“In Something That Helps, Mona Høvring writes with crystal clear, scenic prose about a girl’s burgeoning sexuality and black grief … Along the way my thoughts went to Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and Francoise Sagan’s Bonjour Tristesse. Not only because of the simmering darkness inside the light, sensuousness and resilience of youth, but also because of Høvring’s lucid, tender prose and exquisite feeling for scenes … It’s not easy to eroticize everyday incidents in this way. But Høvring knows how to do this, just like she effortlessly encircles vulnerability, independence and a breakdown, which maybe, maybe not is similar to what led to her mother’s breakdown. And all of this in a novel of 131 short pages. That’s real art.”
5/6, Berlingske Tidende, Denmark
“A refreshing first novel … a strong Norwegian writer. Please give us more … Høvring allows her characters to carry all the contradictions and ambiguities that a novel of 130 pages has room for”
5/6, Politiken, Denmark
«A brilliant novel on loneliness and a young girl’s relationship to an older woman … Thre is a surprising and pulsating quality to Mona Høvring’s light prose … I can’t help but being drawn towards Mona Høvring’s seemingly carefree main character and the disturbing atmosphere around her”
Information, Denmark
“An unbelieveably beautiful little book … all elements are constantly at play; water (sea, rain), fire (bonfire, cigarettes), air (wind, breathing) and earth (garden, plants), just as Laura is erotically attracted to both women and men, in a way which isn’t that far from Francoise Sagan’s first novel Bonjour Tristesse. Recommended!”
Elle, Denmark
“In spite of Laura’s vulnerability most emotions are kept at arm’s length, and instead the novel is made up of poetic and direct descriptions of events, contrasts and impressions … [Høvring’s] highly conscious prose and her literary presence is what makes this little novel great literature”
Gentofte Library recommendation, Denmark
“It all works remarkably well, and I can only think that this is a good opportunity to delve deeper into this author’s works”
Standart, Denmark
“The direct and precise choice of words, the quiet, yet pregnant expression, a textual presence, an existence filled with significance … With “Noe som hjelper” Mona Høvring has written a small gem of a book”
Aftenposten
“Condensed, clear as glass and with a language so intense, almost meditative, that she nearly puts the reader in a state of intoxication”
Dagbladet
“…a remarkable publication – slim and wild, sensual and tender, strange and beautiful… Small novel with great explosive force”
Hamar Arbeiderblad
“…something you should read”
Dag og Tid
“… a joy to read, filled with small and big observations, open and hidden lines … described with a strong intensity and sensitivity”
Dagsavisen
