20 November 2023

Niko Hallikainen shortlisted for the 2023 Toisinkoinen Literature Prize

We are happy to share that Big Wet Secret (Suuri märkä salaisuus) by Niko Hallikainen has been shortlisted for the 2023 Toisinkoinen Literature Prize, awarded for second novels.

The second novel Big Wet Secret by author Niko Hallikainen is among the three nominees for the annual literature prize presented by a panel of Finnish literature students at the University of Helsinki.

The jury’s motivation:

“Niko Hallikainen’s Big Wet Secret (Otava, 2023) thrills with its precise depiction that suits the perspective of a child narrator, but still maintains an impactful and devastating atmosphere from beginning to end.”

Earlier this year, Toisinkoinen highlighted in their blog review about Big Wet Secret (Suuri märkä salaisuus) that:

“In the novel Hallikainen has managed to combine the everyday reality that everyone recognises from their own life but also introduces new perspectives with a narrative that keeps you hooked with its surprising depictions and poetic boldness. The language of The Big Wet Secret is very straightforward and shameless as it beholds from the beginning until the very end an peculiar atmosphere that both romantizises and gives a grotesque impression of the lives of the characters in the novel. The language is diverse but steady.”

This year, the winner will be announced on the 7th of December at the Toisinkoinen Gala, held at the Theatre Museum in Helsinki.

Our warmest congratulations to Niko Hallikainen and all the other nominees!