Comment

Jan 20, 2019SPL_Brittany rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I had really high hopes for this book given how enthusiatic the reviews were for this series. This novel is told in a leisurely pace, perhaps to allow you to get to really know the characters as the reader follows their journey. Ferrante writes a character driven novel where you really felt that you got to know each character and their relationships with each other in the close knit Italian district. If you like novels that focus on small towns and their dynamics, this novel fits the bill. Also, the author does a great job of creating a sense of place, where Italy becomes a second character, you can feel the grit and struggle of the people in this small district of Naples, and feel that if you were dropped into the novel, you would be familiar with its landscape. However, despite my enjoyment of these two qualities of her novel, it wasn't the book choice for me, the pace was too slow, and I couldn't connect to any of the characters. There is much room for discussion in terms of relationships between the characters and the choices they make as the age, so I can see this being popular with book clubs. I don't know if I will continue reading the series, however I am interested in seeing how it translates on television.