Reviews with content warning for Rape - The Story of a New Name

Building on from the first novel, this one gripped me from start to finish - I couldn't put it down. Elena's insecurities threaten to unbalance the story, but is always saved by clever storytelling, humour and self awareness.

It made me reflect a lot about perceived intelligence and copying vs inspiration when it comes to creating art.

Masterful writing, gripping story, and autobiographical nature of it has come through as a strong theme, real or cleverly intentional to add depth? I can't tell.

Content Warnings

marikareads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wish I could write everything that's on my mind right now, but that would take waaay too long, so I'm just going to compress my thoughts into a few lines:

After reading two books, I understand Lila's desperation, but sometimes that makes her truly evil.
Lenù on the other hand is still as obsessed with being better than her, but gets better in the second half of the book after

she publishes her novel

and starts to believe in herself a little bit more.
There are scenes that are truly sad and disgusting, which are sadly the reflection of those times.
I feel deeply for Lenù after she was

basically r*ped by Donato Sarratore

and didn't even understand the enormity of what happened to her.
I also feel for Lila, being trapped into a toxic marriage and fighting hard for her freedom to live and

to love whoever she wants to(even if it's Nino, the boy that Elena had feelings for and that she totally knew about).

The ending was quite surprising, we'll see what happens in the next instalment of the series!

Content Warnings

carojust's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Oh, I'm emotionally invested. Definitely read these in order. This book builds on Elena and Lina's lives after Lina's wedding, and we follow them into young adulthood with the same gravity and detail as the first book.

The first half was a drag for me, and suddenly I raced through the second half in a day, after the turning point during their beach vacation. Nino Sarratore, count your days.

Lina, who bothered me only a little in the first book, absolutely drove me up the wall in this one. I have a friend who made the same decisions in real life as this character does, and am stunned at the exact psychological pattern both follow. Elena Ferrante has a power in reflecting precise emotions and turmoil that are so frighteningly real.

I'm left so satisfied with how Elena's life is evolving, and while there are no winners in this story, I'll continue rooting for her, the idea of her that I hold inside myself.

I think it's the obsessive inadequacy, the verbose and constant reflection, the natural tendency to empathize, that makes this series feel like womanhood, itself. I better understand why this series has captured so many of us.

Content Warnings

annamgoodman's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

graciegrace20's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

marilululu's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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potatoes24's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ferrante dives into autonomy with the fierceness that Lila has always had and Lenù becoming more independent. Ferrante also beautifully highlights the importance of a last name. In some countries it’s traditional for the wife to take the husband’s last name, but by doing so the women loses a part of her identity by taking on this new name. Although Lila and Lenù are still in their youth, they’re forced into a world where their identity is challenged and they must choose adapt or to stand out.

Content Warnings

lexcellent's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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