A Finnish writer spoke recently to a Woodstock book club.

WOODSTOCK – The Book Discussion Group of the Whitman Memorial Library enjoyed a visit with Taisto Koskela who is writing a historical book of his Finnish background.

Koskela recalled how the Finnish chose to settle in West Paris. The first thing they built upon arriving in this country was a sauna that they enjoy to this day. It was interesting to learn that many of their children were born in a sauna, this being the most sterile place. They also put on many plays at the town hall.

Koskela, whose first name means to tussle or make battle told of being most proud of two things in his life. The first was meeting his wife, Elinor, at a sliding party years ago. The second was finally getting his GED at age 76. The reason he couldn’t finish school as a boy was due to the hard times back in the 30’s of running the family farm. When his father suddenly got ill, he had to get up at 4 a.m. to milk the cows and had several chores to do to keep the farm running.

All his grandchildren and great-grandchildren encouraged him in his studies and are proud that he did it.

The next book discussion will be about motherhood. There will be a Mother’s Day program and Nadja Bolio will talk briefly on her book, “Enjoying Motherhood Without Pushing the Panic Button.” This meeting will at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 8. All are welcome to attend.