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The Story of a New Name
February 2021: Family Drama
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The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante - 3 stars
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I have had the first book sitting on my real life shelf forever.....
Joanne wrote: "I have had the first book sitting on my real life shelf forever....."I liked it but didn't love it. Lots of people love the entire series and I am trying to figure out what I am missing.
I wasn't crazy about the first book either. Sounds like I might not like the second any better. Too much introspection and too little story is not doing it for me these days!
Susan wrote: "I wasn't crazy about the first book either. Sounds like I might not like the second any better. Too much introspection and too little story is not doing it for me these days!"The second book is similar to the first in pacing and tone. The girls are teens, so there is a lot of bickering. One wonders why these two are even friends since they don't really seem to like each other. If you didn't love the first one, you're not likely to enjoy the second any better.
PBT Comments: I read the first book a couple years ago. I liked it but was not feeling the love most people seem to have for this series, so was hesitant to read further, but I saw it on the list for Family Drama and decided to give it a go. I have a similar reaction to this one as I did to the first book. I put the domestic abuse and rape warnings in the body of my review since I feel the reader should know what is in store - it pervades the entire book.
Second book of the Neapolitan Series set in Italy in the 1960s. This book picks up where the first left off. At age sixteen, Lila is getting married to Stefano and joining the family business. Lila’s marriage quickly becomes troubled and she endures Stefano’s abuse. Elena returns to school and eventually pursues further education. The major set piece of the novel is the rental of a house on Ischia for a month, where Elena pursues a relationship, but nothing goes as planned. The narrative follows the lives of Lila, Elena, and their families. Relationships form and dissolve, businesses are developed and flounder, friends get along and fall out.
We spend lots of time with the thoughts of the main character. There is not much of a plot. Each woman is striving to rise above her roots. Neither character is particularly likeable. Each envies the other, which damages their friendship. I wanted to retitle it, The Story of a Toxic Friendship.
I am not feeling the magic that so many others have felt. I believe the primary reason for my lukewarm reaction is the inclusion of so much domestic abuse and rape, and women seeming to accept it as “normal.” Perhaps I need to read the final two books in the series to get the full picture. I have to admit, though, that I am not in a hurry to pick up the next one.