My Struggle: Book 2 (My Struggle, 2) Paperback – June 3, 2014

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.

Knausgaard's My Struggle is being touted as a literary breakthrough, opening important new possibilities for the novel as a literary form. I don't know about that. Frankly it seems much more a memoir than a piece of fiction. But whatever the form, it's a very enjoyable and not particularly demanding read.When I first heard about Knausgaards epic five volume "novel", it sounded like the kind of intimidating experimental fiction that can be a challenge to read. It's not. I'll leave it to critics to judge the scope and meaning of the author's accomplishment. From the perspective of an ordinary reader, Book 2 of My Struggle is an entertaining and perceptive window into the life experiences of a thirty something Norwegian writer. Although it skips around chronologically, the narrative begins as the author abruptly leaves both his marriage and his homeland and emigrates to Stockholm. There he rekindles a previous relationship, falls in love and by the book's conclusion has three children and begins work on his magnum opus.Much has been made of Knausgaard's focus on the banalities of everyday life and particularly the tedium of childcare. Had a woman written this book, would it be such a literary sensation???? I have my doubts, but that's not the author's fault. There is something very engaging about his way of drifting from a catalogue of the everyday to reflections on philosophy, popular culture, etc. His takes on Norway versus Sweden, specifically his deep dislike of Stockholm, are very funny. He can spend many pages on a tedious dinner party and it's just as rivetting as the story of his (first) child's very difficult birth.But what's most intriguing are Knausgaard's ambivalent reflections on his own masculinity. He's constantly second-guessing himself and even the simplest assertion of masculine authority--sending bad food back to a restaurant kitchen--sends him into paroxysms of self-doubt. He doesn't focus at all on "typical" masculine concerns like sex, money and jockeying for power with other men. There is only one brief sexual fantasy and no explanation of how as a young writer he earns a living. We see his marriage deteriorating, yet money is never a point of conflict with these overburdened young parents? Hard to credit.There are unanswered questions about the author's own intentions re his literary format. He dismisses both fiction and documentary storytelling as outworn, irrelevant modes of literary expression and seems to be proposing the diary as something much more relevant. But to what extent can we trust him? Much of the book is extended dialogues, particularly between himself and a childhood friend. Recorded? Invented? And if invented, might the entire saga be a fiction?