Customer Reviews

Naïve. Super

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought the english and norwegian version while trying to learn norwegian this past year, with the sole purpose of using it to strengthen my mediocre norwegian skills.

I was blown away, and could not put it down until I finished in the wee hours of the morning. The language (english, I still have not figured out norwegian) in the book is easily digestable, and the story is just so great it will really make your life better for having read it (seriously). I've since bought 5 or 6 copies for a few friends and my brother, and each of them were moved enough to buy a copy or passed their's along to someone else.

The only drawback is finding a copy somewhere, or even worse trying to find one of his other books. I cannot imagine they are anything less than extraordinary. Why this book hasn't hit the US like a lightning bolt - I will never understand.

This gem was truly a thrill to read. Entertaining, funny, simple, and relevant. When I first read it I was about the same age as the hero. And boy could I ever relate! Erlend Loe has touched on universal themes here, and I think that the greatest value of this story lies in its ability to pinpoint simply and accurately the most fundamental questions of human existence and in turn cause you to think about them in a personal way. I don't see how anyone could read this book and walk away unchanged.

Erlend Loe's unique voice in "Naive. Super" is open and insightful on a level that reminds me of "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers. And that is a compliment to both authors.

(To clarify: The title's spelling of "naive" is an English form, not Norwegian, and only appears in the translation.)

This book is wonderful! Simply written and oddly profound, it leaves the reader with a sense of serenity and hope. I first read this during a time of high stress, and it restored my sense of balance and priority. I read it periodically.

I want to learn Norweigan for the sole purpose of being able to read this in it's original text, as well as his other novels which no one has bothered to translate into english. This book is wonderful for brightening a dull day. It is a light, quick read and I reccomend it to anyone. But you don't have to take my word for it. I've lent my copy to 4 different friends who all ended up buying it. The translation feels smooth and fits the novel well. It's rare to find such a wonderful novel that also happens to be uplifting and fun, unlike many of the better works which tend to leave you miserable. Enjoy!

The book was a delightful read. I fell in love with the characters(even the bad friend)and could identify with the narrator's search for meaning and purpose in time and space. I discovered the authors accidentaly while studying in Norway, and am eager to brush up on my Norwegian so I can reread the book in it's original voice. I would reccomend this book to anyone, especially 20-somethings and Gen.X-er's.

It's hard to find something true and simple in this cynical world. But Naive. Super. is. It's a really funny book, but it's sad on the same time. Because it's about feeling confused, about growing up, about being obsessed with time. What do you do when you're lost? Maybe you write lists, because it gives you a feeling of control. Oh well. You have to read it to understand. Read it now.

I thought this was a great book. It was first introduced to me but a friend in Norway while I was living there for a few months, she insisted that I read this book. She was right, this book holds your attention the entire time while being not really about any spacific thing. He has writen several other books which would love to read more of his books but sadly they are not translated to English and remain for only the Norwegian people to enjoy. This is a must read for all kinds of people, a real eye opener.

Cameron

The only bad thing I can say about Erlend Loe's book is that it has an umlaut in the title. Get out of here with your fancy Norwegian punctuation.

Otherwise, what a novel. It's about the crushing angst we all felt in our 20s, which Loe portrays with plain prose and subtle humor that makes most of the American wunderkind (Eggers, Foer, etc) look like whining windbags. Mind you, Eggers and Foer are writers I like and admire. But neither they nor anybody else I've read are as adept as Loe at conveying the particular anxiety that set in after you finished school, got a job and started looking around going 'This is it?'

And he does it in less than 200 pages, using sentences that rarely exceed 10 words.

Best of all, "Naive. Super" is hilarious. Our narrator has an absurd, dry wit that often seems unintentional. This is key: without the laughs he would be totally unsympathetic, another self-absorbed 25-year-old jerk.

Finally, allow me to beg you to buy this book. Not because I want to see Erlend Loe rewarded (although that would be fine), but because I can't find translations of his other novels. A surge in sales and all of a sudden Borders will have him stacked up in the check-out lane.

Erlend Loes books are hard to describe. They must be read/experienced. A common denominator is easy to read - almost like a childs book, very entertaining, extremely funny and deeply profound. Simple and funny stories with layers of meaning. If you have ever tried to structure and organize your life, you may love this book. I think that you may also be interested in The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart - another brilliant book.

I remember reading this book by my name-brother and fellow Norwegian some years ago and I had a lot of laughs doing so. I found my self being 20-something and all of a sudden I was making lists of everything as well. I didn't start knocking with a toy-hammer though. :) My wife started reading the book and thought it was just weird.

Anyway...I feel sorry for all of you for not being able to read his funniest book "L". It's about the writer and his friends going to Rarotonga (an Island in Polynesia) to become great norwegian explorer like Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen and Thor Heyerdahl. I found myself crying of laughter when I read the book. What can I say other than "You are all missing out BIG TIME". I hope that "L" will be translated to English so that all of you could read it. It's by far the funniest book I have ever read.
By the way...the title of the book; "L" is for "Learing".