10/10
I just finished reading Book 3 of Karl Ove's "My Struggle" series called Boyhood Island. This book was all about his childhood. Honestly, it doesn't compare to Part 2, which is titled "A Man In Love". That book (Part 2) is probably going to stay in my top 5 forever. I loved it so much that I wanted to read it again right after I finished it. Now, Book 3 - Boyhood Island... was really hard to read because it's partly about domestic abuse coming from a violent, narcissistic father. It was tough to get through the parts where young Karl Ove was suffering. Since I too experienced domestic abuse at the hand of my mother at the same age he was in the book, it was super triggering, and I found myself tearing up multiple times while reading it today. So, even though it's not as amazing as Book 2, I realize I shouldn't compare them since they are so different. I'm still giving it a 10 out of 10 because it serves it's purpose - it helps you see and feel life through a child's perspective. And it's a great addition to his life story narrative so far. Book 1 dealt with his teenage years and then skipped to him... dealing with the loss of his abusive father. Book 2 was all about his relationship with his very toxic wife - it was a psychological horror slash love story in my opinion. Then Book 3 was just the early years - from a little kid to early teen.
This series has truly changed my life. I'm addicted. I plan to start Book 4 later tonight or maybe tomorrow morning. I don't read anything about these books in advance, because I don't want to spoil them for myself... but I already can sense that Book 4 will deal with his 20s probably. I'm expecting a hell of a ride.
P.S. It was also wonderful to read a fiction book from him - The School Of Night - I devoured that book in 3 days, while it was nearly 650 pages. Again - the best FICTION I've read in the last 10 years. While his autobiographical My Struggle Book 2... is probably the best auto-fiction I've read... maybe EVER. We'll see how this series evolved in books four, five and six - I have more than 2000 pages to go. Maybe I'll be sick of it in the end... or maybe I'll fall even more in love. We'll see.
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Maxim ·
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