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My Struggle, Book 1 cover art

My Struggle, Book 1

By: Karl Ove Knausgaard, Don Bartlett - translator
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
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Publisher's Summary

My Struggle: Book One introduces American listeners to the audacious, addictive, and profoundly surprising international literary sensation that is the provocative and brilliant six-volume autobiographical novel by Karl Ove Knausgaard. It has already been anointed a Proustian masterpiece and is the rare work of dazzling literary originality that is intensely, irresistibly readable. Unafraid of the big issues - death, love, art, fear - and yet committed to the intimate details of life as it is lived, My Struggle is an essential work of contemporary literature.

©2009 Karl Ove Knausgaard (P)2014 Recorded Books

What listeners say about My Struggle, Book 1

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

My Struggle turned to MY joy

A slow starter, Karl Ove seemed a bit too indulgent for me but I'm so glad I persisted.

Part II was much more interesting. Knausgaard's writing is compelling - the detail not overwhelming but thoughtful and absolutely riveting.His observations are remarkable. We become enormously sympathetic to his shock of the state of his Grandmother's house. The portrayal of this woman's "unravelling" is so tender yet so honest. Now that I have finished, I am astonished how much I am missing Karl Ove and co. I have just started Book 2.

Edoardo Ballerini's reading is truly masterful.

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  • 09-11-2015

Too much detail!

Very well narrated and written but I struggled to finish it. in fact i abandoned it halfway through. i felt the author needed to get on with the story. too much detail. i kept losing interest.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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My Struggle to listen

This book felt to me like it was shouting at you, I just couldn't continue so unfortunately I didn't finish it.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Apalling misogyny

I can't believe the raves I've heard about this author and dazzling comparisons to Marcel Proust. He is a narcissistic child abuser with a contempt for women. I really tried with this book looking for jewels of metaphors or at the least a story line. All I heard was: 'Woe is me.' Eminently put downable. To write about shaking your children under the guise of literature is a criminal offence.

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