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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
This was a quick read but it's still haunting me.
Ferrante lays bare the darkest secrets a lot of mothers have and she does it with such care and objectivity; free from shame, as though the narrator is merely an observer of her actions and not the decider. It's refreshing and also deeply unsettling.
Because aren't mothers 'meant' to love their children unconditionally, without regard or care for their own inner lives? At least that's what society and religion has been selling women.
Ferrante rips the lid off of that in her anti-hero, Leda: a divorced mother-of-two young women who now live with their father. Leda herself is in her late 40s, so hardly an old woman, though there are parts when she comes across as having the wisdom of one, or at least that's what she'd like people to believe. Ironically her actions at times are selfish in a child-like way.
When she encounters another family while holidaying alone (by the Italian seaside that comes to life off the page, the glaring summer sun, the relentless heat, the cool of the ocean, the wine bar filled with locals - glorious!) it brings up all manner of bullsh*t for Leda who begins to examine her own experience as a mother, and as a woman; of being seen and heard, of knowing herself before she disappeared behind the veil of motherhood.
The writing is melancholy and joyful, detached and passionate, irritated and content - all of the emotions I'd say most women have felt around motherhood and I include myself in that camp!
The last sentence made me laugh out loud, this has to be one of my favourite Ferrante books.
Ferrante lays bare the darkest secrets a lot of mothers have and she does it with such care and objectivity; free from shame, as though the narrator is merely an observer of her actions and not the decider. It's refreshing and also deeply unsettling.
Because aren't mothers 'meant' to love their children unconditionally, without regard or care for their own inner lives? At least that's what society and religion has been selling women.
Ferrante rips the lid off of that in her anti-hero, Leda: a divorced mother-of-two young women who now live with their father. Leda herself is in her late 40s, so hardly an old woman, though there are parts when she comes across as having the wisdom of one, or at least that's what she'd like people to believe. Ironically her actions at times are selfish in a child-like way.
When she encounters another family while holidaying alone (by the Italian seaside that comes to life off the page, the glaring summer sun, the relentless heat, the cool of the ocean, the wine bar filled with locals - glorious!) it brings up all manner of bullsh*t for Leda who begins to examine her own experience as a mother, and as a woman; of being seen and heard, of knowing herself before she disappeared behind the veil of motherhood.
The writing is melancholy and joyful, detached and passionate, irritated and content - all of the emotions I'd say most women have felt around motherhood and I include myself in that camp!
The last sentence made me laugh out loud, this has to be one of my favourite Ferrante books.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Lost Daughter was my second Elena Ferrante book. I enjoyed the discussion on womanhood and motherhood, but it wasn’t an all-time favorite. Leda was interesting to say the least. 😟
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book just made me want to call my mom and ask her if she hated me