Kalle Päätalo

Kaarlo (Kalle) Alvar Päätalo (November 11, 1919 – November 20, 2000) was a Finnish novelist, the most popular Finnish writer in the 20th century. His Iijoki series, comprising 26 novels, is one of the longest autobiographical works ever written.

Quotes

 * He pointed diagonally across the lake with a ski-pole, to where a broad slope of pine trees covered with frost shone golden in the sun.
 * "Do you know what those black lumps on the branches of that pine are?"
 * "Aren't they just heath-grouse? Kauko looked in the direction indicated by his brother's ski pole.
 * "Just heath-grouse!" Auku shouted. "Just heath-grouse! It's a wonder you didn't say just chickadees! You're some hunter, you are. Those are ptarmigan, genuine hook-beaked ptarmigan, and like damned blockheads, we have to be without a gun."
 * "You're starting to make a habit of cursing." Kauko was a little annoyed at the sharpness of his brother's eyes and was not quite willing to admit that he was right.
 * "The word 'damn' isn't cursing."
 * "What is it then? And there's no proof that those are ptarmigan." "Hmh!" Kauko heard a laugh behind him. "We'd be carrying a lot more rabbits and birds back to the house if I did the snaring. "You can't even get a permit to carry a gun yet," said Kauko.
 * "Who cares about permits? If I can't get a permit to carry a gun, then I'll drag it along behind me. Do you need a permit for that too?" "Don't be smart."
 * Kalle Päätalo (1960), Our Daily Bread: A Novel, p. 67

Quotes about Kalle Päätalo

 * Finnish autobiographer Kalle Päätalo wrote perhaps the longest bestselling autobiography in the world, and most certainly in his native Finland.
 * Margaretta Jolly (2013), Encyclopedia of Life Writing: Autobiographical and Biographical Forms. p. 687