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Suvi Ahola

Suvi Katariina Ahola
Born May 5, 1959, Sippola

BA 1983 (Finno-Ugric Linguistics), MA 1987 and PhD 2013 (Finnish Literature), University of Helsinki
Journalist 1983, Sanoma Ltd. Journalist School

Journalist 1984-, Helsingin Sanomat daily newspaper
Copy editor 1994–1995, Kodin Kuvalehti magazine
Author 1999-

Judge for the J. K. Erkko First Book Prize 1984–1994
Judge for Helsingin Sanomat’s Literary Prize 1995–2010, 2013
Finnish Institute in Estonia board member 1997–2005, vice chair 2001–2005
Institute for the Languages of Finland advisory committee member 2004–2010
Minna Canth Society board member 2005-, vice chair 2006–2012, chair 2012-
Tuglas Society board member 2008–2014
Deputy employee representative in the shipping department of Sanoma Magazines Finland 2013-
Union of Journalists in Finland council member 2014-

Written by Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta
Translated by Joe McVeigh

My best memories from the University of Helsinki

My best memories from my studying days are definitely related to the literature practicum held by Irja Rane and Pentti Lassila. Those sessions were truly revolutionary – I learned critical thinking, I learned to justify my opinions and I learned to trust my expertise. From the writing work in the practicum and the discussions we had, I got to experience the feeling that I could do this and that I wanted to write for a living.

The other things related to my study days which have been very useful to me in my career were the basic studies that I took on art history. Through the basic studies on the domestic art scene and the history of the art world, I gained a broad knowledge of cultural life in general. I remember the various field trips made around Finland as well as the dark lecture halls where we looked at images from the world of art. The world of painting has always been linked to literature, so art history is strongly linked to the study of literature.

Suvi Ahola prepares a book analysis on Jorma Korpela’s Tohtori Finckelman (‘Doctor Finckelman’) for Irja Rane’s practicum. Written at a summer cottage in Laukaa in autumn 1981. Picture: Timo Halonen.​
Suvi Ahola prepares a book analysis on Jorma Korpela’s Tohtori Finckelman (‘Doctor Finckelman’) for Irja Rane’s practicum. Written at a summer cottage in Laukaa in autumn 1981. Picture: Timo Halonen.​

 

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