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This week we are celebrating the publication of THE INVESTIGATIONS OF ONE CAT, the newest novel by bestselling and award-winning author Katja Kettu and sharing the first excellent starred reviews! Warmest Congratulations, Katja!
Published on Wednesday September 27th, this novel combines historical storytelling, magical realism, and accurately and sharply recounts the pain of a miscarriage and the nearly futile attempts to carry on after such a tragedy. It received great praise right after publication:
Katja Kettu has written a fine novel where the power of words and narrative brings truth and justice into the world. [–] Here is the novel occupied by a cat, a cat turned into a novel.”
– Maaria Ylikangas in Helsingin Sanomat newspaper
Katja Kettu superbly commands the verbalization of emotional charges with strong expression. [—] THE INVESTIGATIONS OF ONE CAT alluringly combines different traditions of storytelling, as if underlining how borders and categories can be broken and pierced. The novel doesn’t stay neatly and cutely in a specific box but wanders and sprawls. Its story carries, its sensations change from one extreme to the other and its language oscillates through its wordforms and rhythms. And, amidst everything, the peculiar Cat brings delight.”
– Kaisa Kurikka in Turun Sanomat newspaper
The attractiveness of Kettu’s novels smoulders in its multipaced idioms, the rhythm of its words, the mythological material [used in the novels] and historiography… [—] THE INVESTIGATIONS OF ONE CAT succeeds in being an impressive depiction of the building blocks of being human and intergenerational experiences that shape selfhoods even after long journeys.”
– Sanna Jääskeläinen in Savon Sanomat newspaper
Download the materials for INVESTIGATIONS OF ONE CAT here!
The Investigations of One Cat
Katja Kettu
Katja Kettu’s stunning novel spins through ages whilst surrendering to the wilderness of nature and the deep yearning for offspring.
Can one find solace and meaning in life from the past once the future no longer exists?
An Author has a miscarriage and loses their ability to speak and write. From the Investigative Bureau of Heavens, a Detective is sent to the scene, but something goes awry. Soon, in the corner of the room, there appears Cat who starts examining a mysterious diary that once belonged to the Author’s Great Grandmother.
When a new life has been lost, the Author turns their gaze to the past and to the age-old words of creation in the old Finnish outskirts. The one who knows them, Great Grandmother, has the power of healers. The Great Grandmother’s diary sheds light on birth and death, love towards children, and the strength of heritage in one’s blood.
Combining autofiction and elements of magical realism, Katja Kettu’s latest novel also sheds light on the history of the Finnish frontiers.
Erään kissan tutkimuksia
Otava, 380 pp.
Reading materials:
English sample and synopsis in October
Finnish edition
