A review by purnuhja
The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

I have so much love for this series and for our two best friends. Even when I didn't like them, I felt for them and that's a testament to Ferrante's writing. The whole story is so beautifully written, and it builds on the first part so well, I honestly enjoyed this book more than the first. Elena and Lila make so many painful choices, as if their competing with each other and performing for the other, or they simply see the road untraveled in the other and it hurts them. Just really fascinating and nuanced characters.

And so much interesting commentary around class as well as wealth and education. So many people see education as a way upwards, but competing with generational wealth and generational social capital is near impossible. And the added layer of sexism and all of the violence that's entailed, it's all just devastating to read. My favorite parts where in the second half when we explored these implications through Lila's and Elena's choices
(Lila leaving Stefano and working in a factory and Elena seeing the limits of education as well as her complicated relationship with her family when she shares her successes).
Just a very heartbreaking but beautiful story, I loved it so much, but I do need a break before I read the next one. 
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