THE MORNING STAR

The many viewpoints of this large novel are well served by the large group of narrators, all of whom embody their characters admirably. Don't, however, expect their stories to come together or to come to any neat resolutions. The central event of the novel, the appearance of a new star, remains unexplained, so why shouldn't the stories? Each character's tale is gripping as written and performed. It's hard to imagine any of them being better cast. Each viewpoint has a clear, and clearly imagined, personality. All the voices are American, although the translation from the Norwegian is obviously British. Knausgaard, in any language, is a major writer, and this ensemble performance serves him well. D.M.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2021]