My Struggle: Book 6

by Karl Ove Knausgård

“Isn’t that what they call plagiarism?” I said, feeling a warmth rise to my cheeks. He looked at me for a second. “No, it’s what’s called freedom. It’s because you’re made in such a way that you’re writing a novel, whereas I’m writing nonfiction. I’ve been destroyed by academia. It makes me check and double-check everything I do. I can’t write a sentence without adding a footnote with a reference. I’m tied down. You’re without bonds entirely.” “You’re reliable, I’m not.” “All right, no need to be harsh on yourself. What you’re doing works!” “I suppose you’re going to tell me it was you who came up with the My Struggle title as well?” “Well, now that you mention it.” “Seriously?” “It was in a sentence you said, my struggle, and I said there you go, there’s your title. That’s how it was.” “Shit.” “It’s how you work. Your head’s this simmering pot, everything goes into the soup.”