The Story of a New Name: Neapolitan Novels, Book Two | 
Inside was the struggle to leave her, the old conviction that without her nothing truly important would ever happen to me, and yet I felt the need to get away . . . Her life had overwhelmed me and it took days for me to restore clear outlines and depth to mine.
pickThis is the story of the early adult years of this friendship, the epitome of a love-hate relationship. The nature of the relationship vacillates from one extreme to another. The proclaimed writer of the story, so far, one of the two friends, is named Elena. I can‘t help but believe that this is her true story of a life with Lia. The emotional intensity and astute observations regarding human nature in these novels are amazing & unforgettable. 4/5
so-soLenu strives and studies, fed by a hunger to be perceive well. Lina, in contrast, hurls herself to get what she wants with a “I will burn it all to the ground if I need to” air but without the “you just watch” footnote. She abandons all care for what others think. She garners respect, even if you can‘t like her. While you know you should be cheering Lenu‘s carefully crafted accomplishments, instead you are watching for what Lila will do next.
Sadly, I think the friend(?) who I was supposedly buddy reading Elena Ferrante with is ghosting me. She went ahead and finished all the books in the series though before I finished the second one. I have texted and called her to apologize. I‘m so shocked. I hope she‘s Ok though. (Sigh)
Ha! Interesting title for this post. My friend Buddy Reading these books with me and I think she is the character “Elena” in these novels. I cannot conceive that this can be a fictionalized relationship. #Bibliophile #AuthorWPseudonym
The story is that I am trying to catch up with my friend (Buddy Read). She could not stop reading and finished all 4 novels in the Quartet. The relationship between the protagonists (two) is … I don‘t even know what to say. Elena Ferrante is anonymous. I betcha she is writing a story about her own friendship. I don‘t even think one of the greatest authors can make this stuff up. It‘s the epitome of a love/hate relationship. (This is Book Two)
Well, I seldom if ever read two books at once. But, I was doing a buddy read of “My Brilliant Friend” (Book 1) and before we even discussed the book, she could not wait and started reading this one. We will see how this goes with “Les Miserables”. (Back into my reading for sure in 2025).
pick7-12 Sep 24 (audiobook)
I am loving revisiting this series on audiobook.
The second book sees Lila in a violent, unhappy marriage and Lenu departing Naples for university. I am again very emotionally involved with the characters, hoping that Lenu‘s focus on education will ultimately triumph, even whilst conceding that is often not the case in life. The depiction of female friendship -competitive, bitter at times- rings particularly true for me.
pickOof, there is so much going on here, and so much of it is pretty disturbing. What an utter mess Lila is in. The violence, misogyny and lack of hope and opportunity in the neighbourhood becomes even more clear as the girls become women, and it‘s no wonder Lenu wants to escape, but her path out is far from smooth. Another brilliant, vividly written book in the series.
1) Book two from The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante
2) I did all my traveling over the past two months! I'm staying home 🏡
3) My family and our health
#WondrousWednesday @Eggs
pickSurpassing the first book of the Neapolitan novels, the second book introduces us to the two protagonists who are now coming of age: one trapped in a loveless abusive marriage as she tries to find small comforts and the other in pursuit of academic success and social approval. Incredibly layered and nuanced, we experience the ups and downs of their friendship with them. Can‘t wait to pick up the next in the series!
Day shift reading…if there‘s time.
pickAs with book 1 of the Neopolitan novels, Elena Ferrante's writing drew me in immediately and I devoured the majority of this volume in a day. I'm definitely looking forward to continuing with the story.
Well, I finally remembered (when I was in between books) that I wanted to continue on with this series.
Why did I wait so long? I‘m about 100 pages in and right back in Naples with Elena and Lila. 👍
pickI was surprised I liked this one just as much if not more than the first book.
pickYou heard of “Bieber fever,” like for Justin Bieber fans? I guess I have Ferrante fever. But seriously this was such a gratifying reread. The beach episode had stayed with me, but for the most part I had forgot how it really went down. One great thing about this series is how political it gets, with the political ideas being ramped up since they‘re no longer children. Anyway these are such a nice blend of the literary and entertaining.
Now book two is sweeping me away. I just want to read all of Ferrante‘s books, from the Neapolitan novels and beyond.
pickIt‘s been more than 4 years since I read My Brilliant Friend, but I finally got to the second book… and I‘m wondering why it took me so long.
Masterfully written and just completely absorbing, with some of the most complicated characters I‘ve read in a long time. I didn‘t want to do much of anything until I had finished, and I don‘t think I will wait nearly as long to read the third book. 😉
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My #Booked2021 #CharactersAreFrenemies book
These books are so, so good…
But I‘m starting to wonder if I‘m supposed to hate Lila with the heat of a thousand suns or if I‘m just doing this wrong?
Because I didn‘t really like child Lila, and I really, really don‘t like ‘grown up‘ married teenager Lila. Ugh.
😬
Squeezing in my #BookReport for October before November is over! I managed to read a lot of books in October. I also read a lot of really good books in October! A good reading month!
@Cinfhen
pick5 Extra Big ⭐s!
I love Elena Ferrante's writing and I love this second book in her Neapolitan series. I've never come across what I think is a more realistic depiction of female friendship and now in this book, transition from girlhood to adult.
I think I've been waiting to read this because once I start reading a literally can't stop and once I've read all the books then I won't have them to read for the first time anymore!
Late with my #bookspin again! But I am excited about this month's #bookspin and #doublespin selections. Both long books again; same as last month and I only got through one of those. But given the way I tore through My Brilliant Friend, I don't think it will take long to get through The Story of a New Name. And Stephen King also reads fast! Fingers crossed I think I might be able to finish them both!
@TheAromaofBooks
Heading back to California today, got a long day of flying ahead of me. Happy to have been able to spend time with my family for the week, but also very ready to get back to my home.
pickA good follow up to My Brilliant Friend. Here the relationship between Lila and Lena grows more complicated as their lives shift from childhood into adulthood. 4⭐️
pickThe Story Of A New Name picks up after My Brilliant Friend left off in 1966. Lila is a newlywed, and Lena is continuing her studies, exploring the world beyond the neighbourhood of their childhoods. Despite their diverging paths, their complex and evolving bond continues. It felt like picking up where I‘d left off with old friends. Ferrante is just SO GOOD! Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/the-story-of-a-new-name-elena-ferrante/
pickI have such mixed feelings about this series of books. Beautiful in its writing but such a soap opera. The growth of the women and the awakening to the misogynist society that they are growing up in keeps me reading. I am compelled to finish the series. My cousin was right ...I did enjoy this book more than the first. 4 🌟
-The beach scenes in the tagged book!
-The Library where I work got power back, so we could actually open on Monday
- I was obsessed with the song “Drunk Driver/Killer Whales” by Car Seat Headrest during the last summer that I actually had long summer break (2016 - had all of June off when I was between jobs and spent a lot of it taking little road trips and listening to music)
Thanks for the tag @katy4peas
I‘ll tag @Tanisha_A and @AnneCecilie
pickBook #2 does not disappoint. Two lives going in different directions but bound together inextricably.
#WondrousWednesday @Eggs
1. Heathcliff and Catherine from Wuthering Heights! Specially Cathy, quite an atypical heroine.
2. Absolutely hate books that have women being sexually assaulted as a motive for the male protagonist's development. Or when it's just used for shock value.
3. Tagged book!!
pickWOW! I absolutely loved this book! There is a constant tension that runs through this book that kept me hooked. The author delves into the darker side of friendships and relationships. The manipulation and occasional cruelty put me on edge. The writing is truly sublime. It doesn‘t come across as forced or pretentious and just flows naturally. Which nicely echoes in the setting of Naples of the 1960s. It is what it is, complex and yet accessible.
I read book 1 of this series a few years ago and loved it. I‘m now on page 206 of book 2 and I am loving it too. The writing is wonderful.
I went to the library book sale. These happened. Again...will no one stop me from my own sheer madness? 📚😱
