2015: The Year of Reading Women discussion

I'm about to start it! not sure how to proceed, do I just start talking as I Read?

That sounds fine. And I will begin my re-read to join in.

Oh, there is the matter of people who want to read not having their books yet. So I suppose we should think about how to approach that

Yea that's what I'm wondering so trying to get a sense of when people will be able to begin.

I am expecting I won't get my hands on a copy for a couple of months. I don't mind if you go ahead without me though.

And for those of us just now starting there will hopefully be an entire new group of us cycling through all of them.

A really good article here...

http://lithub.com/elena-ferrante-mast...

That's excellent! I got so pissed at The Economist's description, how utterly sexist! And really, War and Peace can be described as a soap opera. Makes me so mad! But the discussion of epic is great, as is the point about the classic, which I had never thought of. Elena Greco too, wow, thanks for that link.

Well I couldn't wait, I'm on pg 171. But how did you all feel about the end of 3, I was disappointed with Lenu for promising her kids she wouldn't leave and then she sneaks out. I mean I could understand, Nino finally loves her but tsk tsk, as a mom my heart broke for the kids.

Thanks for posting that fascinating article!!!!

Yes, really enjoyed that very thoughtful article. In fact, I will re-read it when I begin 'Friend' for the second time.

'Soap opera' is a lazy term. What does it mean? Dramatic? Of course any good fiction narrative is dramatic, so what? Anyway, soap operas as we know them from television (Dallas, As the World Turns, etc.) provide no social context or critique whatever but seem to me entirely about desires fulfilled or thwarted.

I think of soaps as melodramatic too, over the top plots and emotions, appealing to the over emotional "hysteria' attributed to women. As well as what Kallie said.

I finished. Can't wait to discuss. Two huge spoiler questions!

I just started yesterday. Captivating and very complex. I don't altogether like Elena, but that is because Ferrante doesn't protect her egotistical weaknesses; still, I am sympathetic.

I think that's a good word, sympathetic. I hate some things she's done, like promising her kids she wouldn't go and then sneaking out. But I understand why she had to do that. I also like the way she is truthful in her self examinations.

I think that is Ferrante's brilliance; she detaches yet brings one close into Elena, too.

Is there a relationship (other than having the same author) between the story here in The Story of the Lost Child and Ferrante's earlier The Lost Daughter (2006)?

No, separate stories although I got confused too!

Lori (Hellian) wrote: "No, separate stories although I got confused too!"

Thx, Lori....

Michele wrote: "A really good article here...

http://lithub.com/elena-ferrante-mast..."

It is a really good article. As a student of cultural anthropology, I have some additional thoughts which are perhaps too social science/political/gender pointed, so I'm letting them perc. Another Italian woman novelist has written an 'epic' story: History, by Elsa Morante came to mind as I read Ferrante; it is similar in scope and also a brilliant social novel

In an interview Ferrante said she was influenced by Morantes! She cited House of Lies but I haven't been able to find an English translation.

Lori (Hellian) wrote: "In an interview Ferrante said she was influenced by Morantes! She cited House of Lies but I haven't been able to find an English translation."

What an interesting title. Let me know if you find one and I'll look too.

It exists under House of Liars, but the price . . .

http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=...

(sorry about how long this is but tiny url hasn't been working for me)

Oh that's right, it's Liars not lies and my memory told me it was unavailable which is true, unavailable at those prices! :) History is at my libes but it sounds so depressing, still would like to read it.

It's disturbing, but so good . . . A huge tapestry of a novel. I don't remember Morante getting inside characters' thoughts so much as Ferrante does (well of course, F's Elena tells her story 1st person) and that may be why I'm not left with the feeling that it depressed me so much as made me very sad and sympathetic with the characters.

I'll definitely get to it then.