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What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Original poster

Elena Ferrante

20 replies

Chickenpie9 · 06/08/2019 20:17

Totally obsessed with the Neapolitan Novels at the moment . What do other MN think of these ? I get so angry at Lenus obsession with Nino when he’s just such an unlikeable character find Lila fascinating but can be really horrible .

OP posts:

TonTonMacoute · 07/08/2019 14:06

I struggled to finish the first one, I'm afraid. I thought all of them were pretty horrible, and just couldn't warm to any of the characters at all.

Portulaca · 07/08/2019 14:48

I tried twice to read the first one. Couldn't get into it. Hated it and all the characters in it. Couldn't understand what everyone was seeing in it.

Pipandmum · 07/08/2019 14:51

I read them to complete the series but found them overated to be honest.

AgentProvocateur · 07/08/2019 14:53

I couldn’t get into them either. So overhyped and I didn’t rate the writing or find any of the characters likeable or relatable to.

butterwithtoast · 07/08/2019 15:00

Well I'm with you OP, I loved these books. How far through are you? And yes, Nino is the worst.

butterwithtoast · 07/08/2019 15:04

Oh and all the character flaws are what makes it so gripping! They are some of the most complex characters I've ever read. I just loved the detail put into Lena's world. Might actually go back and reread them now thinking about it.

Cornishblues · 07/08/2019 20:13

I read the series too, it was more a kind of settling into the world rather than being gripped by them but they have stayed with me. Almost surprised myself each time I got hold of the next book. I enjoyed the television series too, on the same basis, it’s beautifully done, and accorded so well with the experience of reading the book even though I could never in a million years have visualised it. Agree her infatuation with Nino is infuriating, and the richness is so much in the ebb and flow between the characters and the friendship/power play between Lenu and Lila.

WipeYourFeetOnTheRhythmRug · 07/08/2019 20:16

I couldn’t get into the first one, I didn’t like the writing style at all.

Kilash · 07/08/2019 20:19

I'm in the 'loved them' camp. I agree, it's a slow submersion into their world . Fantastically flawed and very human

Original poster

Chickenpie9 · 07/08/2019 23:30

I’ve read them all then halfway through the television adaptation which I’m really enjoying also . At first I couldn’t warm to the style of writing at all but I think once I did I almost became addicted to the books rushing out to buy 3 and 4 after staying up all night reading the second one .
I don’t particularly like the turn of events after the third book and I agree the characters are flawed but in a way that’s what makes the story twist and turn so much .There is definitely something about Lila that makes me want to read more about her though than any of the others . I can’t wait to see the second series of the television adaptation as the first one was done so well but I am not sure that the third and fourth books would be quite as easy to adapt .

OP posts:

TonTonMacoute · 08/08/2019 15:12

They did a radio adaptation too. I did give it a try, but still couldn't get into it.

The really seem to be a Marmite set of books. You either love them or hate them. Interesting.

Springfern · 09/08/2019 13:56

I'm with you OP. I was addicted to these books. My friend bought me the 1st for my bday and we joke that it was a present that cost ME 25 quid as I had to rush out immediately to buy the 2nd 3rd and 4th.

You might enjoy this...
fuckninosarratore.tumblr.com

Original poster

Chickenpie9 · 09/08/2019 17:34

That page looks good ! I really like the actor who plays Marcello in the tv version just a shame his character is pretty awful . I keep wanting to find another series of books which grips me the same way .

OP posts:

Vasya · 09/08/2019 17:36

Some of my favourite novels I've ever read. I would get so absorbed in them that after literally hours I would suddenly realise the room had gone dark and I was desperate to pee.

The final one is truly devastating, I still haunt myself with what could have happened.

ShakeItOff2000 · 11/08/2019 19:44

I love The Neopolitan Novels too, especially books 2 and 3. Flawed characters, yes, but that’s humans for you. Long flowing sentences that immerse you in their world. Excellent.

AnneKipanki · 12/08/2019 13:52

Read number one . Hated it.

Spidey66 · 16/08/2019 14:11

I'm in the Hate camp too....read My Brilliant Friend for a book club but struggled with it.

Gone2far · 16/08/2019 20:28

Didn't get what the fuss was about. Totally overhyped

Stealthfart · 23/08/2019 18:54

They were recommended to me by a good friend with similar tastes. Had to ditch mid first episode for the simple reason it had too many characters and I couldn’t digest any of them.

Blueboxgreenbox · 24/08/2019 17:51

Read the first two books and loved them, but then read so much about the whole set of books - the author, the characters, the setting (I’m looking at you, The Guardian ), pretty much found out how the story continues in the third and fourth books and it has put me off reading them. So yeah, overhyped comes to mind, but more in the sense of overexposure than overvalued.

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