Director Naima Mohamud, who moved to Finland as a toddler, became an avid reader and was deeply moved by Margaret Atwood's 'The Blind Assassin'. Part of the 'I Read Here' series.

Film director Naima Mohamud, who immigrated to Finland at the age of two and developed a passion for reading, recounts her profound connection with Margaret Atwood's novel "The Blind Assassin." Mohamud, now living in Dublin, found the book so impactful that it made her cry on the subway.

She first read the novel at 16, a period when she and her cousin, a devoted Jane Austen fan, were deeply immersed in romantic literature. Her cousin recommended "The Blind Assassin," believing Mohamud would enjoy its world. The story's impact was immediate and lasting, with Mohamud admitting she couldn't let go of the world Atwood had created for months.

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I read Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin (Finnish translation by Hanna Tarkka, 2000) one summer when I was 16 years old. I carried the story in my mind for months. I couldn't let go of the world Atwood had created.

This personal reflection is part of a series titled "Luen tässä" (I Read Here), where interesting people share their experiences with books that have left a lasting impression on them. Mohamud's story highlights the power of literature to deeply affect individuals, shaping their thoughts and emotions long after the final page is turned.

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I got the book as a loan from my cousin. We were both bookworms. She was a huge Jane Austen fan, and we were two young romantics. I think she had borrowed The Blind Assassin from the high school library. She said you'll definitely like it.