jason_l_thomas 's review for:

The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante

3.75

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book is tough for me. It falls into the same category as novels like “My Year of Rest and Relaxation” which centers around somewhat frail, privileged women who go though a year of well, depression. While I can appreciate the prose and the raw depiction of anguish, or depression, or mourning, or whatever, the story itself feels like it insists upon itself. It loves to languish in its own despair for as long as possible. While that despair may be written beautifully, it feels unrealistic to the experiences that most in this scenario will actually have. Having said that, the final section of the book where Olga does work through her issues, stops neglecting her children, and actually works towards improving her life I found to be extremely compelling and interesting. I just wish the book spent more time there than it did sitting in despair. The Days of Abandonment s a beautifully written book with little substance.