The Lying Life of Adults; Elena Ferrante
Random House Audio - Europa - 2020
It's the 1990s when 12 year old Giovanna, an only child, overhears her father tell her mother, that she is getting the ugly face of his sister Vittoria. The comment shocks her and is more than she can bear, Who is this Aunt Vittoria and why have they never even met? Why doesn't her father speak to his own sister? Giovanna becomes obsessed with finding out more about her ugly aunt. When her parents see that she has found the aunt's number in an old address book, they encourage her to look her up.
Giovanna and her well-educated professor parents live in a more affluent area of Naples. Vittoria lives in a lower class, industrial area. Her apartment is filthy, she's rough around the edges yet she is very welcoming and even insists on squeezing fresh oranges for juice for her niece. Over a period of time Giovanna learns much about her aunt, even about her dead former lover, Enzo. She even gets to know Enzo's adult children in the process. Vittoria pulls no punches, not only does she teach Giovanna about the importance of loving her body and the powers it possesses, she also tells her a few things about her father and instructs her to watch, rather spy on, her own parents as well. She learns a few disturbing things in the process including the fact that their marriage is on shaky grounds.
With familiar themes, as in earlier Ferrante novels like, social class, relationships, self-doubt, womanhood and sexual awakening, I was disappointed that this story lacked a real plot line. I also did not care for how abusive some of the male characters had been crafted. There were some blunt sex scenes inserted as well which seemed unnecessary. I do expected that Giovanna will reappear in another novel in the future.
The audio book was read by Marisa Tomei and even though she did a terrific job, overall, I didn't really care for this one.
Rating 3/5 stars
I appreciate your review and will skip this book. I could not finish her first book in the trilogy that was a best seller.
ReplyDeleteIt really doesn't sound all that good but you saved us all some listening time!
ReplyDeleteI have this one in my reading queue and have been looking forward to reading it. I'm sorry that you found it disappointing.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. I enjoyed Ferrante's previous books (whoever she really is). I was hoping that this one would be as good. It sure doesn't sound like it is.
ReplyDeleteThe second "meh" review I've read of this. Ah, well.
ReplyDeleteI tried to get into the first of the Neapolitan series, but couldn't listen for very long. I keep thinking I'll try it in print, but I'm just not all that interested. I'll definitely skip this one!
ReplyDeleteOh you are the first review I've seen .... so perhaps I can skip this one ... as perhaps I'd feel as you did.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your review, Diane. I'm sorry the book was not for you. I might try it anyway because I loved the Quartet.
ReplyDeleteThis author's previous works always catch my eye but the cover choices are so weird that I put them right back down again. This one is not speaking to me either.
ReplyDeleteYour first paragraph seemed full of promise :(
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