Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Mary Ellen Gembolis asked this question about My Struggle, Book 1:
Has anyone out there read the whole series? I just finished Book 1 and found it a little naval-gazing, too self-absorbed. Does it get any better? Mary Ellen
Sofia Capriani It is not mandatory to like Knausgaard or to read his books. As with many other authors, you feel the connection or not. He does not think that he has…moreIt is not mandatory to like Knausgaard or to read his books. As with many other authors, you feel the connection or not. He does not think that he has to be liked. I am now in the middle of the Book Six, which discusses his urge to publish and write his novel in spite of negative, even threatening reaction from his own uncle (Gunnar, from the first book). He knows that he will hurt his wife Linda, whom he loves, by publishing the book, and probably risk his own marriage (it really happened). The whole hexalogy is about his obsession with writing and need to express himself through writing. This is one similarity to Proust, who found redemption through writing, in spite of ephemeral and often despicable life he was leading. It is the topic which is not attractive to many readers. Of course, there are a lot of Knausgaard's observations and reflexions through the books that a lot of readers find irresistible. For example, I cannot recall the representation of modern marriage that would be more acurate than Knausgaard's. His rummaging through the nature of family relations, either with his parents and brother, either with his own kids or distant relatives, is also unique in contemporary literature. There are many fine passages in his books that deal with nature, although norwegian nature is not so charming as french countryside in Proust's novel. Knausgaard is always struggling, hence the title My stuggle is very accurate, although misleading for everybody that connects the title with other, notorious book. His place in literature is not really secured, but more than million copies sold in Norway points that he touched the nerve of his fellow citizens.
Peter Handke, Nobel laureate and Knausgaard's role model said that he is not the fan because norwegian's novel doesn't "breathe". Yes, there are many passages that could be ommitted, and it seems to me that his style or craft of novel-building is not comparable to Proust's or Handke's (I am not reading in norwegian so I could not tell for sure). But, if we want to place him among the others contemporary novelists, he is definitely one to be counted among leading ones. He is serious, dedicated, tells the story of the modern individual confronted with contemporary mandatory way of life, trying to find his way through it, without easy solutions. It is not light reading, so if you don't resonate with his way of writing and the topics about which he is writing, just give up.(less)
flag
More questions about My Struggle, Book 1…
Image for My Struggle, Book 1
My Struggle, Book 1
by Karl Ove Knausgård
Rate this book
Clear rating
1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more