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Swedish Lessons: A memoir of sects, love & indentured servitude. Sort of.

Natalie Burg (Goodreads Author)

3.81 · Rating details · 67 ratings · 24 reviews

In 2005, Natalie Burg was invited to be an au pair for a family in Sweden. She asked no questions; she simply dropped her whole life and went. Who wouldn't want to spend a year of their twenties gallivanting around Europe, having adventures by night and nannying by day?

What happened, however, was something significantly different. There was no gallivanting. There weren't ...more

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Paperback, 236 pages

Published August 22nd 2013 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform (first published July 8th 2013)

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3.81 ·

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· 67 ratings · 24 reviews

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Sep 14, 2013 Melki rated it it was amazing

Shelves: first-reads-giveaways, memoir

Still smarting from a failed relationship and unsure of what to do next, 23-year-old Natalie is offered an almost-too-good-to-be-true job as a au pair to a Swedish family. Some of the perks included with her new position include living expenses paid by the host family, trips to the South of France, and Swedish language lessons in the city. She jumps at the chance to leave her troubles behind in Michigan and boards a plane.

Poor Natalie quickly learns that "au pair" for her new employer means "cle Still smarting from a failed relationship and unsure of what to do next, 23-year-old Natalie is offered an almost-too-good-to-be-true job as a au pair to a Swedish family. Some of the perks included with her new position include living expenses paid by the host family, trips to the South of France, and Swedish language lessons in the city. She jumps at the chance to leave her troubles behind in Michigan and boards a plane.

Poor Natalie quickly learns that "au pair" for her new employer means "cleaning lady/indentured servant." She dusts, vacuums, washes windows, walks dogs, feeds horses, shovels manure, prepares meals, makes beds, does laundry, and bizarrely enough, is expected to be a platonic companion for her mistress's husband.

Ah, yes. We really need to mention Inger, the smiling, iron-fisted matriarch of the Waara clan.
She wants Natalie to take over caring for her family so that she can devote more time to the strange cult (aka the "batshit religion") of which she is a leading member . She calls it the "Miraculous Process," one of the tenets of which is that "sex is our failed attempt to join Jesus," which may account for her separate bedroom from her husband...and Natalie's need to make him feel less lonely.

The whole family is rather quirky, and therefore, pretty hilarious. And Natalie is trapped with them, as their farm is virtually in the middle of nowhere. With no one to talk to but the Waaras, is it any wonder poor Nat turns to the barely literate mechanic neighbor for comfort? Meanwhile, it's becoming clear that she and Inger have differing opinions as to what constitutes "living expenses," her chore list increases almost daily, the fish she's expected to prepare for lunch are still sporting heads, and those Swedish lessons? Well, they may not be what she had in mind, but she certainly learns a lot.

Natalie tells her story in an honest, conversational tone, sprinkled with tons of good humor. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as things go from bad to worse for our heroine.
This is a fun look at one young woman's struggle to find some answers (or at least a way to pay for her own shampoo) and one family caught in the act of simply being themselves. ...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Suzy rated it it was amazing

I enjoyed this book immensely. It brought me to fits of uncontrollable laughter, disbelief, and tears. The most amazing part is that it is a true story.

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Sep 17, 2013 Patrick Ross rated it liked it

Shelves: memoir

I enjoyed reading Natalie Burg's memoir of her time as an au pair in Sweden at the age of twenty-three. It is a fish-out-of-water tale (see the cover!) with a narrator who is able to highlight some of the humorous elements of her time there, including a domineering boss who ministers others in an unusual offshoot of Christianity (the sect); a boyfriend who she ends up quasi-living with (love); and how the expectations put upon her by her employer went far beyond what she expected (indentured ser I enjoyed reading Natalie Burg's memoir of her time as an au pair in Sweden at the age of twenty-three. It is a fish-out-of-water tale (see the cover!) with a narrator who is able to highlight some of the humorous elements of her time there, including a domineering boss who ministers others in an unusual offshoot of Christianity (the sect); a boyfriend who she ends up quasi-living with (love); and how the expectations put upon her by her employer went far beyond what she expected (indentured servitude).

A memoir is no different than a novel in that you want not just an experience but a narrative arc for the protagonist. In this case what Burg reveals about her 23-year-old self is someone who is too passive for her own good. She agrees to the job with little thought; never truly protests the inane expectations her employer puts on her; allows herself to fall into a dependent relationship with the much-older boyfriend; and gets suckered by a woman who claims she can help the narrator get published in Sweden's largest newspaper. The narrator is so likeable, it is frustrating to see her keep allowing things to happen to her that clearly will not end well. So it is a relief when, near the end of the book, she starts looking out for herself. There's an odd denouement involving the ex-boyfriend that hints at a return to her passivity, but the last page reflects a young woman determined to follow her own path in life. (Whew!)

Burg's writing moves at a nice pace, with a very casual voice, almost like she is telling the story over a latte or a cosmopolitan. It takes awhile to truly get into the story--her arrival in Sweden and the introduction of that dragon-lady boss, Inger. A couple of narrative lines drift away (I assume she never actually took the Swedish lessons she kept waiting for Inger to arrange, for example, but that wasn't clear) but overall the book is polished and professional. I say that because it is self-published, and some may bring a prejudice to the book as a result. I admire the fact that Burg funded her publishing venture through Kickstarter, and that she made use of a writing group to polish and hone it (both of these developments are mentioned in an afterward). I came to read the book as a result of a Goodreads giveaway, and have no regrets. My 3 stars appear low compared to other reviewers, but I would ask that this rating be compared to others I have reviewed; 3 stars is quite good for me, I have given less to highly praised memoirs like Running with Scissors.

I hope Burg experiences great success with this book. ...more

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Jun 13, 2014 Abigail rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Sarcastic people, people who like to travel, English majors

Shelves: butt-kicking-awesome, epic-triumphant-strong-stories, make-em-laugh, summer-2014

This was the first book I ever won from goodreads, and so when it came in the mail, I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning. And I was NOT disappointed. I don't usually read memoirs, not purposefully so, but just because they just don't hold my attention like a good old story of adventure and life and love does.

But this book was different. It was freakin HILARIOUS. SARCASTIC. WITTY. HONEST. I literally had a big smile plastered on my face like an idiot every time I was about to open this b ...more

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Jun 11, 2014 Carole rated it it was amazing

Shelves: giveaways-first-reads

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 06, 2013 AJ Salem rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to AJ by: Found on Kickstarter

Swedish Lessons is the perfect combination of snarky observations and poignant memories of a young woman looking for excitement on the other side of the Atlantic.

Unfortunately, nothing goes as planned and Ms. Burg is sucked into a life of housework with a crazy cultish matriarch as her overseer and that's where things just start getting awkward. Although she glosses over her housework with humor I can't imagine the toll it took on her psyche. She is a brilliant observer of the very un-American ...more

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Jun 13, 2014 Devin Ripley rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Devin by: goodreads.com

Shelves: first-reads

I took the opportunity to review this book that was provided to me free very seriously. which makes me want to say that Natalie, the main character and narrator, is Seriously funny. This memoir was written so well that I lost my self within the pages almost like I was listening to one of my besties summer vacations being related to me play by play. Her recollection and description of the goings on and comparable differences in Sweden are never phrased in any way other than a typical college educ ...more

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Aug 12, 2013 Jensie rated it really liked it

Natalie has crafted a narrative that will force your to rethink your own early 20s. As you can't help but wonder why she has gotten herself into the situation she's in, you'll remember your own love interests and life decisions. Ah to be young again....

Reading the book is perfectly akin to sitting with Natalie while she tells you the story of her time in Sweden. She's a great storyteller who doesn't shy away from telling *very* awkward details - which just makes the story more realistic and Nat ...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Alisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: memoirs

I loved this book! I laughed, I despaired, and I got to travel to the other side of the world without leaving my bedroom. In her honest (and often delightfully sarcastic) voice, Natalie treats her readers to vip access to her bizarre tale of love, survival, and oh-so-human dysfunction.

Vulnerable, smart and wickedly funny, Swedish Lessons has secured it's position at the very top of my recommendations list!

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Feb 22, 2013 Michelle rated it really liked it

Loved the author's humor and portrayal of the characters. I had a learning adventure just reading the book...no wonder the actual experience was memoir-worthy.

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Aug 08, 2018 Natalie rated it it was ok

So, a book about a midwestern gal named Natalie who runs off to Sweden and has a love affair with and older Swedish dude. Um, obviously I had to read (my life circa 1999/2000) this and my awesome sister in law gave me a copy. However, the narrator is SO awful! She is so weak and and meek and lets everyone in the book walk all over her and ultimately leaves Sweden to go back to her emotionally abusive boyfriend in Michigan. I. Can. Not. I suppose I admire her honesty (this is a true story) in adm ...more

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Aug 31, 2013 Debbie White rated it really liked it

I received this as a freebie from Goodreads, and I really enjoyed it! Thank you so much! This really hit home to me as I am Swedish myself and have been to Sweden twice. I can really relate to Natalie Berg when she is in Sweden and trying to fit in with the culture there. It is hard as most Swedes in my opinion are hard to get to know, but once you do, then they are wonderful to you and your best friends. I can sympathize wholeheartedly with Ms. Berg as she stays with people she has never met an ...more

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Oct 24, 2015 Mike Vial rated it it was amazing

Swedish Lessons addresses so many important themes that resonate with a millennial generation, like a companion to Lean In or a more genuine version of Eat, Pray, Love.

(I love EPL, but the writer went on a journey to find a story to write; Burg found her story after going on her journey, genuinely looking to escape, not to write about it, but found the story many young women and men discover in themselves: where do we find ourselves when we are healing from heartbreak, let-down, and homesicknes ...more

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Aug 31, 2013 Linda rated it really liked it

Natalie opens her heart to a interesting phase in her life. Written with a easy to follow style, you are taken on her journey.
The comments about American Life are interesting, many who travel do not realize that not all of the world does it their way. As an example, while I was in Venice (Italy) I overheard a very loud American demand to know where the nearest Bank of America was.
Natalie mentioned her country's name confused some people she met in Sweden. Once I met some Americans who said they ...more

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Aug 26, 2013 Mike Howell rated it it was amazing

I suspect the risk in retelling your story of unusual adventure is that you either over-dramatize the events or paint yourself as a far more noble person than you are. Natalie Burg's writing style manages to steer clear of these traps while remaining extremely engaging and witty. She embraces her own character flaws in the book and weaves them into the recounting of strange events and cultural observation, leaving her a very real person in the reader's mind.

I enjoyed Swedish Lessons thoroughly.

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Oct 02, 2013 Sandy D. rated it really liked it

Shelves: memoirs, michigan, midwest-u-s, non-fiction, rural-life, united-states, religion, scandinavia

Entertaining memoir of a 20-something woman who decides to go to work as an au pair in Sweden for the friend of a friend. She ends up isolated on a farm, cleaning constantly, and living first in the basement and then with a mechanic on a neighboring farm.

Her insights into Swedish culture are entertaining, though she didn't get to see much. Swedish food - especially at Christmas (Jul !) - sounds dreadful.

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Jun 16, 2014 Nichole rated it liked it

Shelves: first-reads

I enjoyed reading about Natalie's adventures in Sweden. I believe a young girl could learn a lot from Natalie's story, especially when it comes to men. It was difficult to read how Greg manipulates their relationship. I hope someone is able to read this, relate and be able to remove themselves from the situation.

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Sep 15, 2013 Jill Zimmerman rated it it was amazing

I really loved this book. I won it in a good reads giveaway and I am so happy I did! Natalie is a very talented writer - her observations are honest and astute. She is also hysterical. I laughed out loud a bunch of times and even read passages to my husband. This book was just what I needed. I look forward to more books by Natalie. Great first book!! Thank you

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Sep 15, 2013 Beth rated it liked it

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book as a freebie from Goodreads First Reads and although it took me a while to really get into the story, once I did I really enjoyed it. She has a candid way of writing and totally feel for her as each new day is a different experience!

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Jul 26, 2013 Sherrie rated it it was amazing

Loved it!

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Oct 30, 2013 Ellen marked it as to-read

Shelves: first-reads, family-saga

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway - thank you Goodreads! I look forward to reading it!

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Feb 17, 2013 Amy rated it it was amazing

Love all the characters and confusion. I definitely laughed and cried with this book. Everyone needs to read it!

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Jan 28, 2014 Erica Brehmer rated it it was amazing

Great book. Natalie has a great voice and makes you feel like you're talking with a great friend about a crazy adventure. Can't wait for the next one!

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