One of the great joys of moving to a new country, and learning a new language, is discovering a new culture. And not least new writers. I had never heard of Erlend Loe before I moved to Norway. But since I started reading in Norwegian about 6 months ago, he’s become one of my all-time favourite authors! He’s got a very distinctive voice (something increasingly rare these days I find), and I like the way his stories, which are always extremely funny, often border on the absurd while remaining very humane at the same time. They are also sharply observed. His writing style is very simple too (although definitely not simplistic), which makes his books very accessible. ‘Deceptively naive’ is how it’s been described by many I think. Unfortunately so far only one of Erlend Loe’s novels, Naiv. Super (1996), has been translated into English – an enigma for all his fans, as book publishers in the UK and the US should be fighting to acquire the rights to more of his books. Anyway, the general public has been smarter than them – Naiv. Super was an instant best-seller when it came out in Norway in 1996, and has since then been translated into 15 languages.

www.amazon.com review:

Troubled by an inability to find any meaning in his life, the 25-year-old narrator of this deceptively simple novel quits university and eventually arrives at his brother’s New York apartment. In a bid to discover what life is all about, he writes lists. He becomes obsessed by time and whether it actually matters. He faxes his meteorologist friend. He endlessly bounces a ball against the wall. He befriends a small boy who lives next door. He yearns to get to the bottom of life and how best to live it. Funny, friendly, enigmatic and frequently poignant – superbly naive

“It displays a canny lightness of touch and a great deal of charm. An effortlessly hip and savvy antidote to the rainy day blues.” Sleazenation

“Loe certainly has some of Salinger’s lightness of touch, and the often comic voice of his unnamed narrator recalls Salinger’s Holden Caulfield. A charming debut novel.” The Times

“A book overflowing with creative talent… Well-calculated naivety” Dagbladet (Norway)

“It is a fascinating how much depth this young author can convey in simple language – a major talent.” Oldenburgische Volkszeitung (Germany)

“I devoured Erlend Loe with giggling excitement.” Arbetet (Sweden)