My Struggle: Book 2

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.

For me this is a 5 star book but I doubt that it will be so for most people. The events portrayed are not of particular interest nor is there a story line that keeps the reader expectant. Yet the insights into both himself and those around him is exceptional and clearly and honestly expressed throughout the narrative. I can walk away from reading and find myself more alert to everything, especially patterns of behavior, be they my own or of others. This is a true gift to the reader. Karl Ove is a thoughtful man who values others and pays great attention to them. Yet he has a strong need to be alone as well, and that produces difficulty in his marriage. Surely this must be a central theme in the lives of many of us. And if we fit this model the book provides a valued confidant for sharing and understanding our own feelings and reactions. Furthermore he keeps in touch with the bigger picture of life and expresses that view regularly. I bet many who feel basically alone in their lives can read this book and be somewhat relieved of that sense of aloneness. For me self examination is a strong theme in my living, and this book hits the mark for anyone of a similar nature. Be assured that Karl Ove is hard on himself as many of us are. Plus his insight into others is exceptional and motivates me to be even more alert and sensitive to those around me. However I must admit than I did find stretches of reading where I was not being stimulated and a sense of tedium started to arise. But with a little persistence I was soon pulled right out of that feeling. As other reviewers have cited I also found interest in how it is to be in Sweden or Norway. Giving such detail to the mundane doings in daily life is enlivened when it takes place in this unfamiliar setting.

Knausgaard's six-volume work is impossible to summarize -- in no small part because three volumes in Norwegian are still left to translate. I'm part-way into the third volume, and have been transfixed by the unusual approach he has taken to writing about his life, his view of the world, and his shockingly honest and captivating "autobiography." It's hard to tell what is nonfiction and what is fiction in these books: the tedious detail that some critics have commented on is nonetheless what makes the reading so engrossing. When he writes about drinking too much, or feeling insulted, or going to a party, or stubbing out a cigaret for the fiftieth time -- as one reader I am never bored. He has captured a way of relating his own history -- in non-chronological order usually -- that somehow transcends traditional literature, and certainly traditional autobiography. At some point, he is so honest that it doesn't matter whether his honesty is factual or enhanced. He engages the reader so deeply, and with such vivid, profound detail that it is uncannily like a true-life soap opera, but one that never grows stale or melodramatic or hyped up. This second book focuses on his love of his second wife, Linda, and all the complex dynamics of their life. It is at times bitter, sad, thrilling, mystifying, euphoric, and all those emotions that a marriage endures, including child-bearing and rearing. But Knausgaard takes the reader with him every inch and mile of the way, pulling you along whether you want to go or not. It can be maddening at one point, and thrilling the next. But despite some of the incredibly "tedious detail," I have myself never found it tedious reading. He writes about daily life in a way that makes it, not so much exciting, as hyper-alive - not intense, but genuine and authentic. As humans, we become not heroic, but pitiful and brave, details by detail by detail. I will definitely read all six books, because, well, it's Knausgaard, and his writing demands it be read. I don't know if he is as life-changing as a novelist as many have said. I just know that he is doing something as different as Joyce or Proust or other game-changing authors have done. And I have found myself enjoying it in a way I haven't done with any other author. So, read it and see if it takes you into the unique depths of his mind -- or so maddens you that you put the book in the trash. But, you won't be left anywhere in the middle.

Karl Ove Knausgaard is a master of realism.When you read each page you know he is describing daily living but he takes you with him with each step. Then bang, his discourse changes to a height that is up there with the best of our time. He is breaking ground in writing and has thrown the challenge to other writers to meet him there. I want more.

I think he is very much like me - I recognize his very thoughts and his very feelings as my own.

Awesome

I read the first part of Knausgård's 'My Struggle' series last year and enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading this, the second book in the series. I was not disappointed. He's not describing a remarkable life - in fact it's fairly ordinary - it's just so well done. The detail is amazing yet compelling. Really looking forward to reading the third part now.

Got a Modern Classic at very good price. Overall very satisfied.