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mollybonovskyanderson's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
I have read 8 books by Karl Ove Knausgaard, but this is the first novel. I'm pleased to say that his fiction is no different; the detailed depictions of every day life, the ponderance of meaning, life and death, the philosophical forays, the Proustian attention to memory and time, it's all there, and I won't soon forget this book. Of course the cast of characters and subplots is enormous, and most of them are left unfinished at the end, which would not bother me in any other book, but it's clear they are all meant to unite and collide in some way, and for that, I guess I will have to wait until the next book. But this novel alone is so full of unforgettable visuals, unique characters (all, I assume, some semblance of the author himself), outright frightening events, and the deep-dives into theology and existentialism that keep me reading every word Knausgaard writes.
I have read 8 books by Karl Ove Knausgaard, but this is the first novel. I'm pleased to say that his fiction is no different; the detailed depictions of every day life, the ponderance of meaning, life and death, the philosophical forays, the Proustian attention to memory and time, it's all there, and I won't soon forget this book. Of course the cast of characters and subplots is enormous, and most of them are left unfinished at the end, which would not bother me in any other book, but it's clear they are all meant to unite and collide in some way, and for that, I guess I will have to wait until the next book. But this novel alone is so full of unforgettable visuals, unique characters (all, I assume, some semblance of the author himself), outright frightening events, and the deep-dives into theology and existentialism that keep me reading every word Knausgaard writes.
laufal's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
ertbert's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
dietsmarrissjohnson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lottececilie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
anthsu's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
lerathalas's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookish_vicky's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
avidreadr's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I had written a review when I first read this book. Knausgard continues to blow me away, in how he can dissect the human heart and experience. This book adds a surreal layer of demons and apocalyptic events, and it just really blew my socks off.
bluegene's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0