I really, really tried to love the series as much as everyone else but ultimately I just couldn’t buy that Elena would continue to let Lila have such an important role in her life as she did.
Please, would you explain what you meant when you referred to Home and Away? Is it the title of a novel or simply an expression? Also, I found the final volume distressing. Felt totally let down by Elena and dumbfounded by Lila. In fact, I think that what I enjoyed the most throughout the trilogy was the Ferrante’s description of the girls’ Neopolitan neighborhood. Fascinating but depressing!
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Home and Away is an Australian soap opera! There’s always lots of romances and relationships between the people of one very small town (known as Summer Bay) and like any soap opera, there’s a few other dramas – car accidents, people getting murdered, mysteries. This third book of Ferrante’s seemed to have more of those melodramatic plot elements.
The only thing I enjoyed about the books was the sense of place – best done in the first book. I thought Elena’s relationship with Lila in the second book was believable and interesting but I just didn’t think that Elena, who is meant to be a smart woman, would continue to allow herself to be taken advantage of by Lila.
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Love it! I’m putting my head above the parapet to say that I’ve failed to understand why Ferrante fever took such a hold.
I read her standalone novel, The Lost Daughter, a few years ago and enjoyed it. But honestly, after 1400 pages of navel-gazing, I’m also wondering why Ferrante fever is a thing (do wonder how much can be attributed to her anonymity…).
The earworm is now fully established for the day 😀
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Achievement unlocked.
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Completely unrelated to Ferrante but I think the theme song from Home and Away might be the sound of my childhood 😀. I’ll bring singing it for the rest of the day!
Enjoy this clip – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IzdV0gJS3U (all the opening credits from 1988 to 1999). I think I was obsessed with Home & Away in the mid-80s (also Neighbours and E-Street).
I really should have listened to my instincts and stopped after the first one. I’m relying on someone in the blogosphere to have read the fourth book, so that they can give me the conclusion in a hundred words or less!
I read & reviewed all 4 Kate. It was a love/hate experience. I nearly threw book 3 across the room several times.
My review doesn’t reveal all, but it might help you get closure 😊
I’ve seen this book series everywhere (at least you have somewhat decent covers though — the US ones are horrid) but I’ve never quite felt intrigued enough to pick them up. Looks like I made the right decision. haha
The US covers are truly horrendous (why would they do that?!).
I stupidly bought the first three books on the strength of all the rave reviews, so felt compelled to read them.
Yup. I really enjoyed the first one, but I’m well over Ferrante Fever now…
I thought the second was the strongest. Hopefully someone I know reads the final book and can tell me what happens.
On the contrary, I truly enjoyed each volume of the trilogy.
I really, really tried to love the series as much as everyone else but ultimately I just couldn’t buy that Elena would continue to let Lila have such an important role in her life as she did.
Please, would you explain what you meant when you referred to Home and Away? Is it the title of a novel or simply an expression? Also, I found the final volume distressing. Felt totally let down by Elena and dumbfounded by Lila. In fact, I think that what I enjoyed the most throughout the trilogy was the Ferrante’s description of the girls’ Neopolitan neighborhood. Fascinating but depressing!
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera! There’s always lots of romances and relationships between the people of one very small town (known as Summer Bay) and like any soap opera, there’s a few other dramas – car accidents, people getting murdered, mysteries. This third book of Ferrante’s seemed to have more of those melodramatic plot elements.
The only thing I enjoyed about the books was the sense of place – best done in the first book. I thought Elena’s relationship with Lila in the second book was believable and interesting but I just didn’t think that Elena, who is meant to be a smart woman, would continue to allow herself to be taken advantage of by Lila.
Love it! I’m putting my head above the parapet to say that I’ve failed to understand why Ferrante fever took such a hold.
I read her standalone novel, The Lost Daughter, a few years ago and enjoyed it. But honestly, after 1400 pages of navel-gazing, I’m also wondering why Ferrante fever is a thing (do wonder how much can be attributed to her anonymity…).
That’s an interesting point, given the recent unmasking – although I felt that was unwarranted.
Same. I figure if someone has gone to great lengths to remain anonymous, let them stay that way.
Haha! And now I have the H&A theme tune stuck in my head, despite not having watched an episode since I was about 14…
Don’t say I never do anything for you 😉 ….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IzdV0gJS3U
The earworm is now fully established for the day 😀
Achievement unlocked.
Completely unrelated to Ferrante but I think the theme song from Home and Away might be the sound of my childhood 😀. I’ll bring singing it for the rest of the day!
Enjoy this clip – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IzdV0gJS3U (all the opening credits from 1988 to 1999). I think I was obsessed with Home & Away in the mid-80s (also Neighbours and E-Street).
Lol. I read the first (for my book group) but that was me done with Ferrante.
I really should have listened to my instincts and stopped after the first one. I’m relying on someone in the blogosphere to have read the fourth book, so that they can give me the conclusion in a hundred words or less!
I read & reviewed all 4 Kate. It was a love/hate experience. I nearly threw book 3 across the room several times.
My review doesn’t reveal all, but it might help you get closure 😊
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/the-story-of-lost-child-by-elena.html?m=1
I’ve seen this book series everywhere (at least you have somewhat decent covers though — the US ones are horrid) but I’ve never quite felt intrigued enough to pick them up. Looks like I made the right decision. haha
The US covers are truly horrendous (why would they do that?!).
I stupidly bought the first three books on the strength of all the rave reviews, so felt compelled to read them.
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