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A review by mermaidreef
The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Neapolitan novels are like something Tolstoy would write, if Tolstoy were Italian, a woman, and wrote more interesting books.
This second installment in the series was...heavy. Relationships going wrong left and right, people having affairs, domestic violence, sexual assault, basically every type of relational trauma you can imagine. I also would not recommend this book if you're a) a woman or AFAB person that b) doesn't want to be angry about being born with a female body and doesn't want to hate men.
Ferrante examines the way that men think of and interact with women: as inanimate objects for them to claim, control, and use how they like. Defiance is met with physical and sexual violence. Inability to fulfill whatever feminine role is expected based on their stage of life is met not only with aggression from husbands, but with the reproach of the community as well. In this environment, women grow up believing that when married, women need to be "brought to heel" by their male companions from time to time. Violence by men is natural and a deserved consequence for a woman who fails to fulfill her "duties."
I could write pages and pages on this but long story short so good so beautifully written so profound so insightful so gorgeous. Please read these books.
This second installment in the series was...heavy. Relationships going wrong left and right, people having affairs, domestic violence, sexual assault, basically every type of relational trauma you can imagine. I also would not recommend this book if you're a) a woman or AFAB person that b) doesn't want to be angry about being born with a female body and doesn't want to hate men.
Ferrante examines the way that men think of and interact with women: as inanimate objects for them to claim, control, and use how they like. Defiance is met with physical and sexual violence. Inability to fulfill whatever feminine role is expected based on their stage of life is met not only with aggression from husbands, but with the reproach of the community as well. In this environment, women grow up believing that when married, women need to be "brought to heel" by their male companions from time to time. Violence by men is natural and a deserved consequence for a woman who fails to fulfill her "duties."
I could write pages and pages on this but long story short so good so beautifully written so profound so insightful so gorgeous. Please read these books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicide