When I Forgot by Elina Hirvonen

When I Forgot

Elina Hirvonen

As a child Anna felt responsible for the happiness of her family. As an adult she struggles come to terms with the guilt her brother's mental breakdown has made her feel. A sympathetically written novel with no easy answers but with a spark of hope at the end for Anna and her brother.

Extract
How annoyed we all would have been to have our demonstration co-opted by a man hearing vague voices in his head and seeing things no-one else saw. Nobody wanted the protests of an escapee from a mental hospital. For some reason this is what affected me most. My Joona's dream would never come true. His final act would stop no-one.
Parallels
  • In the Wake by Per Petterson
  • Poppy Shakespeare by Clare Allen
  • The Howling Miller by Arto Paasilinna