May 1, 2014
With her 2012 debut novel Memory of Water (Teemestarin kirja, Teos 2012) Emmi It盲ranta established herself as a major force on the Finnish literary scene. In addition to earning It盲ranta several awards such as the Kalevi J盲ntti Literary Prize for young authors (2012) and the Young Aleksis Kivi Prize (2013),聽Memory of Water has been sold in 14 languages to date around the world. HarperCollins will publish the book in the UK in May and in the US in June of 2014. It盲ranta will visit New York during the last week of May to celebrate the US launch of the novel and appear at Book Expo America for an advance signing on May 31st.
In addition, Finland Center is inviting members to attend a meet-and-greet dinner in honor of Emmi It盲ranta at the downstairs restaurant of the Salmagundi Club on Friday, May 30th. It盲ranta will discuss the process of creating Memory of Water, which she wrote simultaneously in Finnish and English, read a passage from the novel and share her experiences of generating this global breakthrough. Attendees can then freely chat with It盲ranta and enjoy a dinner together (a full menu, with prices ranging from $15 to $30 for a main course, will be available).
About the book.聽Set in a dystopian future where water has become a prized commodity,聽Memory of Water tells the story of 17-year-old Noria who is set to become the next tea master in her village. When her father dies, she assumes the dangerous responsibility of guarding a hidden spring.
鈥淲here It盲ranta shines is in her rejection of conventional plots and in her understated but compelling characters. The work is a deceptively tranquil examination of a world of dust and ashes where the tenacious weed of hope still survives.鈥 -Publishers Weekly,聽starred review