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The Beach at Night
Elena Ferrante returns to a story that animated the novel she considers to be a turning point in her development as a a writer: "The Lost Daughter." But this time the tale takes the form of a children's fable told from the point of view of the lost (stolen!) doll, Celina. Celina is having a terrible night, one full of jealousy for the new kitten, Minu, feelings of abandonment and sadness, misadventures at the hands of the beach attendant, and dark dreams. But she will be happily found by Mati, her child, once the sun rises.
Accompanied by the oneiric illustrations of Mara Cerri, "The Beach at Night" is a story for all of Ferrante's many ardent fans."
Accompanied by the oneiric illustrations of Mara Cerri, "The Beach at Night" is a story for all of Ferrante's many ardent fans."
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
93 people are currently reading
2766 people want to read
About the author
Elena Ferrante
39 books19.5k followersElena Ferrante is a pseudonymous Italian novelist. Ferrante's books, originally published in Italian, have been translated into many languages. Her four-book series of Neapolitan Novels are her most widely known works.
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December 14, 2025
NON TUTTE LE CIAMBELLE RIESCONO COL BUCO
Mara Cerri: A una stella cadente. Orecchio Acerbo Editore.
Il tema dell’abbandono affrontato e raccontato ad altezza sguardo di bambini.
Non ho mai amato le fiabe.
E non riesco a cominciare adesso, da questa.
Per quanto descritta come fiaba nera, a me non sembra genere nel registro di Ferrante: non mi pare adatta ai bambini – e mi chiedo cosa se ne facciano gli adulti di una favoletta nera.
Un’altra illustrazione di Mara Cerri dal suo “A una stella cadente”.
Mi sembra anche che la ben nota assenza di ironia della misteriosa scrittrice qui si avverta più che mai.
Ma è vero, io non ho mai amato le fiabe.
Preferisco, senza se e senza ma, La figlia oscura, secondo me la migliore opera di Ferrante, quella che ha generato questo esperimento, a mio avviso, riuscito così così.
Le illustrazioni di Mara Cerri, invece, valgono al di là del giudizio sul testo, sono belle. Molto belle.
Mara Cerri: A una stella cadente. Orecchio Acerbo Editore.
Il tema dell’abbandono affrontato e raccontato ad altezza sguardo di bambini.
Non ho mai amato le fiabe.
E non riesco a cominciare adesso, da questa.
Per quanto descritta come fiaba nera, a me non sembra genere nel registro di Ferrante: non mi pare adatta ai bambini – e mi chiedo cosa se ne facciano gli adulti di una favoletta nera.
Un’altra illustrazione di Mara Cerri dal suo “A una stella cadente”.
Mi sembra anche che la ben nota assenza di ironia della misteriosa scrittrice qui si avverta più che mai.
Ma è vero, io non ho mai amato le fiabe.
Preferisco, senza se e senza ma, La figlia oscura, secondo me la migliore opera di Ferrante, quella che ha generato questo esperimento, a mio avviso, riuscito così così.
Le illustrazioni di Mara Cerri, invece, valgono al di là del giudizio sul testo, sono belle. Molto belle.
![Profile Image for s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1735525095i%2F6431467._UX200_CR0%2C11%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
December 12, 2023
‘How much will they give us for a doll’s name?’
Dolls and disappearances are a recurring theme throughout the works of Italian author Elena Ferrante. Her Neapolitan quartet opens with one of the central characters, Lila, having disappeared and then the narrator transports us back in time to an early memory playing dolls with Lila. Her novella, The Lost Daughter, centers around the disappearance of a doll, stolen by Leda who has spent her own life disappearing. In The Beach at Night, Ferrante crafts a brief fable of a doll accidentally left behind to face an ‘endless night on the beach’ surviving not only the natural elements like waves, storms and fire, but a dreadful beach attendant who steals the words from dolls and sells them for profit. Written as a children’s story this is easily just as enjoyable for adults, and the rather dark and surreal artwork by Mara Cerri is an excellent addition. This dark and gritty little tale is an abstract look at many of Ferrante’s key themes with a doll once again having a highly symbolic function around motherhood and the subjugation of women her characters are often attempting to escape.
While the names don’t match, The Beach at Night and the harrowing evening of Celina, the doll, seems akin to the separation of child and doll in Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter. Celina views Mati, the child who owns her, as a mother and when the Mean Beach Attendant tries to steal all her words to sell at the doll market, we learn that ‘mamma’ is the most valuable of her words. In The Lost Daughter, Leda observes how the care Nina and her child, Elena, give her doll is ‘the shining testimony of perfect motherhood,’ and just as The Beach at Night uses the doll to examine motherhood, the family’s relations to the doll incites Leda to reflect on her own flaws as a mother.
The extraction of her words is interesting, with the Beach Attendant asking ‘how many did your momma put inside you, eh?’ I was reminded of My Brilliant Friend where Lenu and Lila’s dolls act as a way for them to vocalize their inner fears and feelings by putting their own words in the “mouth” of their dolls, which is why dolls are often a way for children to practice social and emotional skills. However, by stealing the doll’s words, the Beach Attendant is essentially robbing not only the doll but Mati’s emotional outlet, by taking the doll’s name he is symbolically taking Mati’s identity. It is similar to the way Leda stealing Elena’s doll is her way of trying to symbolically steal Nina’s connection with her daughter that Leda lacks with her own. Though this idea of men trying to steal the life, creativity and livelihoods of women arcs through all her works.
As a side note, Elena Ferrante is a pseudonym through which the author passes her words to the world—is “Elena Ferrante” perhaps, a sort of doll as well?
The Beach at Night is a strange little book but hits some excellent themes that makes one think about Ferrante’s works as a whole. Creepy, gritty, but abstractly insightful, it was a fun romp through Ferrante’s lovely mind.
3.5/5
Dolls and disappearances are a recurring theme throughout the works of Italian author Elena Ferrante. Her Neapolitan quartet opens with one of the central characters, Lila, having disappeared and then the narrator transports us back in time to an early memory playing dolls with Lila. Her novella, The Lost Daughter, centers around the disappearance of a doll, stolen by Leda who has spent her own life disappearing. In The Beach at Night, Ferrante crafts a brief fable of a doll accidentally left behind to face an ‘endless night on the beach’ surviving not only the natural elements like waves, storms and fire, but a dreadful beach attendant who steals the words from dolls and sells them for profit. Written as a children’s story this is easily just as enjoyable for adults, and the rather dark and surreal artwork by Mara Cerri is an excellent addition. This dark and gritty little tale is an abstract look at many of Ferrante’s key themes with a doll once again having a highly symbolic function around motherhood and the subjugation of women her characters are often attempting to escape.
While the names don’t match, The Beach at Night and the harrowing evening of Celina, the doll, seems akin to the separation of child and doll in Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter. Celina views Mati, the child who owns her, as a mother and when the Mean Beach Attendant tries to steal all her words to sell at the doll market, we learn that ‘mamma’ is the most valuable of her words. In The Lost Daughter, Leda observes how the care Nina and her child, Elena, give her doll is ‘the shining testimony of perfect motherhood,’ and just as The Beach at Night uses the doll to examine motherhood, the family’s relations to the doll incites Leda to reflect on her own flaws as a mother.
The extraction of her words is interesting, with the Beach Attendant asking ‘how many did your momma put inside you, eh?’ I was reminded of My Brilliant Friend where Lenu and Lila’s dolls act as a way for them to vocalize their inner fears and feelings by putting their own words in the “mouth” of their dolls, which is why dolls are often a way for children to practice social and emotional skills. However, by stealing the doll’s words, the Beach Attendant is essentially robbing not only the doll but Mati’s emotional outlet, by taking the doll’s name he is symbolically taking Mati’s identity. It is similar to the way Leda stealing Elena’s doll is her way of trying to symbolically steal Nina’s connection with her daughter that Leda lacks with her own. Though this idea of men trying to steal the life, creativity and livelihoods of women arcs through all her works.
As a side note, Elena Ferrante is a pseudonym through which the author passes her words to the world—is “Elena Ferrante” perhaps, a sort of doll as well?
The Beach at Night is a strange little book but hits some excellent themes that makes one think about Ferrante’s works as a whole. Creepy, gritty, but abstractly insightful, it was a fun romp through Ferrante’s lovely mind.
3.5/5
December 18, 2021
I’ll write a review when I have some time…
I actually haven’t read any reviews of this book yet
and I am behind on writing others…. (Kauai vacation)
I’m not sure who this book is for— not all children would do well with separation between a doll and her mommy-child.
It’s a short children’s tale that is pretty dark….
Not even sure if other people would give it five stars but I liked it —-
I like the way Elena can often surprise me with her spinning themes.
I actually haven’t read any reviews of this book yet
and I am behind on writing others…. (Kauai vacation)
I’m not sure who this book is for— not all children would do well with separation between a doll and her mommy-child.
It’s a short children’s tale that is pretty dark….
Not even sure if other people would give it five stars but I liked it —-
I like the way Elena can often surprise me with her spinning themes.
December 1, 2016
This could be an alternate story of what happens to the doll in The Lost Daughter, left abandoned on the beach after a family outing by its little-girl owner. Except, here, the doll (female, of course) is threatened by a male beachcomber, who sees the value, not in the plastic doll itself which he deems worthless, but in the words that issue from her mouth, valuable words he wants to steal and sell in the market. Hmmmm…
October 12, 2024
موقعی که مجموعهی ناپل رو تموم کردم، به این فکر افتادم که باقی کتابهای النا فرانته هم به لیستم اضافه کنم. رویارویی با این کتاب برام عجیب و جالب بود. به این خاطر کنجکاو بودم که چطوری تو ردهی سنی پایینتر مینویسه. اون تلخی و سیاهی قلمش رو بازم میتونم ببینم یا مثل کتابهای گوگولیای میشه که خیلی زیادن. اما همونطور که انتظار میرفت، نویسنده نذاشت که یه دنیای رویایی شکل بگیره.
تم عروسک گمشده تو آثار فرانته تکرار میشن. مثلا تو کتاب دختر پنهانم یا مجموعهی ناپل هم با چنین اتفاقی مواجه بودم و این کتاب فسقل هم از این قاعده مستثنی نبود.
سلینا، عروسک دختری به اسم متی هست که پیوند عجیبی با هم دارن. انگار دختر و مادر تلقی میشن و روزی میرسه که در ساحل، سلینا به فراموشی سپرده میشه. متی یادش میره که موقع برگشتن، عروسکش هم برداره و این منجر میشه که خواننده با رهاشدگی و وحشت فراموشی از نگاه عروسک مواجه شه.
راوی کتاب این شیء بیجان هست و ما اتفاقاتی که براش میافته رو از زبونش میشنویم. همچنین فرانته یه دنیای سوررئال خلق میکنه. دنیایی که کلمات سلینا توسط حیوان، آدمیزاد و طبیعت شنیده میشه و حتی این دایرهی لغاتش هم با بیرحمی ساحلبان میتونه فروخته شه. تشویش و اضطراب سلینا برای مقاومت و بقا پررنگه و فکر میکنم خوندنش برای کودکان، انتخاب درستی نباشه. چون جهانی که خلق میکنه، مضامین تلخی رو در بر داره. به طور مثال از تنهایی و پوچی میگه و نقاشیهایی هم به تصویر میکشه که رنج رو بیشتر نمایان میکنه.
یه نکتهای که خیلی برام دلنشین بود زاویهی دید متفاوت النا فرانته به این گم شدن بود. تا قبل از نگاه یه انسان و کسی که از دست داده مواجه بودم و حالا از جهانبینی کسی که از دست رفته. راویای که تا قبل به یاد ندارم خلق کرده بود و همیشه این خماری رو باقی میذاشت. اینکه سرنوشت اون عروسک چی شد؟ اون آدم تو چه حالیه؟ اما اینجا مشخص میکنه و خیلی برام آرامشبخش بود.
در نهایت هم ازت ممنونم که میدونی تو انگلیسی خوندن تنبلم و خودت برام میخونی.
تم عروسک گمشده تو آثار فرانته تکرار میشن. مثلا تو کتاب دختر پنهانم یا مجموعهی ناپل هم با چنین اتفاقی مواجه بودم و این کتاب فسقل هم از این قاعده مستثنی نبود.
سلینا، عروسک دختری به اسم متی هست که پیوند عجیبی با هم دارن. انگار دختر و مادر تلقی میشن و روزی میرسه که در ساحل، سلینا به فراموشی سپرده میشه. متی یادش میره که موقع برگشتن، عروسکش هم برداره و این منجر میشه که خواننده با رهاشدگی و وحشت فراموشی از نگاه عروسک مواجه شه.
راوی کتاب این شیء بیجان هست و ما اتفاقاتی که براش میافته رو از زبونش میشنویم. همچنین فرانته یه دنیای سوررئال خلق میکنه. دنیایی که کلمات سلینا توسط حیوان، آدمیزاد و طبیعت شنیده میشه و حتی این دایرهی لغاتش هم با بیرحمی ساحلبان میتونه فروخته شه. تشویش و اضطراب سلینا برای مقاومت و بقا پررنگه و فکر میکنم خوندنش برای کودکان، انتخاب درستی نباشه. چون جهانی که خلق میکنه، مضامین تلخی رو در بر داره. به طور مثال از تنهایی و پوچی میگه و نقاشیهایی هم به تصویر میکشه که رنج رو بیشتر نمایان میکنه.
یه نکتهای که خیلی برام دلنشین بود زاویهی دید متفاوت النا فرانته به این گم شدن بود. تا قبل از نگاه یه انسان و کسی که از دست داده مواجه بودم و حالا از جهانبینی کسی که از دست رفته. راویای که تا قبل به یاد ندارم خلق کرده بود و همیشه این خماری رو باقی میذاشت. اینکه سرنوشت اون عروسک چی شد؟ اون آدم تو چه حالیه؟ اما اینجا مشخص میکنه و خیلی برام آرامشبخش بود.
در نهایت هم ازت ممنونم که میدونی تو انگلیسی خوندن تنبلم و خودت برام میخونی.
July 3, 2025
The Beach at Night - Elena Ferrante
تترك دمية على الشاطيء ونرافقها في مخاوفها وصمودها في انتظار لم شملها مع صديقتها.
قصة قصيرة لإيلينا فيرانتي، قصة أطفال ربما؟
أحب كيف تكتب إيلينا عن الأجواء وهذه الهالة الغامضة والمخيفة التي تغلف قصصها أحيانًا.
رسومات القصة كانت مميزة.
تترك دمية على الشاطيء ونرافقها في مخاوفها وصمودها في انتظار لم شملها مع صديقتها.
قصة قصيرة لإيلينا فيرانتي، قصة أطفال ربما؟
أحب كيف تكتب إيلينا عن الأجواء وهذه الهالة الغامضة والمخيفة التي تغلف قصصها أحيانًا.
رسومات القصة كانت مميزة.
June 28, 2018
I have been wanting to read longer stories to my 4yo, but when I tried out a chapter book, she missed the pictures, so this was a good one to start with. It was creepy and interesting, and there's probably a few of you out there pearl-clutching that I read it to a preschooler, but while this will likely be purchased by a lot of adult Ferrante fans, it is most definitely a children's book. Though Ferrante has not mastered the form in the same way she has the novel, this is a worthwhile read, and it was enjoyable to both my daughter and me.
Update: I read some other reviews, and it looks like there are indeed some who would deem the content of this book too...mature for children. It's really unfair to view this book as a test case of whether children should read creepy books, but yes, they should. If they want to. Over the past few months, I've observed with fascination that my daughter likes to be a little scared. We went to see Ghostbusters, and it was like she confronted fear for the first time and was so interested in how it made her feel that she wanted to see it again and again. Fear is a complex emotion, and pop culture--books, movies--are a safe space to explore those feelings to the extent of our respective comfort zones. I'm glad to see a children's book that isn't afraid to go to dark places in pursuit of interesting ideas. It's not for everyone, but I liked it.
Update: I read some other reviews, and it looks like there are indeed some who would deem the content of this book too...mature for children. It's really unfair to view this book as a test case of whether children should read creepy books, but yes, they should. If they want to. Over the past few months, I've observed with fascination that my daughter likes to be a little scared. We went to see Ghostbusters, and it was like she confronted fear for the first time and was so interested in how it made her feel that she wanted to see it again and again. Fear is a complex emotion, and pop culture--books, movies--are a safe space to explore those feelings to the extent of our respective comfort zones. I'm glad to see a children's book that isn't afraid to go to dark places in pursuit of interesting ideas. It's not for everyone, but I liked it.
October 14, 2024
چه ایده جا��بی! یه چیزیه شبیه داستان اسباببازیها و ماجراهای عروسکی رو دنبال میکنه که از صاحبش دور افتاده. کوتاهه، تلخ و شیرینه، هیجانانگیزه و در نهایت لبخند به لبت مینشونه.
عروسک میدونه که کلمات تمام ��اراییش هستند. حتی وقتی در معرض نابودیه، مهمترین کلمهش رو نگه میداره. دیگه چی از این مهمتر؟
پ.ن: یادم بمونه که این اولی بود. با تشکر از باعث و بانیش.
عروسک میدونه که کلمات تمام ��اراییش هستند. حتی وقتی در معرض نابودیه، مهمترین کلمهش رو نگه میداره. دیگه چی از این مهمتر؟
پ.ن: یادم بمونه که این اولی بود. با تشکر از باعث و بانیش.
December 12, 2025
Bonitinha e um pouco sombria esta história infantil de Elena Ferrante.
March 19, 2022
Favola cupa, parallela a La figlia oscura in cui una bambina perde la sua bambola, perché le viene rubata. In La spiaggia di notte è una bambola che si perde, viene persa, a parlare, e a vivere una triste e inquieta avventura che però ha finale lieto. Celina è la bambola di Mati; bambola e bambina condividono un loro linguaggio, una vita sentimentale, sono figlia e madre. Sono compagne. In questa favola ricorrono i temi dell'importanza delle parole, che ristagnano nella bambola, nella sua pancia, e la paura che le vengano rubate; la paura più profonda di perdersi, di venire abbandonati. Compare la figura inquietante del bagnino e del suo rastrello, che vuole, come un orco, rubare le parole di Celina, che lei ama tanto, e Celina stessa. Ricorda un po' il Don Achille dell'Amica geniale, quell'orco nascosto sempre nell'oscurità.
Sicuramente una favola che non piacerebbe a tutti i bambini, che sotto una certa età troverebbero inquietante. Immagino possa intimorire, eppure proprio per questo a me è piaciuta.
Sicuramente una favola che non piacerebbe a tutti i bambini, che sotto una certa età troverebbero inquietante. Immagino possa intimorire, eppure proprio per questo a me è piaciuta.
March 3, 2017
Hmmm, I'm at a loss with this one. I don't know what audience Ferrante had in mind, but for me this isn't a book for (small) kids. I wouldn't read it to my daughter, to be honest. The part at the beach at night is dark and spooky, even gross (the word stealing Hook hanging on a saliva thread) and the end suddenly is too sweet. I kinda wonder what the point of the whole story is. And I can't say I liked the pictures very much. It reminds me a bit of N. Gaimen's style, but minus the magical feeling.
"If people or things or ugly creatures behaved rudely, we [the doll and the girl] yelled at them and they stopped. Even when boys wanted to hit us, kiss us, see our underpants, pee on our feet with their little dickies, we knew we'd win in the end." Uh, what?
All in all, Ferrante should stick to writing for adults. She's much better at that.
"If people or things or ugly creatures behaved rudely, we [the doll and the girl] yelled at them and they stopped. Even when boys wanted to hit us, kiss us, see our underpants, pee on our feet with their little dickies, we knew we'd win in the end." Uh, what?
All in all, Ferrante should stick to writing for adults. She's much better at that.
November 30, 2018
Sou uma notória entusiasta da Ferrante fever, acho que ela faz por merecer sua bem quista reputação e devoro tudo que sai dela no Brasil, mas este livro demorei a ler porque me era inconcebível pagar quarenta reais de um livro de 40 páginas, felizmente na Black Friday da Amazon o livro saiu por seis reais e finalmente pude comprá-lo.
Sinceramente não entendo os dizeres que este livro seria tétrico demais para crianças, a literatura infantil através dos séculos é permeada de analogias à sexo e morte de autores que não minimizam a linguagem em função de faixas etárias, Ferrante tem respeito pela inteligência da criança e não a idiotiza, mostrando a elas a beleza das palavras na forma de uma catártica salvação.
Enfim, é um belíssimo livro e altamente recomendável para atiçar as fantasias infantis e a inteligência dos adultos.
Sinceramente não entendo os dizeres que este livro seria tétrico demais para crianças, a literatura infantil através dos séculos é permeada de analogias à sexo e morte de autores que não minimizam a linguagem em função de faixas etárias, Ferrante tem respeito pela inteligência da criança e não a idiotiza, mostrando a elas a beleza das palavras na forma de uma catártica salvação.
Enfim, é um belíssimo livro e altamente recomendável para atiçar as fantasias infantis e a inteligência dos adultos.
December 2, 2016
4.5 stars
The Beach at Night is a picture book for young readers by Italian author, Elena Ferrante. Readers familiar with Ferrante’s adult novella, The Lost Daughter will recognise the bones of this story in that one. When five-year-old Mati’s father brings her a black-and-white cat named Minù, she’s so taken by her new pet, Mati accidentally leaves her doll, Celina behind on the beach. Lying in the sand as night falls, Celina hopes someone will come back for her, but no one does. When the Mean Beach Attendant of Sunset comes along with his Big Rake, Celina is frightened. But this scary man is not the only thing she will have to deal with during her night on the beach.
Ferrante’s story has all the essential elements of a children’s story: adventure, danger, a bit of magic and a happy ending with a cute twist. All the Important Things are Capitalised, and there is some delightful descriptive prose: “The Storm is a lady in a long, dark-blue dress. She wears a crown of Lightning on her head and has a booming voice, because Thunderclaps are continually coming out of her wide mouth”. Mara Cerri provides the evocative and somewhat haunting illustrations, while the text is translated by Ann Goldstein. A book that will charm younger and older readers alike.
The Beach at Night is a picture book for young readers by Italian author, Elena Ferrante. Readers familiar with Ferrante’s adult novella, The Lost Daughter will recognise the bones of this story in that one. When five-year-old Mati’s father brings her a black-and-white cat named Minù, she’s so taken by her new pet, Mati accidentally leaves her doll, Celina behind on the beach. Lying in the sand as night falls, Celina hopes someone will come back for her, but no one does. When the Mean Beach Attendant of Sunset comes along with his Big Rake, Celina is frightened. But this scary man is not the only thing she will have to deal with during her night on the beach.
Ferrante’s story has all the essential elements of a children’s story: adventure, danger, a bit of magic and a happy ending with a cute twist. All the Important Things are Capitalised, and there is some delightful descriptive prose: “The Storm is a lady in a long, dark-blue dress. She wears a crown of Lightning on her head and has a booming voice, because Thunderclaps are continually coming out of her wide mouth”. Mara Cerri provides the evocative and somewhat haunting illustrations, while the text is translated by Ann Goldstein. A book that will charm younger and older readers alike.
April 12, 2021
Edit: İkinci okumayı “Karanlık Kız” sonrası yaptım: Tek başına da okuyunca pek bir şey kaçırmamış oluyormuşuz. Birbirlerini tamamlayan metinler değiller, sadece aynı kumsalda yaşanıyorlar. Sanırım tam da bu yüzden -ayrıca- bir çocuk kitabı olarak servis edilmiş. Birçokları tarafından çocuk kitabı olmak için çok karanlık denilmiş ama tekrar bu gözle okumama rağmen bana o denli gelmedi:
“Deniz, Gece Fırtınası’nın boyunduruğu altına girmiş.
Fırtına uzun boylu, lacivert giysiye bürünmüş bir hanımefendi. Başında şimşeklerden oluşan bir tacı var; sesi de pek gümbürtülü çünkü kocaman ağzından sürekli gök gürültüleri çıkıyor.”
Ferrante ile tanışmak için yanlış bir metin seçmişim. Çizimlerini ve gergin yanını çok sevdiğim bu masal tadındaki metni tamamlamak için Karanlık Kız sipariş etmeye gidiyorum.
“Deniz, Gece Fırtınası’nın boyunduruğu altına girmiş.
Fırtına uzun boylu, lacivert giysiye bürünmüş bir hanımefendi. Başında şimşeklerden oluşan bir tacı var; sesi de pek gümbürtülü çünkü kocaman ağzından sürekli gök gürültüleri çıkıyor.”
Ferrante ile tanışmak için yanlış bir metin seçmişim. Çizimlerini ve gergin yanını çok sevdiğim bu masal tadındaki metni tamamlamak için Karanlık Kız sipariş etmeye gidiyorum.
October 16, 2023
This is the English translation of a children’s story by acclaimed Italian writer, Elena Ferrante, as told by the doll Celina, inadvertently left behind on the beach when the family returns home. As light fades, the doll becomes more anxious and lonely; there’s the night to contend with, an ogre in the form of a Mean Beach Attendant with his rake, a fire, a storm and the crashing waves. An unlikely saviour finds the doll and reunites it with the disconsolate little girl.
What I really loved was the full-page illustrations by Mara Cerri, the soft colours and wide-eyed expressions lending a dream-like quality. No manga art here.
What I really loved was the full-page illustrations by Mara Cerri, the soft colours and wide-eyed expressions lending a dream-like quality. No manga art here.
February 6, 2017
The ending was a waste of every idea she had begun to develop- the best of which were the words, the storytelling. I waited too long for this, disappointed.
November 9, 2018
Até com livro infantil a Elena F. consegue ser genial! De acordo com meu filho, que leu comigo, esse livro é "muito triste, mais triste ainda, tristérrimo, mas bonito" hahaha
March 6, 2018
Nu am avut așteptările Tetralogiei, știam că este o carte adresată copiilor, însă aceasta este o compunere scrisă-parcă- de un copil de clasa a doua!
Am citit cărți pentru copii foarte, foarte frumoase-mă gândesc la Momo, Minunea să nu mai zic de Matilda, tocmai de aceea am un anume termen de comparație!
Elena Ferrante? N-aș crede, aceasta e o tentativă de cărticică pentru copii-și regret nespus că am fost nevoită să afirm asta..
Am citit cărți pentru copii foarte, foarte frumoase-mă gândesc la Momo, Minunea să nu mai zic de Matilda, tocmai de aceea am un anume termen de comparație!
Elena Ferrante? N-aș crede, aceasta e o tentativă de cărticică pentru copii-și regret nespus că am fost nevoită să afirm asta..
July 28, 2020
Elena Ferrante ile yolumun böyle kesişeceğini hiç hayal etmemiştim slfmkslsmsmsldmdlsmdls
February 2, 2017
Good lord. WTF was that?!
I was browsing through the e-book selection at the local library and came across this book. The premise looked a little bit interesting, and it was short, so I thought I'd give it a try.
Unfortunately, this is a book that tries so hard to be something that it ends up being a big mess. The illustrations are creepy and basic, the language is definitely not for little kids (unless you're willing to read books with the word "shit" in them at storytime), and the whole thing is just so creepy that I wouldn't be surprised if I have nightmares. Seriously... the villain tries to steal the doll's words by basically spitting in her mouth. Gross.
My library put this in the children's section. I live in a conservative area where a local school board once spent over a million dollars trying to ban innocent little picture books that featured homosexual parents. I don't think they'd be too amused that this has been placed in children's paths (but I kind of am... *evil laugh*).
Pick this one up at your own risk.
Quotable moment:
Recommend it to: someone you really don't like
http://theladybugreads.blogspot.ca/20...
I was browsing through the e-book selection at the local library and came across this book. The premise looked a little bit interesting, and it was short, so I thought I'd give it a try.
Unfortunately, this is a book that tries so hard to be something that it ends up being a big mess. The illustrations are creepy and basic, the language is definitely not for little kids (unless you're willing to read books with the word "shit" in them at storytime), and the whole thing is just so creepy that I wouldn't be surprised if I have nightmares. Seriously... the villain tries to steal the doll's words by basically spitting in her mouth. Gross.
My library put this in the children's section. I live in a conservative area where a local school board once spent over a million dollars trying to ban innocent little picture books that featured homosexual parents. I don't think they'd be too amused that this has been placed in children's paths (but I kind of am... *evil laugh*).
Pick this one up at your own risk.
Quotable moment:
While I rise toward the surface, hanging from my own words, I hear the spiteful voice of the Mean Beach Attendant of Sunset singing at the top of his lungs:
The tongue I slice
Right off, in a trice
The names I seize
With the greatest of ease
Together we sing
Treasure for a king
For affection I pine
On delight I dine
Your heart I'll shred
Until it's dead.
Recommend it to: someone you really don't like
http://theladybugreads.blogspot.ca/20...
December 2, 2018
Toto urcite nie je kniha pre deti a detom by som ju necitala. Je chladna a brutalna, vratane ilustracii. Mozno v tejto knihe vidim to, co tam vobec nie je, ale mala som pocit, ze hovori o nasili, specialne o nasili na zenach. Ked nasilnik ublizuje, nielenze zranuje fyzicky, ale on berie zene aj slova, ktore ma, ale nemoze ich uz dalej povazovat za vlastne, pretoze nasilnik sa jej vysmieva a ponizuje ju. Skoda toho happyendu.
December 18, 2016
I saw this book at the library and picked it up to read to my grandchildren. It looks like a children's book but is most definitely not suited to read to young children (we stopped a few pages in). It's just downright weird and has some adult language and just plain gross stuff in it. Even the illustrations are kind of scary. I would not recommend this book for adults or children.
October 22, 2024
2024 review: re-read this because i missed ferrante and i needed a super quick book to read. still creepy and not sure what her demographic was. but idk because whatever she writes i will read!!
2023 review:
really quick and creepy read! at the onset , you can tell it’s a ferrante book because her fever-like and raw writing style is apparent. i didn’t think that a “children’s” book could be this interesting and disturbing, but here i am 🧍🏾♀️
like other reviewers have stated, i’m not really sure what the age demographic is. it’s a little too dark for young kids. the language choice is too simplistic for adults. plus, there are illustrations (and they added to the whole disturbing vibe). i personally liked the story a lot and the themes addressed, but i can see why someone wouldn’t like it. it’s less cohesive and focused compared to ferrante’s other books.
if you enjoyed “coraline” or other creepy stories for children, you’ll probably like this one.
2023 review:
really quick and creepy read! at the onset , you can tell it’s a ferrante book because her fever-like and raw writing style is apparent. i didn’t think that a “children’s” book could be this interesting and disturbing, but here i am 🧍🏾♀️
like other reviewers have stated, i’m not really sure what the age demographic is. it’s a little too dark for young kids. the language choice is too simplistic for adults. plus, there are illustrations (and they added to the whole disturbing vibe). i personally liked the story a lot and the themes addressed, but i can see why someone wouldn’t like it. it’s less cohesive and focused compared to ferrante’s other books.
if you enjoyed “coraline” or other creepy stories for children, you’ll probably like this one.
February 10, 2017
tuhaf diye tanımlayabileceğim bi kitap. parçaları birleştirmek için yazarın kayıp kızın hikayesi adlı romanını okumalıyım şimdi :/ bi çocuk kitabı olduğu hatta 6-10 yaş çocuklar için olduğu söyleniyor ama o yaştaki bir çocuğun anlayabileceği bi kitap olduğunu sanmıyorum. kitabı merak etme nedenim; resimlerin ürkütücülüğüydü. gerçekten ürkünç, karanlık ve mutlu sonla biten bi öykü. çevirideki nidalar hoşuma gitmedi çünkü seçilen sesler duygu olarak karşılığını vermiyor. kafa karıştırıcı. resimler öyküden daha güçlü.
January 19, 2021
Its 2007 date makes this one of the earliest of Elena Ferrante’s novels. It precedes the quartet that made her internationally famous by 7 years.
Ferrante’s forte is introspective works. In this case it is a lost doll that bares her feelings and fears. It is a picture book. Young people who can read it on their own will understand it. It will also appeal to adults.
Perhaps this book was conceived as Ferrante was working on her 2006 book, the Lost Daughter where a lost doll is featured.
Ferrante’s forte is introspective works. In this case it is a lost doll that bares her feelings and fears. It is a picture book. Young people who can read it on their own will understand it. It will also appeal to adults.
Perhaps this book was conceived as Ferrante was working on her 2006 book, the Lost Daughter where a lost doll is featured.
April 15, 2017
Illustrated odd and dark tale of a lost doll on a beach. I thought I could read The Beach at Night aloud for my Storytime for grownups program but it is just a little too much even for me. I can't quite see myself singing "Open your maw/I've shit for your craw/Drink up the pee/Drink it for me" for an audience. Pass.
November 9, 2019
I am not sure who this book was for intended for (age group). It had some words that to my mind were not suitable for children. And I'm not a "fuddy-duddy." It was told like a story for kids...so maybe that was its intended audience (it did have a happy ending). I'll be interested in reading the reviews of others on this one - perhaps there is something that eluded me.
August 5, 2017
I'm not even sure what to say about this other than there is a reason I don't like dolls as an adult...this book exemplifies that. And, it is definitely NOT for children!
September 12, 2018
I was conflicted about whether I even wanted to mark this book as read. At just over 40 pages (20 pages of text and 20 full page illustrations) this appears to be a children's book. However, Ferrante revives the set-up of the abandoned doll that is at the beginning of her Neapolitan Novels, except here there is one girl who becomes distracted by her new kitty and forgets her doll on the beach. Overnight, the doll is collected by a beachcomber who rob her of her words and her name and then attempts to destroy her when her value is depleted.
The darkness of this story, combined with the dark illustrations that accompany the text are not what I would consider classic children's literature except that the fairy tales we often laud also include dark themes of wicked stepmothers who seek to destroy pretty girls, or eat little boys so in this way, Ferrante would not be wrong for saying such a twisted tale might be entertaining for young readers. However, the profane and suggestive language makes that distinction that this is a book one should be cautioned about.
At some point, I want to read everything Ferrante wrote and I might need to chronicle it for completeness.
The darkness of this story, combined with the dark illustrations that accompany the text are not what I would consider classic children's literature except that the fairy tales we often laud also include dark themes of wicked stepmothers who seek to destroy pretty girls, or eat little boys so in this way, Ferrante would not be wrong for saying such a twisted tale might be entertaining for young readers. However, the profane and suggestive language makes that distinction that this is a book one should be cautioned about.
At some point, I want to read everything Ferrante wrote and I might need to chronicle it for completeness.
July 22, 2017
I'm not sure why this book is available in the children's section of my library. It's clearly written for an adult readership, and isn't written to connect with children... If anything it will cause them to tilt their heads and raise their eyebrows, and wonder why you haven't stopped reading it yet?
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