Letícia Monteiro answers “Team Lenu or Team Lila? Or do most people...”

Karissa asked this question about The Story of a New Name (Neapolitan Novels, #2):

Team Lenu or Team Lila? Or do most people feel sympathetic towards both equally?

Letícia Monteiro There's no such thing, it's not a competition. That's the whole point.
They're both strong, complex and vivacious characters and their love for each ot…moreThere's no such thing, it's not a competition. That's the whole point.
They're both strong, complex and vivacious characters and their love for each other surpasses the old idea that women are not loyal friends because it's their (our) nature to compete with each other. I think anyone who "teams up" with one of them is missing the strongest purpose of this wonderful narrative.
I admire Lila so much, how she can remain always true to herself despite the violent and painful path life lead her. Lenu struggles her whole life with her low self-esteem and desperate need for approval, but her resilient fight, her ambitious discipline makes her mature beautifully and truly find herself at some point. They're both admirable, flawed, cruel, selfish, generous, intelligent, subversive, they're so human, they're so women. Most importantly, they deeply love each other and that love guides their lives in many ways. I see myself in both, and I also see my mom, my sister, my female friends, my female relatives. There are no teams.(less)

flag