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A review by babybel
The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante
5.0
you expect every book to end in a completely different place than where you began it. this one was like that, but times a thousand. we see our characters ending this novel in the most opposite direction in which they started it wow wow wow. ferrante was able to take the previous story and expand upon it so much. i liked the first book a decent amount but i LOVED this one.
lena is truly so fascinating but the harsh and shining reality of the story is that lena finds entertainment and fulfillment in lila’s life, and so does the reader. i feel for lena and i see all of myself in her. she waits for life to come and get her, constantly wishing that she could be someone other than who she truly is. she lives through lila, and that’s what makes her emotions so complex. the jealousy and rage and longing and love are all so entirely real because that is what it feels like to focus your life on a single person, and wish so badly for the things that they have.
ferrante is able to create a story that is so goddamn relatable that it’s frightening. her prose is inquisitive and menacing. she takes the dark lives of our characters, their familial situations and financial status, and plays them out in complete clarity. the town they live in is gloomy and depressing. but then there are moments of beautiful light, flying kites on the beach or eating a wonderful meal that bring the emotions back down to earth. the day to day complexities of being alive are fleshed out so well and it’s such an emotional moment to feel what these characters feel.
starstruck. i cannot wait to continue on
lena is truly so fascinating but the harsh and shining reality of the story is that lena finds entertainment and fulfillment in lila’s life, and so does the reader. i feel for lena and i see all of myself in her. she waits for life to come and get her, constantly wishing that she could be someone other than who she truly is. she lives through lila, and that’s what makes her emotions so complex. the jealousy and rage and longing and love are all so entirely real because that is what it feels like to focus your life on a single person, and wish so badly for the things that they have.
ferrante is able to create a story that is so goddamn relatable that it’s frightening. her prose is inquisitive and menacing. she takes the dark lives of our characters, their familial situations and financial status, and plays them out in complete clarity. the town they live in is gloomy and depressing. but then there are moments of beautiful light, flying kites on the beach or eating a wonderful meal that bring the emotions back down to earth. the day to day complexities of being alive are fleshed out so well and it’s such an emotional moment to feel what these characters feel.
starstruck. i cannot wait to continue on