Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - História do Novo Sobrenome

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

amylav's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

Content Warnings

artemisg's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

jert's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

nicmgray's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

frulcino's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is amazing at describing human experience and relation to others: How our self esteem and lack of there of makes us say certain things without even anything, not even to brag, just because we want to be seen as enough. But this is just one small example. These books are amazing.

Content Warnings

teniamonet's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I read this book digitally but paired it with the audio book and it was a lovely reading experience as usual. Ferrante is a powerful writer and in my opinion she does a good job at evoking emotions and thoughts within her readers.

The first book starts us off with Lila’s disappearance but quickly throws us in the childhood of Lenú and Lila. The second book we see the girls, now young women navigate their adolescence and living completely different lives; Lila starting married life and Lenú continuing on with her studies.

The order was: be a man, Ste’; either you subdue her now or you’ll never subdue her; your wife has to learn right away that she is the female and you’re the male and therefore she has to obey.

Ferrante writes about marriage, sexism, and domestic violence in such a raw way that I’ve never fully seen in any other book I’ve read before. These women fall into the cycle of being okay with their husbands abusing them because that is what is the norm as their mothers, and aunts and other women in the community do not warn them of this life. In fact the women in Lila’s life don’t even seem to bat an eye when she appears with bruises. As young girls there is a level of whimsy around what it means to be a wife and to be married and Lila and Lenú realize quickly it’s not what they imagined.

I soon realized that, being married, she was more alone than before. I sometimes went out with Carmela, with Ada, even with Gigliola, and at school I had made friends with girls in my class and other classes, so that sometimes I met them for ice cream on Via Floria. But she saw only Pinuccia, her sister-in-law.

This book brought up thoughts that I didn’t realize I had about marriage and identity as a woman. Men stay the same married or not, but as a women you move out of your family home and your name changes and while your family will always be your family the new life and family you will start with your husband by society’s standards will take up more importance.

What was it, an indirect object of place? Did it mean that she now lived now with her parents but with Stefano? Did it mean that the new house where was going to live would have on the door a brass plate that said “Carracci”? Did it mean that if i were to write to her I would no longer address the letter to Raffaella Cerullo but to Raffaella Carracci?

There’s so many more things I could talk about the infidelity between Lila and Nino and the impact that had on Lenú who had been in love with Nino for as long as she could remember. Many times during this book I brought into question if Lila truly loved Lenú because she continued to hurt her constantly. I was also upset with Lenú because she had no backbone and couldn’t stand up for herself or the things that she wanted.

“I didn’t like Signora Lina. You are much better, you’re prettier and more intelligent. I talked about it with the Sarratores, too, and they agree with me.”
“You say that because you love me.”
“No. Pay attention, Lenú. I know that you are good friends, my cousin told me. And I don’t want to interfere in things that have nothing to do with me. But a glance is enough for me to judge people. Signora Lina knows that you’re better than her and so she doesn’t love you the way you love her.”

Content Warnings

More...