Book Review: The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

It seems like only a short while ago that I was posting the review of the first book of this series. When I start thinking about this, I feel like it has been a while since I read an actual series. As I am sitting down to write this post, I still have the last book left. I’m quite far behind in my review posts. Nevertheless, here it is:

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante picks up right where My Brilliant Friend left off. The series is meant to take place over a lifetime, so this is not a surprise. It is actually quite nice to know where the storyline will pick up. This novel focuses more on Lenu’s character as she starts to mature. However, the violence, jealousy, and betrayal that tore through the pages of the last novel are still prevalent in this one. Lila and Lenu’s lives are mirrored through a series of violence and control that ultimately leads to some kind of unravelling of the character’s state. Their lives cannot be torn away from each other. We see Lila become an unstable victim of circumstance as the book takes a dark turn. We see how pervasive dissatisfaction is around the neighbourhoods. We see Lenu become stronger as she learns from Lila’s mistakes. The novel moves away from violence and towards scandal. Ultimately, the truth is that there is no way for anyone to detach themselves from Naples and their dark past. 

The writing is consistent from the last novel, much like the themes that take place. The one thing that stood out to me was Lenu as a narrator in this story. I mentioned last time that it was interesting to have her moments of clarity as an adult looking back. In this novel, Lenu feels so far from the adult world. As a narrator, she is naïve and I think that’s why the drama in certain scenes feel more like a soap opera than anything else. I think Ferrante has a talent of reflecting on the way naïve, young adults would think. However, something else that stood out to me with Lenu as narrator is the fact that the story about her is so short. Her life in university is reduced to only a few pages. I would have liked to know more about her development there. Something that is different from the last novel is the more “adult” themes. There were certain moments where I was genuinely disgusted with what was going on. On a small, fonal not, this novel does end on a cliff-hanger, so be prepared for that.

 I liked the focus on Lenu’s character. Really, this is supposed to be Lenu writing about Lila, but it is clear that it is about herself and how she grows up. It’s about Lenu finding her voice. Lila has waves of character where she is the most vibrant and clever when her brain is stimulated. Lila was supposed to be the successful one but success is called into question when it is Lenu who makes a name for herself. What becomes clear is that Lenu’s life, on reflection, seems to be better when she is living in the shadow of something else. If it is not Lenu, it is her boyfriends in university. As two friends take different paths, it is fascinating to track their lives. I give this book 3/5. It is the largest book in the series, and I think a lot of it could be reduced. I still love the writing, but the same themes are dragging on. Where it gains points is the ending that certainly plants seeds for the next book.