2 reactions
Neapolitan Novels
So...I had a thing for this girl who said she loved coming of age novels--bildungsromans. This oeuvre was her favourite. A bit later, by the third drink or so, she guiltily confided to me that she just couldn't get into Ferrante, even though all her friends were into it. The mother of all 21st century bildungsromans.
Anyway, reading it in English translation. It reads a bit like 100 Years of Solitude, minus the magic. The prose is quick, bantering, the ideas move around like hummingbirds but always cleave to the central narrative. So far, almost halfway through book 2, The Story of a New Name, it's very enjoyable. The characters are people I've seen in my own Neapolitan neighbourhood from my childhood! Even though I've never been to Naples and grew up in a Canadian suburb. The relationships are so universal that Ferrante called me out on what I thought were private experiences but turn out to be universal ones. I haven't read reviews or anything, haven't spoken to that girl in years, but oh boy, I sure am loving it!
If I'm being completely honest, there are a lot of background characters who, like familiar neighbourhood strangers, I'm having a hard time keeping track of. And that might be part of the gist of the book. Anyway, would love to talk about it if anyone's interested.
So...I had a thing for this girl who said she loved coming of age novels--bildungsromans. This oeuvre was her favourite. A bit later, by the third drink or so, she guiltily confided to me that she just couldn't get into Ferrante, even though all her friends were into it. The mother of all 21st century bildungsromans.
Anyway, reading it in English translation. It reads a bit like 100 Years of Solitude, minus the magic. The prose is quick, bantering, the ideas move around like hummingbirds but always cleave to the central narrative. So far, almost halfway through book 2, The Story of a New Name, it's very enjoyable. The characters are people I've seen in my own Neapolitan neighbourhood from my childhood! Even though I've never been to Naples and grew up in a Canadian suburb. The relationships are so universal that Ferrante called me out on what I thought were private experiences but turn out to be universal ones. I haven't read reviews or anything, haven't spoken to that girl in years, but oh boy, I sure am loving it!
If I'm being completely honest, there are a lot of background characters who, like familiar neighbourhood strangers, I'm having a hard time keeping track of. And that might be part of the gist of the book. Anyway, would love to talk about it if anyone's interested.
| 12,000 mlx | |
| 34 | |
| 2 |