Elling

by Ingvar Ambjørnsen

Book Overview

"The endearing and hilarious story of two just-released mental patients - one shy and imaginative, the other big and dumb - who struggle to find their place in the real world." "The Norwegian... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1596922567
• ISBN13: 9781596922563
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: MacAdam/Cage Publishing
• Length: 294 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Funny and moving: wish more of his books were translated into English!

I found this book entirely by accident in my local library. The tale of Elling and Kvell-Bjarne's gradual entrance into non-institutionalized society merges the genres of farce, buddy film, and bildungsroman with great humor, charm, and sense of place. Beautifully paced. Translation excellent. I am usually too lazy to review books, but I'm reviewing this one in the hope that more of Ambjornsen's Elling books (I think there are 4 altogether) will be translated into English.

Wonderful Norwegian Odd-couple

I had actually seen the movie version of this book first - which I enjoyed so much that I decided to round back and read the book. What a delight it was to read. Several times I would laugh out loud at Elling's prim - prudish views of the world around him, and his commentary on the state of the Norwegian Welfare State. Elling and his roomie Kjel-Barnje have just left 1-year of inpatient psychriatric care behind themselves, and are being giving the opportunity to live in a flat provided by the Oslo city council - under the watchful eye of their social worker Frank. Frank guides Elling and K-B as they introduce themselves to society. Step by careful step they both start to overcome their fears. Both men make huge strides in finding themselves and their places in society - finding romance, and friendship. This is a gentle treatment of 2 men suffering from emotional problems - it handles them with great maturity, kindess, and with wit.