This is the ultimate student novel, a novel that captures student life with intelligence and humor. It takes place on the University Campus outside Paris, where foreign students try to get to know each other in French. In this manufactured world, geography is turned upside down, so that the Norwegian house is next to Uruguay.
The main love interests in the book are Norwegian Nikolai and American Daisy. They are not really a couple, but neither of them wants to appear to be desperate to the other.

"I can't bear to make a fool of myself yet again," she says, "I'd rather just sleep with you."

The Curious Ones is about loneliness and the paralyzing fear of the Big World outside the University Campus, and in a charming way questions what being a student really means.

Hans Petter Blad´s writing is stylistic and original, the way it elegantly works its way around known settings, a fresh path in a road many times travelled.
DAGSAVISEN

This is a novel that asks valuable questions, about being a student as well as just being.
ADRESSEAVISEN

Blad has a real grip on the small details, and he usually hits where he aims.
SPIRIT.NO

Supreme literary craftmanship.
FÆDRELANDSVENNEN

This novel asks important and valuable questions.
*****
DRAMMENS TIDENDE

Full of witty, tragical and elegant existentialism - A highlight this season.
DAGBLADET