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What Members Thought

A story of utter homelessness and poverty but not a story of woe and pity. Yikes….Hamsun doesn’t spare the reader any aspect of complete and utter poverty and hunger (starvation, actually). This isn’t a comfortable read. It certainly makes me look at homelessness and plight differently.
This is somewhat a study of keeping one’s humanity and morals through desperate, desperate times; of how one is treated and thought of as an impoverished person; of keeping one’s pride and uniqueness during the w ...more
This is somewhat a study of keeping one’s humanity and morals through desperate, desperate times; of how one is treated and thought of as an impoverished person; of keeping one’s pride and uniqueness during the w ...more

An engrossing (apparently semi-autobiographical) tale of the a struggling writer's starvation-fueled wanderings around Oslo. For me, the book is memorable because it depicts, realistically, someone who is in desperate need of a break, but whose dignity prevents him from accepting whatever meager assistance comes his way. It's also one of the most believable examples of stream-of-consciousness that I have ever read.
This book will haunt you. Highly, highly recommended. ...more
This book will haunt you. Highly, highly recommended. ...more

Slow moving, rambling and repetitive.



Dec 26, 2014
Gerard
marked it as to-read

May 20, 2015
Susan
marked it as to-read

Jul 07, 2019
Viv JM
marked it as to-read

Sep 21, 2022
Genia Lukin
rated it
did not like it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
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1001-books


May 25, 2025
Peter Russell
marked it as to-read