Karl Ove Knausgård's sprawling Morning Star cycle has arrived at its fourth installment, The School of Night, a book that promises to unravel some of the mystery surrounding Kristian Hadeland, the author of a 500-page suicide note and the misanthropic narrator of this latest chapter. However, as it stands now, Knausgård's magnum opus may be just as perplexing as its predecessor.
The School of Night delves into Kristian's life in mid-1980s London, where he develops an uneasy friendship with Hans and a hostile relationship with Vivian, all while navigating his photography career. As the story unfolds, we see Kristian's character morph from a self-assured young man to a disillusioned, cynical individual, who, by the end of the book, finds himself on the cusp of creative success.
Knausgård's writing style remains as distinctive and challenging as ever, with long stretches of philosophical musings and obscure references that will test even the most ardent readers. The author's assertion that he barely plans or edits his work only adds to the sense of creeping entropy that pervades this installment, leaving some readers questioning how it fits into the bigger picture.
One thing is certain: The School of Night offers an unsettling account of existential crises and supernatural occurrences, drawing heavily from 16th-century German philosophy. The central crisis of the story, resolved through a mysterious intervention by Hans, sees Kristian's abilities as a photographer transformed overnight. But this transformation comes at a cost – Kristian's life begins to unravel in ways that defy comprehension.
To fully appreciate the nuances of Knausgård's work, readers will need to immerse themselves in an extensive world of background reading, tracing characters' movements and decoding the author's deliberate anachronisms. This means deciphering everything from kabbalistic exegesis to Norwegian ferry schedules. For those willing to invest the time and effort, however, The School of Night promises to deliver a world both captivating and unsettling.
Ultimately, the question lingers: can Knausgård deliver on his promise as an epic writer, weaving together threads that create a cohesive narrative? While some readers may find their resolve broken by the sheer scope of this work, others will be drawn into its labyrinthine world, where existential crises and supernatural phenomena converge in a dizzying spectacle. As the story hurtles toward its conclusion, one thing is clear – The School of Night has cemented Knausgård's position as an author whose reputation for complexity and originality only continues to grow.
The School of Night delves into Kristian's life in mid-1980s London, where he develops an uneasy friendship with Hans and a hostile relationship with Vivian, all while navigating his photography career. As the story unfolds, we see Kristian's character morph from a self-assured young man to a disillusioned, cynical individual, who, by the end of the book, finds himself on the cusp of creative success.
Knausgård's writing style remains as distinctive and challenging as ever, with long stretches of philosophical musings and obscure references that will test even the most ardent readers. The author's assertion that he barely plans or edits his work only adds to the sense of creeping entropy that pervades this installment, leaving some readers questioning how it fits into the bigger picture.
One thing is certain: The School of Night offers an unsettling account of existential crises and supernatural occurrences, drawing heavily from 16th-century German philosophy. The central crisis of the story, resolved through a mysterious intervention by Hans, sees Kristian's abilities as a photographer transformed overnight. But this transformation comes at a cost – Kristian's life begins to unravel in ways that defy comprehension.
To fully appreciate the nuances of Knausgård's work, readers will need to immerse themselves in an extensive world of background reading, tracing characters' movements and decoding the author's deliberate anachronisms. This means deciphering everything from kabbalistic exegesis to Norwegian ferry schedules. For those willing to invest the time and effort, however, The School of Night promises to deliver a world both captivating and unsettling.
Ultimately, the question lingers: can Knausgård deliver on his promise as an epic writer, weaving together threads that create a cohesive narrative? While some readers may find their resolve broken by the sheer scope of this work, others will be drawn into its labyrinthine world, where existential crises and supernatural phenomena converge in a dizzying spectacle. As the story hurtles toward its conclusion, one thing is clear – The School of Night has cemented Knausgård's position as an author whose reputation for complexity and originality only continues to grow.
about Karl Ove Knausgård's Morning Star cycle, like what even is going on with Kristian's life?! One minute he's all confident and photography-focused, the next he's a cynical mess 
and we're supposed to just accept it?! 
, I mean I love how philosophical and poetic it is, but can't he just give us some answers for once?! It's like he's intentionally hiding secrets from us or something 
. And what's up with these anachronisms?! 
.
, like we're literally dropped into Kristian's life and have to figure everything out ourselves. And that transformation in the middle of the book?! 
Mind blown. 
. I'm still not sure if Knausgård is an epic writer or what, but one thing's for sure: this guy's got skill 
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, but for those of us who are up for the challenge, The School of Night offers a truly immersive experience.
Karl Ove Knausgård is a genius and i love how he keeps us on our toes with his super complex writing style 
i'm not even kidding when i say that i need to do some serious background reading on this one (like, kabbalistic exegesis & Norwegian ferry schedules lol) but trust me, it'll be TOTALLY worth it 
. I'm down to dive into the world of background reading and decoding all the anachronisms, it'll be like solving a puzzle 
. And can you believe he barely plans or edits his work? That just adds to the sense of mystery and unpredictability, I'm obsessed 
! Will he deliver on his promise as an epic writer? Only time will tell, but I'm 100% here for it 
.
another literary masterpiece that'll leave you questioning your sanity... Karl Ove Knausgård's latest installment, The School of Night, promises to be a mind-bender 
with its labyrinthine plot and cryptic references 
. the author's assertion that he barely plans or edits his work is just a fancy way of saying "it's all gonna fall apart" 
️. you'll be left scratching your head, wondering what's real and what's just Knausgård's way of messing with our heads 
. i love how the writer delves into knausgard's life in london, but at the same time its like he's throwing a bunch of random references at us without explaining what they even mean 
. But at the same time, I love how he's experimenting with non-linear storytelling and blending mythology with real-life events 
. And that mysterious intervention by Hans? 
But hey, if you're up for the challenge, The School of Night seems like it could be an epic ride 
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The way he weaves together philosophical musings, obscure references, and supernatural occurrences creates a world that's both unsettling and thought-provoking.
. The way the story unfolds, with its twists and turns, keeps you on the edge of your seat.
. It may not be for everyone, but if you're up for the challenge, it could be an epic journey that leaves you feeling fulfilled and enlightened 
. But that's what makes it so fascinating, right? The fact that Knausgård refuses to hold your hand through the story means you'll need to put in some serious work to unravel the mysteries 
. Will it be worth it? 
And don't even get me started on the mysterious intervention by Hans... what's up with that? Is Knausgård trolling us at this point? 
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. Can someone explain what's going on with Kristian Hadeland and Hans?