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

challenging dark emotional 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

3.75

I really was not convinced by the first book in this series or quite frankly the first half of this instalment. My grumbles about ‘My Brilliant Friend’ still persist here. Often sentences are still way too long and I don’t know if it’s the translation, but at times it’s written in a way that makes it frustratingly hard to understand. But I think I’m finally starting to understand what all the fuss is about. It’s kind of mundane but at the same time fascinating. The characters in this book made me sooo ANGRY to the point where it was hard to read. The men are pigs, Lila is a spiteful little shrew and Lenu came across rather bland, acting without a shred of logical thought. It’s all so messy and intriguing. I would not say this book is a page-turner by any means but I find myself wondering where the tale will take us to next.