By Elena Ferrante

ISBN: 9781609450786

Voted best book of the century? Still trying to understand why..

Synopsis

“Beginning in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples, Elena Ferrante’s four-volume story spans almost sixty years, as its main characters, the fiery and unforgettable Lila and the bookish narrator, Elena, become women, wives, mothers, and leaders, all the while maintaining a complex and at times conflicted friendship. This first novel in the series follows Lila and Elena from their fateful meeting as ten-year-olds through their school years and adolescence.

Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between two women.”

What’s to like

The author does a great job of developing the characters, their interactions and relationships. These are described down to tiny details which create a vivid picture for the reader. It is also commendable how the author has described Elena’s thoughts and reflections on her friendship with Elena. In that way she has a way of writing about people so you can know them up close.

The backdrop of poverty and violence in this neighborhood of Naples set a very interesting stage for the story and for readers who enjoy historical fiction, it is a plus to learn about this part of Italy and the time period.

What’s not to like

The story itself comes across as an account of all the foolish decisions of two girls as they grow into teenagers, which may be true for many teenagers’ experiences but was very frustrating to read. I struggled to understand how to feel about Lila and Elena.

There is a repetitive emotional abuse pervasive in the book, and it becomes annoying to read. In a way it makes you feel that the characters do not learn at all. Overall, it also feels like there are way too many characters in the book.

In the end I did not want to commit to reading the rest of the books in this series. There is a lot of back and forth in terms of the romantic interests in the book and from reading the synopsis for the following books, it appears that the pattern continues. I struggle to understand how this is one of best books of the 21st century (based on NY Times book list).

NOTES:

Book Review Rating: 3/5
Content Warnings: Sexual abuse and harassment, violence and physical abuse. Age advisory 16+