Anja Rouva

A novel written in the early 20th century. The story is centered around Anja, a woman navigating her emotions and relationships as she grapples with loneliness, motherhood, and the complexities of love in a rapidly changing environment. It captures her introspective journey as she recalls her past, while simultaneously dealing with the present challenges in her marriage and her budding feelings for another man. The opening of the novel introduces Anja after her family has moved to a new city. She expresses her loneliness and yearns for companionship while reflecting on her past, including her father's departure and her current life with her husband, Otto, and their young son, Paavo. Through her writings in a journal, she documents her daily experiences and emotions, revealing a sense of nostalgia and a desire for deeper connection. As she recounts tender moments with Paavo, she also hints at emotional turmoil stemming from Otto's growing distance and her emerging feelings for a new acquaintance, which sets the stage for her internal conflict between duty and desire in the narrative to come.