Me, Mikko, and Annikki: A Community Love Story in a Finnish City

(Paperback)

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Award-winning Finnish graphic novelist Tiitu Takalo breaks onto the U.S. scene to tell the compelling story of the fight to save a historic working-class neighborhood and a block of flats within it, Annikki, from being replaced by concrete highrises in her hometown of Tampere, Finland Based on a true story, Me, Mikko, and Annikki masterfully interweaves tales of Annikki's rich history, the author/illustrator's own autobiographical love story with the man who would become her husband, and their part in the legal battle to save Annikki from demolition and the community effort to restore this unique place. From the formation of the landscape by prehistoric glaciers to the stories of the women laborers who once inhabited Annikki, Takalo explores every fascinating corner of this neighborhood she now calls home. Featuring the author/illustrator's luminous full-color art throughout, this story of a historic neighborhood's preservation is by turns cautionary, thoughtful, and humorous. It will speak to anyone who has been displaced, economically or otherwise, from somewhere they love. The original Finnish text is beautifully translated and edited by Professor Helena Halmari, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Finnish Studies, and associate professor Michael Demson.

Reviews

"In this deeply researched work of graphic nonfiction, Finnish comics artist Tiitu Takalo has created an inspiring history of a grass roots movement to save an historic neighborhood from demolition, as well as a love story that chronicles her own relationship."
Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

Tiitu Takalo is a feminist Finnish cartoonist and graphic novelist. She has also taught the art of graphic novels at the Liminka School of Arts. Considered one of the most skillful comic artists of her generation in Finland, she has been nominated three times for the Sarjakuva-Finlandia comics prize, winning on her fourth nomination for the original Finnish version of this book. She received the Women's Research Award in 2010 and in 2017 received the Finnish Comics Society Wood Beaver Award. Helena Halmari is professor, Department of English and editor-in-chief, Journal of Finnish Studies. Michael Demson is associate professor of English and director of the MA Program in English, and is author of the graphic novel Masks of Anarchy, published by Verso. Both are at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas.