A few weeks ago I asked for book recommendations on Instagram and a few people recommended Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels. This wasn’t the first time I got these books recommended to me. To be honest, even after being recommended these books by friends of mine who’s taste in books I really trust, I haven’t felt drawn to it. The description of the books just never sounded that amazing to me. But boy was I wrong, this turned out to be maybe my absolute favorite books read. And still, when I’m trying to describe the books to friends, I find it hard to give the books justice. They are so good, but it is challenging to explain why.
I am currently about to finish the third book, so I can’t truly speak for the whole series. However, I highly doubt that the next book will leave me disappointed. The novels are a story about the life and relationship between two girls from Naples, Italy. The first book starts off with the main character, Elena, finding out that her friend Lila has gone missing. She then starts telling the story of their lives. It’s a story about friendship and power, about the struggle to try to get away from poverty and change your life destiny. I think the struggle to find words to describe what the book is about is because it is not built on one big event and storyline, but rather many shorter ones, which at first makes it hard to see what’s holding it together. But the more you read you will see that all these small events are important, and what’s holding them together is the very complex relationship between these two girls.
As I’m usually reading many mystery and crime books, I am fascinated with the fact that this book has me hooked even though there is no big event that leads you through the story. But I find that this book is like following a friend, you get to know every aspect of Elena’s life and what may seem like the smallest event is actually extremely exciting and important. When Elena is in pain, I am in pain, when she is happy, I am happy etc. Whenever I’m not reading, I’m still thinking about the book. And although the book is filled with violence and poverty, It really has me wanting to go to Naples. The situation for Elena and Lila is horrible at times, but I still wish I was there with them.
I love reading, I love getting to be drawn into another world for a while. And this story is just something else. I carry these character with me like they are family. Right now during isolation, this has really been my way of traveling. I’ve really been in Naples, I’ve been to Pisa and I’ve been to Ischia. But not only that, I have been growing up in the 50’s and I’ve been poor and oppressed, I’ve been in love and I’ve been heartbroken. It’s been quite a ride.
The only downside with taking on these books is that I don’t want them to end. I cannot stop reading, but I’m dreading the end. I don’t know what to do once I finish the last book. I am already googling, trying to find good books to cure my Elena Ferrante addiction.
