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amadacla's review against another edition
4.0
Straordinario il ritmo narrativo incalzante di Elena Ferrante nella Storia del nuovo cognome, dove prosegue il racconto di Elena e di Lila e dei personaggi peculiari conosciuti nel primo volume dell’Amica geniale. Chapeau per questa scrittrice italiana di talento innato che con linguaggio, ora semplice ora forbito, avviluppa il lettore negli intrecci, anche sordidi, delle famiglie del rione partenopeo. Matrimoni sontuosi che appaiono salvifici e favolosi, per il tempo di un’illusione che, come tutte le illusioni, sarebbe stato meglio scansare. Realtà, fatta di attimi, mutevole, effimera, controversa nella quale si può rimanere imprigionati a vita. Estate straordinaria del grande e vero amore della vita, dissolto col cambio di stagione. Non sono le vicende amorose il cuore pulsante del libro che segue il filo sottile e resistente del complesso e altalenante rapporto di amicizia tra Elena e Lila avvolto in un indecifrabile funzionamento che è riduttivo circoscrivere al meccanismo secondo cui “gli opposti si attraggono” o alla dinamica della rivalità e competizione tra due persone. Un alone di ambiguità permea il legame malgrado l’indagine pervicace della scrittrice e la curiosità sollecita indotta nel lettore volta a scoprire cosa determina i comportamenti di entrambe fortemente influenzati dal contesto storico e sociale del rione descritto a tratti con consapevolezza delle radici e senso di appartenenza, a tratti con repulsione e desiderio di fuga.
maddelleine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Blame it on the translation... or at least partly on the translation.
I've read the first volume in English and found it dry, with a basic vocabulary - despite the character who actively works on developing her own vocabulary and culture. Yes, Lenu and Lila have grown up, they matured. But not enough to justify the gap between the two books. I'm just sorry I can't advance with my reading in Italian, to see "what the author meant" in her own words.
The second volume of the Neapolitan Quartet kept me hooked. Reading one chapter, I craved the next and the next and then another one until my eyes became blurry and I would know I had to stop. I moved over the shock of the violence and context from the first volume, and I was able now to focus better on the characters. And I wanted to know how the story continued, what happened next.
A very well-written novel - the action is clearly not its main goal, but the characters, their lives and evolution. And the characters have as many profundities and facets as onion leaves, waiting to be uncovered one by one.
I've read the first volume in English and found it dry, with a basic vocabulary - despite the character who actively works on developing her own vocabulary and culture. Yes, Lenu and Lila have grown up, they matured. But not enough to justify the gap between the two books. I'm just sorry I can't advance with my reading in Italian, to see "what the author meant" in her own words.
The second volume of the Neapolitan Quartet kept me hooked. Reading one chapter, I craved the next and the next and then another one until my eyes became blurry and I would know I had to stop. I moved over the shock of the violence and context from the first volume, and I was able now to focus better on the characters. And I wanted to know how the story continued, what happened next.
A very well-written novel - the action is clearly not its main goal, but the characters, their lives and evolution. And the characters have as many profundities and facets as onion leaves, waiting to be uncovered one by one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Violence
Moderate: Rape
mackplank30's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
elisegis's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
gracegeeks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mtv3223's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
teadiprima's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my GODDD I don’t even know where to start. Probably bumped up to my favorite book of all time. Elena Ferrante is a genius. Sometimes I would read a sentence and have to go back to reread it multiple times because her writing style is so beautiful. I’m so sad I don’t already have the third book of the series in my hand so I can start it right away. I can’t recommend this book more highly.
victoriangh0st's review against another edition
4.0
Really couldn’t put it down. So good! So infuriating!
thecvntofmontecristo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5