by Sue,
I have never had a book
recommended by so many friends. It is the first in a series that
explores the friendship between the narrator, Elena, and Lila. Set in
Naples and translated from Italian, it should provide insights into a
different culture and is, according to the blurb on the back of the book
‘ . . . the truest evocation of a complex and lifelong relationship
between women . . . ’
Clearly, then, our first
questions must centre around friendship. Do we agree that it is a
wonderful exploration of female friendship? Do we think there’s a
material difference between the friendships of men and those of women?
And, given this takes place in Italy, are there cultural differences in
the way friendships are made and develop?
As if a study of friendship
were not enough, it is also claimed Ferrante ‘ . . . gives her readers
the story of a neighbourhood, a city, and a country undergoing momentous
change.’ Does she?
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteHow are you both? Have the fruit trees survived predicted torrential rain, Nancy? Have you had the kayak out or are you waiting for the summer? Incredible to think Benjamin has completed a year at school, Katie. Frightening, in fact. I wonder where Lillian’s communicative skills originated?! We have decided to go to Scotland for a couple of weeks in July: Glasgow, Edinburg and then Thurso in the far north. Never been to any of these places. About time I got to know my own island a little bit better.
Ms. Ferrante certainly knows Naples and its history. Her control of the community she describes is remarkable. I was very grateful for the index of characters, and admired the dexterity with which the author utilized this very large list. The developing relationships between these people over the novel’s timeframe were fascinating, as indeed were the changes in the community. Ferrante even mentions shifts in language use. So, I did get a sense of a community undergoing considerable change.
Nevertheless, perhaps inevitably after such a build-up to the novel, I was a little disappointed. This could have been the translation. Very long sentences either slowed things down or crammed in too much information. (Given my monolingual status, I shouldn’t be criticizing.) Perhaps, too, the bickering, violence and abuse in this male dominated society were so realistically presented, and so pervasive, that the novel became oppressive reading.
Friendships between men seem to depend on family status and business but they are not described in any detail. The novel’s main concern, the friendship between Lila and Elena, was wonderfully developed through its many stages. Unfortunately, I found Lila very irritating. She’s a marvelously portrayed character whom I’d thoroughly dislike if I met. This does not reflect well on me. She’s a born rebel, constantly frustrated. We leave her as a teenager, probably about to be abused, having already been denied any other means of advancement other than marriage. I should admire and sympathise with her. We can’t all be like Elena and just get on with it.
All the same, I don’t think I’ll be reading about how Elena gets on with the rest of her life. One feels Lila will interfere with it enormously. There’ll be way too much detail for me.
Hello to you both!
ReplyDeleteThings here are well. We have a little beach vacation coming up in a few weeks but otherwise things are pretty quite here.
Your vacation plans sound exciting Sue! If you've taken the kayak out already, I'm sure you've also had some good adventures Nancy. My mother is currently in Greece so I'm a tad jealous of everyone's exciting travels. But the beach trip will be a nice change of pace and the children will be thrilled.
I spend most of my time with this month's book just a bit curious as to what was going to happen. I neither loved it nor hated it. The amount of violence was a bit distressing and seemed to have no resolve in sight. I didn't care much for Lila either. This is surprising to me. Typically I like a heroine who is stubborn and strong-willed. I did appreciate her persistence against Marcello's love. But it does seem a bit wasted when she settles for Stefano.
In regard to your questions about friendship, I don't think we can discern a difference between male and female friendships. As we exclusively looked at Lila and Elena, there was little we could compare it to despite the friendships of Reno and Pasquale or Enzo and Antonio. Maybe if we had read from one of the male perspectives for a bit, we would have seen a difference. The friendship between Elena and Lila was very competitive. I can't recall ever having a friendship where I sought so thoroughly to best someone else. I don't know if this is typical of female friendships ( I was never a part of the "cool" crowd, HA!)
Do either of you think that Elena's education will "save" her from the neighborhood? Over the summer breaks, Elena's mother tried to get her work but it seemed that no one cared about how educated she was. It makes me wonder if there were not many options for young women at this time in Italy. I am mildly curious to find out what becomes of Elena and Lila. If my library carries the next book, I may borrow it and satiate that curiosity.
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you both have some fun holidays coming up. Katie, where are the beaches near you? How cold is the water? I hope you all have a wonderful time, being on the beach with my children is one of my favourite memories.
Sue, hope you have fun in Scotland, it is such a beautiful place, I loved it there.
I have spent the last two weeks in Melbourne apartment hunting and basically eating my way around the city. Melbourne is an amazing place but incredibly more if you love food!! We have had the kayak out on a few adventures it is so much fun. Winter is the best time here because it’s not too hot and you can paddle comfortably. By the time Summer comes it will be too hot and the sun will burn me to a crisp, so only dusk or dawn paddles then.
I found I was a little disappointed with our novel this month. I was waiting to be blown away and I wasn’t. I feel you’re right Sue, and perhaps it was lost in translation. I expected to feel more passion, instead I found myself waiting. While the violence, I agree Katie was distressing I still felt distanced from it.
Lila was such an interesting character and I did like her more than Elena. I liked her courage and could feel her frustrations living in her limiting world.
I find the friendships formed when we are children are so interesting. They seem to have such a deep connection with us that we allow all sorts of transgressions to go by unchallenged.
Some of my oldest friendships are with women who if I met them today we would have nothing in common, and yet our shared childhoods and memories has formed unbreakable bonds. They are still the first women I call when something big is going on.
So friendships is such an interesting subject and one we really haven’t touched on all that much.
I don’t think I’ll read the rest of the trilogy, although perhaps we could include a series or trilogy in our reading list soon.
Shall I put up our new titles?
Katie are you happy with them, would you like to add?
I hope you both have great holidays, much love to you
regards Nancy