A review by libbyhb
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante

emotional reflective tense
  • 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

5.0

God, this one was stressful! I loved the tangents into Lila's life at the sausage factory and with Enzo, and how that contrasted with Elena's life in more wealthy, intellectual circles writing about things Lila was actually experiencing. All the shit with Nino and Pietro was incredibly frustrating, but I still liked Elena struggling with her feelings and what to do with herself. This was potentially my least favorite of the Neopolitan novels, but even that's not saying much, since it was still perfectly written and a beautiful read.
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