A review by silverliningsandpages
The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

“To tolerate existence, we lie, and we lie above all to ourselves. Sometimes we tell ourselves lovely tales, sometimes petty lies. Falsehoods protect us, mitigate suffering, allow us to avoid the terrifying moment of serious reflection, they dilute the horrors of our time, they even save us from ourselves.”

I’m very grateful to Europa Editions for sending me a surprise copy of The Lying Life of Adults and glad to have finally tried Ferrante.  Whilst I admire her acute observation and sharp writing, sadly I don’t think she’s for me.  That puts me in the minority as there are legions of adoring fans across Bookstagram.

I may not have loved the book but what I appreciated was:

📙how Ferrante fully inhabits the teenage narrator, evoking all the adolescent fears, confusions and passions

📙the juxtaposition of the two sides of Naples, representing refinement versus vulgarity

📙the exploration of dialect and education and their association with class and opportunities. 

Rating: 3/5 🌟

Are you a Ferrante fan?  My mum is, and cannot wait to get her hands on this one!

Thank you Europa Editions for the review copy