The lives these women lead are epic but relatable. Violence and sexuality are enormous themes in these novels. They are not light reads be prepared to learn about Italian politics, the sexual revolution, cultural shifts from the 50s to now. The plots and subplots are comic, tragic, and true-to-life.ĭespite the pretty and somewhat misleading covers, these books are dense and thick, Dickensian in scope. I hate reviews that tell you too much about the storyline, but I will say that each woman’s journey, and the journey of their community has many twists.
Elena/Lenù tells us everything that happens to both of them, and yet Lila is a mysterious figure in many aspects. The narrator is filled with jealousy towards but also love for Lila, and that is so interesting to me. Honestly, I find myself thinking about her as if she is a real person I can talk to and get to know. She’s angry and possessed of charm and brilliance. The narrator is Lenù and much as I love her, it is really Lila who makes the pages come alive. The city is part of why they are who they are. I can’t imagine these stories, these characters living anywhere else.
They are not called the Neapolitan novels in the abstract. Naples plays a huge role and you get a sense of how turbulent and varies this Italian city is. The author explores marriage, motherhood, career choices through the main characters and even minor characters. Driven by fierce ambitions, the culture of their neighborhood, and each other, they battle and love. They have the kind of tumultuous, lifelong friendship many women can relate to. Elena Ferrante has written books for the ages. Book 3 (“Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay”) is my favorite of the four- bad choices and consequences dominate. And then, somewhere in Book 2 (‘The Story of A New Name”), I feel in book love. I earnestly struggled with Book 1 of the series, which details the younger years of these two passionate, brave, deeply weird women. I’m overwhelmed by how much I love these four books- the Neapolitan series.
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