4 ms·

Is it just me, or does other also find it strange that he chose to name his book the same as Hitler’s manifesto ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Struggle http:

by runarb 11y ago

Is it just me, or does other also find it strange that he chose to name his book the same as Hitler’s manifesto ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Struggle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Struggle )? I don't know if one in English normally refer to Hitler’s book as “My Struggle” or its original German name “Mein Kampf”, but at least in Mr. Knausgårds original Norwegian book name “Min Kamp” the reference is very clear.

jimmcslim 11y ago
In English it is generally referred to (in my experience) as 'Mein Kampf'. In fact, until learning about Mr. Knausgårds book recently I assumed Hitler's translated to 'My Life'. Perhaps he is trying to reclaim this pattern of words from its association with Hitler? Or maybe he is being deliberately provocative or perhaps ignorant?
unicornporn 11y ago
There are many ways to interpret the title. The books deals with the author's problematic relationship to his father. He has said that Hitler inspires the same horror as his father did to him when he was a child.
- orkj 11y ago
  Expanding on this, in book 6 he actually has made room for quite a lot of pages dedicated to Hitler, Mein Kampf and Hitlers life. To avoid spoilers, I would say that this also gives context to the choice of the title. So to answers OPs question. Yes, I find the title strange (it is pretty controversial). But also, the title is descriptive and relevant (my opinion). Full disclosure: I am huge fan of Knausgård :)
noname123 11y ago
Originally, he wanted the book titled "Argentina" because his whole memoir was about the daily minutiae, dealing with the responsibilities to his wife, family, children, society, professional courtesies and liberal sensibilities of Scandinavian society en-route to an inexhaustible march to growing old and useless with an nagging sense of not accomplishing anything in particular, like being caught up with life never to have taken a trip to Argentina. One of his good friend when talking about this, mentioned that it'd be more appropriate for him to title the book then "My Struggle". (Everyday mundane life is a battle field. Inside, we are all more neurotic than we all present to other people? Retreating to a refuge as Peronist regime is more a fantasy when our personal Stalingrad already happened, when what is inevitable and predictable: standing on the Berlin Furtherbunker stage when the curtain falls.) His editor initially said that it'd be impossible. But after a few weeks, recanted his decision and went ahead with the book title.

by runarb 11y ago

jimmcslim 11y ago

In English it is generally referred to (in my experience) as 'Mein Kampf'. In fact, until learning about Mr. Knausgårds book recently I assumed Hitler's translated to 'My Life'. Perhaps he is trying to reclaim this pattern of words from its association with Hitler? Or maybe he is being deliberately provocative or perhaps ignorant?

unicornporn 11y ago

There are many ways to interpret the title. The books deals with the author's problematic relationship to his father. He has said that Hitler inspires the same horror as his father did to him when he was a child.

orkj 11y ago
Expanding on this, in book 6 he actually has made room for quite a lot of pages dedicated to Hitler, Mein Kampf and Hitlers life. To avoid spoilers, I would say that this also gives context to the choice of the title. So to answers OPs question. Yes, I find the title strange (it is pretty controversial). But also, the title is descriptive and relevant (my opinion). Full disclosure: I am huge fan of Knausgård :)

noname123 11y ago

Originally, he wanted the book titled "Argentina" because his whole memoir was about the daily minutiae, dealing with the responsibilities to his wife, family, children, society, professional courtesies and liberal sensibilities of Scandinavian society en-route to an inexhaustible march to growing old and useless with an nagging sense of not accomplishing anything in particular, like being caught up with life never to have taken a trip to Argentina. One of his good friend when talking about this, mentioned that it'd be more appropriate for him to title the book then "My Struggle". (Everyday mundane life is a battle field. Inside, we are all more neurotic than we all present to other people? Retreating to a refuge as Peronist regime is more a fantasy when our personal Stalingrad already happened, when what is inevitable and predictable: standing on the Berlin Furtherbunker stage when the curtain falls.) His editor initially said that it'd be impossible. But after a few weeks, recanted his decision and went ahead with the book title.