jeffsauer's review against another edition
5.0
Tempted here to talk about the time I spent the end of winter in a small town in northern Ontario, but then I know I'd fall into the trap of copying the voice from the last book you read and it sounds so bad. So I'll just say he's spot on in his description of how the lack of distance or privacy in a small cold community simultaneously drives you crazy and keeps you sane (because what are you going to do, sit in your room?). You lose the ability to signal your identity with cultural references because no one knows what you're talking about, and in the end you have to just tAlK To pEopLE
sheesh_heck's review against another edition
4.0
actually fucking nauseating. sontag might call this “blood sport”
simbah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
coffeebooks's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
masteryoda716's review against another edition
5.0
Book 4 had me laughing many times at Karl Ove and his inevitable failures in pursuit of...his first time.
This book poignantly depicts the overbearing obsession with sex as a young adult male and displays the embarrassing fail in a way that only Karl Ove shares with the public. While that is the main propelling storyline, he also describes the town he moves to beautifully, goes through the discomfort of being a teacher only two years older than some of his students, and we also flashback to life with his parents post separation. There's also so much in here about his father starting down the road of alcoholism and how it changes his behavior as well as Karl Ove's own obsession with alcohol that he hasn't seen as a problem yet
I was thoroughly entertained with this one - maybe my favorite thus far!
This book poignantly depicts the overbearing obsession with sex as a young adult male and displays the embarrassing fail in a way that only Karl Ove shares with the public. While that is the main propelling storyline, he also describes the town he moves to beautifully, goes through the discomfort of being a teacher only two years older than some of his students, and we also flashback to life with his parents post separation. There's also so much in here about his father starting down the road of alcoholism and how it changes his behavior as well as Karl Ove's own obsession with alcohol that he hasn't seen as a problem yet
I was thoroughly entertained with this one - maybe my favorite thus far!
ronanmcd's review against another edition
3.0
What am I writing about? Giving a star rating here feels like grading someone's life.
It's obviously heavily fictionalised, but we are led to believe much of the book is spun out from truth.
I liked the first half well enough; as I read I identified with much of young Knausgaard, and would have seen myself in a similar light.
However, as a reader like most, I invest much of myself in reading, and at a certain point the book became a protracted recounting of drunkenness and sexual anxiety. It just wasn't very interesting.
The honesty that had disarmed me and endeared me to the text had become formulaic. The remembrance of youth had just become somewhat juvenile itself, like it was finding its way, learning and growing.
It's obviously heavily fictionalised, but we are led to believe much of the book is spun out from truth.
I liked the first half well enough; as I read I identified with much of young Knausgaard, and would have seen myself in a similar light.
However, as a reader like most, I invest much of myself in reading, and at a certain point the book became a protracted recounting of drunkenness and sexual anxiety. It just wasn't very interesting.
The honesty that had disarmed me and endeared me to the text had become formulaic. The remembrance of youth had just become somewhat juvenile itself, like it was finding its way, learning and growing.
danielad's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely my least favourite volume so far. Throughout, Knausgaard seems to lack much empathy for the feelings of others. Maybe this is due to his upbringing - the fact that his father shows no concern for or interest in him. There is a moment near the end (459-462) where he does express some sorrow for Jo, a bullied student. This, in my opinion, was the most moving section. Pages 448-454 were the funniest, where Knausgaard utterly fails to convey any sense of masculinity to a woman he's attracted to.
Otherwise, the volume largely recounts Knausgaard's repeated pursuit of women, one after another, nearly all ending in failure, and I found the plot a bit repetitive.
Otherwise, the volume largely recounts Knausgaard's repeated pursuit of women, one after another, nearly all ending in failure, and I found the plot a bit repetitive.
juniperusxx's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Tämän kuuntelin äänikirjana, neljäs kirja keskittyy nuoren miehen kasvuvuosiin - kipuiluun suhteessa seksuaalisuuteen ja tyttöihin. Tässä osassa Knausgård kuvaa kokemustaan sijaisopettajana ollessaan itse vasta 18-19-vuotias. Viihdyin hyvin tätä kuunnellessa, vaikka hetkittäin aina tuli mieleen, että tarvitseeko kirjailijankaan aina paljastaa kaikkea itsestään ja toisista, tarvitseeko kirjailijakin intimiteettiä ja suojaa?
ohwretchedme's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5