1. Culture and Language. Finland is primarily a mix of two cultures: Finnish-speaking Finns and Swedish-speaking Finns. Jussi Mantere’s family speaks Finnish; most of the rest of the characters in the book—the Solbakkens, Viktoria, Herr Berg—speak Swedish. A few characters directly address their knowledge, or lack of knowledge, of the other language. How do differences in language and culture within Finland affect the events of the story and the relationships of the characters? Did you find Jussi to be a helpful intermediary?
2. Cultural Expectations. Although we never meet Mrs. Mantere directly, early in the novel, Jussi says that his mother is very different from Mrs. Solbakken. What might he have meant, and how might the expectations for women and children have figured into the civil war? For example, in the shooting at the Mantere farm, what did the lentävä osasto expect of Mrs. Mantere? How did the participation of women and children in the Civil War affect the novel’s characters?
3. Friends and Neighbours. When Reds and Whites near Gamlaby take sides, Paavo Pajari, a Red Finn, protects Pastor Niemi and his family even though they are White Finns. When Karl and Ivor Solbakken are on the train after they join the White side, their seatmates mention fighting the Russians. Although Ivor knows both sides of the war are Finns, Karl warns him not to say so—soldiers have been told they’re fighting Russians, not fellow Finns. Would it be easier or more difficult to fight against someone you knew? Would you help a neighbour on the opposite side of a conflict, if your neighbour were in danger?
4. Participation in the War. Characters in the novel confront the consequences of their actions during the war—Jussi and his father must see how their artillery contributed to the destruction of Tampere; Ivor’s horrific experiences compel him to confess them to his mother. Modern warfare, with remote-controlled weaponry, sometimes allows soldiers to avoid seeing the results of their actions. What are the pros and cons of each way of fighting?
5. War’s Aftereffects. Some characters in Gamlaby, the village in the first part of SILENCES, survive the Finnish Civil War and some don’t. How has the experience of the war changed the characters—Jussi, Viktoria, Ivor, and others—we meet in Canada 37 years later, in 1955? What elements of their characters have changed throughout the years? What has stayed the same?
6. Generations. Jimmy and his friends are extremely interested in Dinky Toys and their military capabilities. How is their vision of war different from Jussi’s and Ivor’s?
7. Immigrant Culture. Were you and your grandparents born in the same country? Is Jimmy’s relationship with his grandparents the same as yours with your grandparents or different?
8. Garments as Symbols. The cobbler in Port Arthur claims to be able to discern a lot about a person’s character from his shoes and hands. What can you deduce about a person from what he or she wears? What role do shoes and boots play in the novel?
9. Silences. The novel’s title refers specifically to the healing process after the Finnish Civil War. However, the book contains many silences between characters. How does silence influence the events of the war? Do you think that the silences help the characters avoid problems in 1955? Does speaking of difficult subjects avoid problems, or is silence often the best choice?
