Bok Klubb: To Cook a Bear

To Cook a Bear by Mikael Niemi is our our selected book for discussion this month.  To Cook a Bear deals with the Laestadian movement in northern Finland, Sweden,  and Norway.  It's about the power of words, a mystery, and a  history of the mid 1800s in northern Scandinavia.  Eye-opening, engaging, educating.

A fantastic tale set in the far north of Sweden in 1852 following a runaway Sami Boy and his mentor, the famous pastor Laestadius, as they investigate a murder in their village along with the mysteries of life.  Jussi, the runaway, becomes  Laestadius’s faithful son and disciple, and the two set out on botanical  treks filled with philosophical discussions where Jussi learns all  about plants and nature; and also how to read and write and about  spirituality. But their quiet days are interrupted when a maid goes  missing in the forest. When she is found dead, the locals suspect a  predatory bear is at large. The constable is quick to offer a reward for  capturing it, but Laestadius sees other traces that point to a far  worse killer on the loose.