Can a visit to the dentist not only relieve a toothache but also change your life? And, specifically, change your life completely? Yes, it can. And let this brief statement encourage you to seek out a book (or audiobook) with an intriguing title (or rather, the most intriguing subtitle is “Roots: A genealogical and dental novel”) by the Finnish journalist and writer Miika Nouisiainen.
It’s not my first encounter with Finnish literature, but it is with this author. And although after the first few pages (or rather, minutes, since I started with the audiobook) I wasn’t sure if a book with a plot revolving around teeth and a dentist’s office was a good choice for a relaxing afternoon, the following minutes/pages convinced me that it is.
This is an extraordinary story about how an unexpected visit to the dentist leads Pekka, a divorced advertising specialist, to find his… brother, Esko (who happens to be the dentist treating his teeth). The only thing they have in common is their father; other than that, they are diametrically opposed. However, a chance encounter causes their thoughts to wander to their absent father more often than before (and more often than they would like). This leads them on spontaneous vacations and trips, which include introspection, an objective look at their lives, and the decisions they make.
The book is full of humor and reflection. And although it may sometimes seem unrealistic to make such spontaneous decisions as the characters do and to suddenly trust strangers they’ve just met, the book’s plot is captivating and offers a kind of hope that anything can happen in all of our lives.
While waiting for the English version of “Roots. A genealogical and dental novel”, I recommend this book by Miika Nouisiainen in one of the languages already published.