neemzilla's review against another edition
3.0
The further I read, the more transparent the veil of good writing becomes, and I can clearly see how very sadistic this “character” is. Is that the point?
ohwretchedme's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
marcakero's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
juniperusxx's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Tässä osassa käydään läpi aikakautta, jolloin Knausgårdista tulee esikoiskirjailija ja jolloin hänen isänsä kuolee. Sopii mainiosti äänikirjana kuunneltavaksi, olen viime aikoina viettänyt lukuisia tunteja tämän herran seurassa lähinnä autoillessa ja siivoten :) Vielä yksi osa jäljellä, kirja on varmaankin hyvä, kun tekee mieli jatkaa sitä yhtäjaksoisesti, vaikka pituutta onkin.
admacg's review against another edition
4.0
Volume 5 of this sprawling epic is largely rooted in the authors years in Bergen. He is in his twenties now and he is attempting to find his place in the world as a man and a writer. Although he warns at the start that a lot of the details of this period are hazy (there are a lot of drunken shenanigans) he still manages to reconstruct his life in the most minute detail.
Like the other books, there are flashes of insight in the mundane, and he recounts his feelings and emotions, especially concerning his relationships, with brutal honesty. Some of the most vivid momments for me included his breakdown in a pub toilet and his employment in a mental facility, especially his dealings with a legless patient. There's a real undercurrent of black humour throughout. His father features again and this time we learn a bit more about his declining health. The section featuring his funeral is particularly vivid.
Of course we are revisiting his fathers death and subsequent funeral, told as it was in book one. I do remember reading it, and it feels like Knausgard is inviting us to revisit our memory of his memory of that memory. Time and recollection feel like that cliched hall of mirrors. Time and memory are fluid things.
Some of the most vicious passages concern his own doubts about his abilities as a writer, causing spells of severe, lacerating self doubt, with rising jealousies towards his fellow writers and friends. Of course, these struggles, his journey as a writer, result in these compelling, sprawling volumes. One more to go.
Like the other books, there are flashes of insight in the mundane, and he recounts his feelings and emotions, especially concerning his relationships, with brutal honesty. Some of the most vivid momments for me included his breakdown in a pub toilet and his employment in a mental facility, especially his dealings with a legless patient. There's a real undercurrent of black humour throughout. His father features again and this time we learn a bit more about his declining health. The section featuring his funeral is particularly vivid.
Of course we are revisiting his fathers death and subsequent funeral, told as it was in book one. I do remember reading it, and it feels like Knausgard is inviting us to revisit our memory of his memory of that memory. Time and recollection feel like that cliched hall of mirrors. Time and memory are fluid things.
Some of the most vicious passages concern his own doubts about his abilities as a writer, causing spells of severe, lacerating self doubt, with rising jealousies towards his fellow writers and friends. Of course, these struggles, his journey as a writer, result in these compelling, sprawling volumes. One more to go.
masteryoda716's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know that I've ever been more frustrated with Karl Ove, the character, as I have in this volume. In book 5 we really see the parallels between the internal torment his father went through and the struggles that KOK himself lives with - in particular alcoholism. These books really are a whirlwind to me and I find myself rooting for Karl Ove, pitying him, getting disappointed with him but I also understand his imperfections. This unflinchingly brutal series is still unlike anything else and I continue to find my own empathy growing and an increasing desire to be a better person to those around me. These books give me the highest level of a reading experience which, to me, is one that changes who we are and enhances our understanding of each other.
k0rnbr34d's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
As difficult to put down as it is difficult to read. Knausgård’s experiences in college and shortly after are remembered in painful detail. As I read I remembered my own embarrassing moments in writing workshops and awkward conversations and what books and authors I thought were cool when I was 18, 19, and dreaming of a being a poet. This book has serious cringe in it. I cannot believe the things he admits to thinking and doing. It’s not inconceivable that someone would think and do these things, but it is bewildering that someone would put them in print in such a small country.
Each volume of this is not amazing in and of itself, and this one did feel rather uneven at times, but, as the full image develops, I take in every word and revelation with excitement and am ready to take on the final volume, hoping to finish it by early July and put a close to this chapter of my reading life, which has been going on and off for all of twenties. The flow of life in these books is so realistic. It was interesting to also read Ducks, Newburyport this year, as it gave a similar experience. A detailed comparison of the techniques used in both would be interesting.
Each volume of this is not amazing in and of itself, and this one did feel rather uneven at times, but, as the full image develops, I take in every word and revelation with excitement and am ready to take on the final volume, hoping to finish it by early July and put a close to this chapter of my reading life, which has been going on and off for all of twenties. The flow of life in these books is so realistic. It was interesting to also read Ducks, Newburyport this year, as it gave a similar experience. A detailed comparison of the techniques used in both would be interesting.
stef369's review against another edition
4.0
Je raakt zo stilaan verslaafd aan Knausgard's reeks... Als je dit deel leest, ben je al flink vertrouwd met het leven en de gevoelens van de auteur, en het is dus net of je met oude bekenden aan tafel gaat. In "Schrijver" lezen we opnieuw een deel van Karl Ove's "strijd", deze keer de strijd om een echtte "schrijver" te worden. Ook zijn "strijd" als jonge student in Bergen. Hij weet eigenlijk met zijn leven geen raad, staat nog altijd onder druk van een afwezige, maar blijvend dominante vader-figuur, schuimt het ene na het andere café af en verandert van vriendin zoals hij van kleren verandert. Hij doet pogingen om te schrijven, maar dat blijkt op het eerst zicht niet te lukken. Ook zijn "opleiding" aan de schrijversacademie - daarvoor was hij naar Bergen gekomen - loopt met een sisser af. Maar hij is een volhouder. Hij blijft doorvechten, tot hij eindelijk zijn debuut maakt met een roman die onmiddellijk succes oogst. En daarna... terug de stilte, niets meer...
De strijd die Karl Ove voert, is bij kunstenaars maar al te gekend. Het is niet alleen de harde strijd om een plaats te veroveren op het podium van bekende namen - en verkochte boeken, maar ook de innerlijke strijd om te creëren. Kunst maken komt niet vanzelf, dat is zo vervlochten aan je innerlijk leven. Als je innerlijk leven niet stabiel is, kan je ook niet loslaten en in rust schrijven. Daar gaat het volgens mij om in deze roman, die terug met veel brio is geschreven. En nu uitkijken naar het laatste deel!
De strijd die Karl Ove voert, is bij kunstenaars maar al te gekend. Het is niet alleen de harde strijd om een plaats te veroveren op het podium van bekende namen - en verkochte boeken, maar ook de innerlijke strijd om te creëren. Kunst maken komt niet vanzelf, dat is zo vervlochten aan je innerlijk leven. Als je innerlijk leven niet stabiel is, kan je ook niet loslaten en in rust schrijven. Daar gaat het volgens mij om in deze roman, die terug met veel brio is geschreven. En nu uitkijken naar het laatste deel!
apollonium's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0