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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
"Technical? Technical? Easy for you to say, that is. You can spend twenty pages describing a trip to the bathroom and hold your readers spellbound.”
- Karl Ove Knausgård, My Struggle Book 2, pg. 124
This quote perfectly sums up how I feel about Karl Ove’s immense writing talent. In truth, he doesn’t do anything flashy at all, but there’s something so captivating about the way he strings together every single sentence. I don’t think I’ve ever felt about a work of nonfiction the way I feel about this 6 volume set.
Book 2 of My Struggle, titled: A Man In Love is possibly the most relatable work of literature I’ve ever read. From the look of other reviews, I can tell most people who read it feel that way. It’s terrifying how honest Knausgård is about himself in these books. In autobiographies, you always see the author essentially put themselves on pedestals. Not Karl Ove; across over 1,000 pages in the first 2 books, he’s made no effort to hide his darkest parts, and I love him for it. I could talk about this book for hours, because I really think it found me in a time of my life where I connect so deeply with his words. Instead, I’ll share some quotes from the book that hit me the hardest and I identified with the most.
"The saint image. No modern person wants to be a saint. What is a saintly life? Suffering, sacrifice and death. Who the hell would want a great inner life if they don't have any outer life? People only think of what introversion can give them in terms of external life and success. What is the modern view of a prayer? There is only one kind of prayer for modern people and that is as an expression of desire. You don't pray unless there is something you want."
- Karl Ove Knausgård, My Struggle Book 2, pg. 464
“Don't believe you are anybody.
Do not fucking believe you are somebody.
Because you are not. You're just a smug, mediocre little shit.
Do not believe that you're anything special. Do not believe that you're
worth anything, because you aren't. You're just a little shit.
So keep your head down and work, you little shit. Then, at least, you'll get something out of it. Shut your mouth, keep your head down, work and know that you're not worth a shit.
This, more or less, was what I had learned.
This was the sum of all my experience.
This was the only worthwhile thought I'd ever had.”
- Karl Ove Knausgård, My Struggle Book 2, pg. 501
“I toyed with the idea of suicide, I had ever since I was small and despised myself for that reason, it would never happen, I had too much to avenge, too many people to hate and too much due to me.”
- Karl Ove Knausgård, My Struggle Book 2, pg. 540
Please read these books. They’re incredibly real, like nothing I’ve ever seen and probably never will see again.
- Karl Ove Knausgård, My Struggle Book 2, pg. 124
This quote perfectly sums up how I feel about Karl Ove’s immense writing talent. In truth, he doesn’t do anything flashy at all, but there’s something so captivating about the way he strings together every single sentence. I don’t think I’ve ever felt about a work of nonfiction the way I feel about this 6 volume set.
Book 2 of My Struggle, titled: A Man In Love is possibly the most relatable work of literature I’ve ever read. From the look of other reviews, I can tell most people who read it feel that way. It’s terrifying how honest Knausgård is about himself in these books. In autobiographies, you always see the author essentially put themselves on pedestals. Not Karl Ove; across over 1,000 pages in the first 2 books, he’s made no effort to hide his darkest parts, and I love him for it. I could talk about this book for hours, because I really think it found me in a time of my life where I connect so deeply with his words. Instead, I’ll share some quotes from the book that hit me the hardest and I identified with the most.
"The saint image. No modern person wants to be a saint. What is a saintly life? Suffering, sacrifice and death. Who the hell would want a great inner life if they don't have any outer life? People only think of what introversion can give them in terms of external life and success. What is the modern view of a prayer? There is only one kind of prayer for modern people and that is as an expression of desire. You don't pray unless there is something you want."
- Karl Ove Knausgård, My Struggle Book 2, pg. 464
“Don't believe you are anybody.
Do not fucking believe you are somebody.
Because you are not. You're just a smug, mediocre little shit.
Do not believe that you're anything special. Do not believe that you're
worth anything, because you aren't. You're just a little shit.
So keep your head down and work, you little shit. Then, at least, you'll get something out of it. Shut your mouth, keep your head down, work and know that you're not worth a shit.
This, more or less, was what I had learned.
This was the sum of all my experience.
This was the only worthwhile thought I'd ever had.”
- Karl Ove Knausgård, My Struggle Book 2, pg. 501
“I toyed with the idea of suicide, I had ever since I was small and despised myself for that reason, it would never happen, I had too much to avenge, too many people to hate and too much due to me.”
- Karl Ove Knausgård, My Struggle Book 2, pg. 540
Please read these books. They’re incredibly real, like nothing I’ve ever seen and probably never will see again.
This isn't an easy book. It takes time, commitment which makes it so much more worthwhile. The author is just fantastic at capturing the banality and mundane of everyday life, the sacrifices we make along the way, while also veering off into contemplating his own self, what it means to be a writer, philosophy et al. But it never feels like veering off. Because I'm real life while you make a cup of coffee, or think about dinner tonight, if you are a contemplative person, other thoughts and ideas flow in and out of your mind. This book does this perfectly. And why I love this book so much is that just as he is trying to figure out himself, it has given me moments of my own self-reflection. Isn't that what great art is about?
Knausgaard's consistent candor is the book's most prominent feature. However, at times, this candor seemed pretentious or artificially honest. While the book's length makes it occasionally tedious, it is replete with moments of beauty and emotional depth, ultimately justifying the investment of time.
So enjoyable. I'm not sure if the subject matter is relatable for everyone but more than one passage mirrors my own experience. The book feels like honesty without inhibition, which I think is very rare, and seems to make things that feel incomprehensible completely normal (human). Highly recommended reading. On to book three.
Karl Knausgaard revisits the subtle intimacies and crushing realities of everyday life in 'My Struggle Book Two: A Man in Love'. With the same confessional and unwavering candor that marked the first installation, Knausgaard uniquely captures the essence of human emotion, magnifying the mundane to depict the profound nature of daily experiences.
The narrative opens with an idyllic setting; Knausgaard, his wife Linda, and their two daughters are living a seemingly normal life. Among many perfectly ordinary events, he takes his daughter to a singing class and exhibits a faint attraction towards the teacher. Despite the heaviness of a recent novel release, he obliges the mundane parental tasks like attending children's parties. The intensity of Knausgaard’s writing lies in transforming these benign incidents into a literary spectacle, highlighting the profundity buried underneath routine life.
As the story unfolds, Knausgaard takes us backward, to an interrogation of his soul after his father's death. He's newly divorced and falls for Linda, a woman who becomes a central figure in his life. The narrative sways between the past and the present, capturing the tumultuous journey of his love life and the onset of parenthood, palpably viscerating all its joys and pains.
The book immaculately chronicles falling in love, the humbling experience of observing birth, and the subsequent challenges of raising children. Knausgaard’s raw vulnerability as he navigates these life-changing moments is compelling, his voice indicative of every ordinary man experiencing life’s extraordinary moments.
A truly exceptional addition to the narrative is the depiction of Knausgaard’s relationship with his Russian neighbor. Their constant back and forth, the conflicts and resolutions, showcase the complexity of human relations and interactions. These relatively insignificant encounters add depth to the narrative, rendering it relatable and visceral.
In 'My Struggle Book Two: A Man In Love', Knausgaard once again mesmerizes readers with his ability to present the commonplace as an intricate tapestry of profound moments. He paints a realistic picture of life in a novel that is densely detailed yet fundamentally simple.
In conclusion, this book reasserts Knausgaard’s mastery in crafting relatable narratives, filled with profundity in every corner of the mundane. From falling in love to discovering parenthood, he takes readers on a journey that resonates deeply, leaving us pensive and moved. It's nothing short of a literary masterpiece that invites readers to reflect on their own struggles and passions, making it a must-read.
The narrative opens with an idyllic setting; Knausgaard, his wife Linda, and their two daughters are living a seemingly normal life. Among many perfectly ordinary events, he takes his daughter to a singing class and exhibits a faint attraction towards the teacher. Despite the heaviness of a recent novel release, he obliges the mundane parental tasks like attending children's parties. The intensity of Knausgaard’s writing lies in transforming these benign incidents into a literary spectacle, highlighting the profundity buried underneath routine life.
As the story unfolds, Knausgaard takes us backward, to an interrogation of his soul after his father's death. He's newly divorced and falls for Linda, a woman who becomes a central figure in his life. The narrative sways between the past and the present, capturing the tumultuous journey of his love life and the onset of parenthood, palpably viscerating all its joys and pains.
The book immaculately chronicles falling in love, the humbling experience of observing birth, and the subsequent challenges of raising children. Knausgaard’s raw vulnerability as he navigates these life-changing moments is compelling, his voice indicative of every ordinary man experiencing life’s extraordinary moments.
A truly exceptional addition to the narrative is the depiction of Knausgaard’s relationship with his Russian neighbor. Their constant back and forth, the conflicts and resolutions, showcase the complexity of human relations and interactions. These relatively insignificant encounters add depth to the narrative, rendering it relatable and visceral.
In 'My Struggle Book Two: A Man In Love', Knausgaard once again mesmerizes readers with his ability to present the commonplace as an intricate tapestry of profound moments. He paints a realistic picture of life in a novel that is densely detailed yet fundamentally simple.
In conclusion, this book reasserts Knausgaard’s mastery in crafting relatable narratives, filled with profundity in every corner of the mundane. From falling in love to discovering parenthood, he takes readers on a journey that resonates deeply, leaving us pensive and moved. It's nothing short of a literary masterpiece that invites readers to reflect on their own struggles and passions, making it a must-read.
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
I liked it (hence the three stars), but must confess I was quite bored through the middle parts. It ends much, much better, but overall I felt it was not the accomplishment the first one was.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Knausgard writes so eloquently about the mundane that you almost forgive his massive character flaws
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
“the life around me was not meaningful. I always longed to be away from it, and always had done. So the life I led was not my own. I tried to make it mine, this was my struggle, because of course I wanted it, but I failed, the longing for something else undermined all my efforts.”
"When I was twenty what I had, what made me me, was so little. I didn't know that, of course, because that was all there was at that time. But now that I'm thirty-five there's more. Well, everything that existed in me when I was twenty is still there. But now it's surrounded by so much more. That's sort of how I think about it.”
It will never cease to amaze me how well KOK captures the stream of consciousness that I used to think was unique to just me in my own experiences while moving through life. Are we all not experiencing the same lives then?
This book gives me hope that life is still, and always will be, an adventure despite the small, insignificant happenings that flood the extraordinary.
"When I was twenty what I had, what made me me, was so little. I didn't know that, of course, because that was all there was at that time. But now that I'm thirty-five there's more. Well, everything that existed in me when I was twenty is still there. But now it's surrounded by so much more. That's sort of how I think about it.”
It will never cease to amaze me how well KOK captures the stream of consciousness that I used to think was unique to just me in my own experiences while moving through life. Are we all not experiencing the same lives then?
This book gives me hope that life is still, and always will be, an adventure despite the small, insignificant happenings that flood the extraordinary.