I don't understand, why can't I write now and find the right words? We waited for this book so long, and awaited. I waited. I really enjoyed it, liked the book even more than its first part My Estonia: Passport Forgery, Meat Jelly Eaters, and Other Stories (I wrote about it also HERE). Is this that I didn't find much to criticize and I'm afraid the review is going to be an ode to Justin Petrone's My Estonia 2: Berry Junkies, Nordic Elves, and Real Estate Fever now? Probably. Of cause, I mean, I'm that typical Estonian that rarely makes compliments and even if there's nothing bad to say about, still always finds something bad in almost everything and everyone. ;)
No, the truth is, My Estonia 2 really left me warm and good emotions. I loved the way the author played with time in his book (Yes, I already enjoyed the same thing in Epp Petrone's Kas süda on ümmargune? The English version of her travel novel available also on Amazon's online bookstore), the disquisition of Estonian history and detailed (sometimes) long descriptions of views and people. When My Estonia felt in some parts too sweet (magus not lääge or mawkish) and soft to me, the second volume was witty and self-ironic (Just like Giustino in his blog).
Humor? There was humor in that book, even Hiiu humor (a specific Estonian humor that fully understand only hiidlased). There were moments when you just smirked and moments when you found yourself laughing out loud:
In the forest, Epp’s teenage brother Aap spotted the cloudberries first and when he did he summoned the others with whooping sound, wind-milling his arms to point out their location. Within seconds they descended upon the bushes like hungry flies, popping as many cloudberries into their mouths as possible. Epp had paused to pee behind a nearby bush but when Aap signaled that the cloudberries had been sighted, she yanked up her trousers and ran across the trail, diving head first into the bushes, hoping to get a taste before her siblings and cousins picked the place clean.
I took pictures of them and, honestly, I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. I thought cloudberries were delicious but, they were just berries, right (Petrone 2011: 48 - 49)?
It also looked like Justin Petrone lost his heart to our islands, especially to the 'elvish Hiiumaa.
From the sky, Hiiumaa looked to me like a diamond or a star. I could see dark forests and patches of farms and open fields, thin lines of roads connecting the tiny hamlets where the islanders, called hiidlased, lived. And all of it was surrounded by water, dark blue seas salted with breaking white-dipped waves.
I wanted to go to Hiiumaa because it seemed so far away. /.../ It seemed solitary and peaceful. I wanted to be there (Petrone 2011: 20 – 21).
Now what else could have made me, the Hiiu-blooded and Saaremaa-rooted Estonian, happier? :-) That melted me. The moment I saw the windmill on the back cover of Justin Petrone's new book, and after seeing the lovely pictures from both Hiiumaa and Saaremaa in the Photo Album included to My Estonia 2, I so much wanted to be there again. Now it really sounds like an ode, doesn't it? ;) Even if it does, Justin Petrone has done a great work introducing Estonia to the world with his books. And as an Estonian I can be only greatful for this to him.
There are also funny language stories in My Estonia 2, and Justin Petrone shares his experiences with E nagu Eesti. Perfect for our blog, uh? :-) Well, I think you'll read this already yourselves.
I received my copy of My Estonia 2 with the author's autograph (Many thanks again) directly from Petrone Print just a day before Estonia's Independence Day. So, it was a true Independence Day gift to me!
But as for other buying options or info, the book is also available on U.S. Amazon.com and UK.
Oh, before I let you go. I almost forgot to share you the news, The Petrones, Epp and Justin, are currently writing the screenplay to a movie based on My Estonia and My Estonia 2. :-) And if everything goes as planned the screen tests will start in 2012.
So far, I hope you enjoy the book(s). :-) Häid vastlaid kõigile!
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