The Burnt-Out Town of Miracles by Roy Jacobsen (Hardcover, 2007) for sale online

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Set in Finland in 1939, The Burnt-Out Town of Miracles is the story of one man who remains in his home town when everyone else has fled, burning down their houses in their wake, before the invading Russians arrive. Timo remains behind because he can't imagine life anywhere else, doing anything else besides felling the trees near his home. This is a novel about belonging - a tale of powerful and forbidden friendships forged during a war, of unexpected bravery and astonishing survival instincts. The Burnt-Out Town of Miracles is not a novel about war, but about the lives of ordinary people dragged into war, each of whom only wants to find the path back home. Roy Jacobsen uses the dramatic natural landscape of light and darkness, fire-blazing heat and life-robbing cold to spectacular effect. The (non-fiction) backstory is a the legendary military victory of a few thousand Finns who vanquish tens of thousands of Russians by donning white clothing and fighting on skis in -40C temps. A true story of surivival and heroism in extreme circumstances. It's beautifully written, unexpected, moving and long-lingering.