Map Monday – The Winter Job set in Finland

Submitted: 20th October 2025

The Winter Job of Finland

The funniest man in fiction has written another winner!

I mean, if I asked you would you read a book about delivering a sofa long distance then…you might say no. BUT in the hands of Antti, this is one heck of a reading and indeed, life, experience….

Location map of The Winter Job

The book:

The Winter Job Antti Tuomainen

The location:

“The Winter Job flies a hundred and twenty kilometres an hour straight into the darkest heart of a Finnish winter night.”

Very true, from the very first chapter you know you are going to be going on a fun adventure. There’s a piano, a sofa and a very interesting journey across Finland – to the most northern town no less!

Location map of The Winter Job

The setting

Kilpisjärvi is the northernmost town in Finland but it’s the journey getting there that is the most fun in this novel. The journey in the van with the valuable sofa in the back, passing through towns that are described as ‘arseholes’ gives you an idea of what the driver thinks of where he is haha. There’s insights into service station cafes, toilet stops and what happens when you put a certain song on the jukebox..( it is the 1980s after all!)

What are the themes of the novel?

I would say the relationship between a father and a daughter, promises made and promises kept. What it means to love someone and how a journey can change people in unexpected ways.

Location map of The Winter Job

Key quotes:

“That said, seeing the sofa in the back of the van was like stumbling upon the Koh-i-Noor diamond in a sweaty changing room.”

“ILomantsi was like a frozen arsehole….:small, tight and ice cold.”

BookTrail Map Monday

Location map of The Winter Job

BookTrail Review

What do I like about this book? the human emotion and the feeling of human connection. The fact that the father would drive so far at the dead of night for his daughter. He is poor but wants to buy her a piano. That just broke my heart as it reminded me of all the sacrifices my parents made (and when I wanted and got a drum kit!)

This books packs an emotional punch and I was with Ilmari, the father, all the way in every sense of the word. There were dark moments and when things took a turn, I held my breath. However, this is a Tuomainen treat. Really enjoyed it!