unidentifiedgemstone's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Like,, good but not mind blowing?
lilcurious's review against another edition
3.0
Quite meandering, but there was an insight that I appreciated a lot.
The contradiction between the illimitable that dwells within us and our simultaneous limitation and earthboundness is the driving force behind all literature and all art, or so I believe, but not only that; the longing to equalize the difference, suspend the contradiction and simply exist in the world, undifferentiated from it, is also an important part of all religious practice.
The contradiction between the illimitable that dwells within us and our simultaneous limitation and earthboundness is the driving force behind all literature and all art, or so I believe, but not only that; the longing to equalize the difference, suspend the contradiction and simply exist in the world, undifferentiated from it, is also an important part of all religious practice.
dylanperry's review against another edition
5.0
Reread: February 2022
I still love this little essay.
Reread: May 2020
5/5
Inadvertent was lodged in my head for more than a year. I'm glad to see it lives up to the memory of the first read, and exceeds it.
Original Review: January 2019
The honesty on display here is raw, real, and appreciated. Because as interesting as the highs are—the success stories, breaking out as an author and gaining acolytes—to me, the creative lows are just as fascinating. And Karl Ove Knausgaard doesn’t hold back. He goes into detail about the years that went in between projects. Talks about how he labors, churning out page after page and yet still the story wouldn’t work. How he almost reinvents how he writes to get it to where he wants. This isn’t something we hear from many modern authors without the word, or feeling, of ‘failure’ closely associated. And to hear it come from a big name writer is refreshing.
Between this and his essay in Light the Dark, I’m beyond ready to check out his longer works. 4.5/5
I still love this little essay.
Reread: May 2020
5/5
Inadvertent was lodged in my head for more than a year. I'm glad to see it lives up to the memory of the first read, and exceeds it.
Original Review: January 2019
The honesty on display here is raw, real, and appreciated. Because as interesting as the highs are—the success stories, breaking out as an author and gaining acolytes—to me, the creative lows are just as fascinating. And Karl Ove Knausgaard doesn’t hold back. He goes into detail about the years that went in between projects. Talks about how he labors, churning out page after page and yet still the story wouldn’t work. How he almost reinvents how he writes to get it to where he wants. This isn’t something we hear from many modern authors without the word, or feeling, of ‘failure’ closely associated. And to hear it come from a big name writer is refreshing.
Between this and his essay in Light the Dark, I’m beyond ready to check out his longer works. 4.5/5
inieme's review against another edition
4.0
I'm certainly a sucker for books about reading, but this one was much sharper than average. An essay gently peppered with the author's history as a reader with dreams of becoming a writer. It was also not easy to digest compared to other similar books (Murakami's "What I talk about when I talk about writing/running" or Zambra's "No leer"), and I found myself having to re-read many pages (which still I enjoyed very much). I'd recommend this book to anyone, but particularly to people who write.
raykluender's review against another edition
4.0
This is a lovely introduction to Karl Ove if you're not ready to dive headfirst into the My Struggle series. If you've got an Audible membership, I think it's free at the moment with the inimitable Eduardo Bellerini narrating.
lauren_endnotes's review against another edition
▫️INADVERTENT by Knausgaard, translated from the Norwegian by Ingvild Burkey, 2017/2018.
This short essay looks at KOK's writing process, craft, and literary inspirations. It's a book lover's book. He talks about his love of Le Guin and comics in childhood (this warmed my heart, naturally...), and many other writers that he has appreciated in his life.
In sharing his process, he reveals a lot about himself, his shyness, social awkwardness, his inner life. Best known for his autofictions, this little peek into his family life and personality probably won't be a surprise, but still quite lovely to read.
This short essay looks at KOK's writing process, craft, and literary inspirations. It's a book lover's book. He talks about his love of Le Guin and comics in childhood (this warmed my heart, naturally...), and many other writers that he has appreciated in his life.
In sharing his process, he reveals a lot about himself, his shyness, social awkwardness, his inner life. Best known for his autofictions, this little peek into his family life and personality probably won't be a surprise, but still quite lovely to read.
tartancrusader's review against another edition
3.0
Karl Ove discourses on why he writes. He doesn't answer the question, but the way in which he didn't answer it was interesting and engaging.
Edited: for clarity
Edited: for clarity