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A review by lewreviews
The End by Karl Ove Knausgård
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
And with the ending of this book, I've now officially finished the "My Struggle" series, capping off what has not only been a transformative reading experience and a journey with what will easily be one of my favourite book/s of all time, but, in my opinion, the beginning of several new thoughts into what literature can be.
"The End" goes so much further than the 5 books before it. Not only does it chronicle the daily adventures (that are oh so mediocre but made to be so riveting!), but it now covers the experience of writing and publishing the book. In the previous books, you realise that he's writing about real people and might be using their real name. In this book, you understand just how significant this is, and it is also revealed that those people are indeed real, and those are indeed their names. You can search them up online and there they are - real people.
From then on, this is no longer just a novel. "The End" - no, the entire "My Struggle" body of work - goes further than any piece of literature I've ever read. It is an experiment by the end of it, and one that I would never, ever take on myself. I was speechless reading Karl Ove's comments on why he wrote this book, and if it was all worth it. In fact, I think the last book is that very point - was it worth it? Why did I do it?
Unlike anything I've ever read and, I'm sure, it will be unlike anything I will ever read. Incredible!
"The End" goes so much further than the 5 books before it. Not only does it chronicle the daily adventures (that are oh so mediocre but made to be so riveting!), but it now covers the experience of writing and publishing the book. In the previous books, you realise that he's writing about real people and might be using their real name. In this book, you understand just how significant this is, and it is also revealed that those people are indeed real, and those are indeed their names. You can search them up online and there they are - real people.
From then on, this is no longer just a novel. "The End" - no, the entire "My Struggle" body of work - goes further than any piece of literature I've ever read. It is an experiment by the end of it, and one that I would never, ever take on myself. I was speechless reading Karl Ove's comments on why he wrote this book, and if it was all worth it. In fact, I think the last book is that very point - was it worth it? Why did I do it?
Unlike anything I've ever read and, I'm sure, it will be unlike anything I will ever read. Incredible!