn patience at a different level.