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

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.

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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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maddelleine's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

Blame it on the translation... or at least partly on the translation.
I've read the first volume in English and found it dry, with a basic vocabulary - despite the character who actively works on developing her own vocabulary and culture. Yes, Lenu and Lila have grown up, they matured. But not enough to justify the gap between the two books. I'm just sorry I can't advance with my reading in Italian, to see "what the author meant" in her own words.

The second volume of the Neapolitan Quartet kept me hooked. Reading one chapter, I craved the next and the next and then another one until my eyes became blurry and I would know I had to stop. I moved over the shock of the violence and context from the first volume, and I was able now to focus better on the characters. And I wanted to know how the story continued, what happened next.

A very well-written novel - the action is clearly not its main goal, but the characters, their lives and evolution. And the characters have as many profundities and facets as onion leaves, waiting to be uncovered one by one.

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