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The Story of the Lost Child
2016 International Longlist
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The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante
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Maxwell
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Mar 14, 2016 07:20PM
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I finished this book more than a month ago and I swear I still wake up thinking about it, the characters and just how amazing Elena Ferrante is. Not going to say more in case people don't want to get spoiled. But I am looking forward to your thoughts guys (and not just about this, but the previous books as well). I was not at all surprised that she was included in the long list.
I was very excited to see Elena Ferrante on the list, because I found this series of books fascinating. Yes, there are many characters, but all that really ends up mattering is the friendship between Elena and Lila. She captures the ups and downs of a lifelong friendship between complex women beautifully and conveys the simmering rage some women feel at the place they end up finding themselves in perfectly. Powerful. And, who is Ferrante? Would she come forward if she wins?! I would fall over from shock if she turned out to be a man.
No chance she will come forward if she wins. And she shouldn't. In her own words:"I believe that books, once they are written, have no need of their authors.
I won’t participate in discussions and conferences, if I’m invited. I won’t go and accept prizes, if any are awarded to me. I will never promote the book, especially on television, not in Italy or, as the case may be, abroad. I will be interviewed only in writing, but I would prefer to limit even that to the indispensable minimum."
I admire her stance - focus on the book not the author - but it's actually had the opposite effect: hardly read a review, or a Goodreads thread!, that doesn't talk about her identity.
Paul wrote: "No chance she will come forward if she wins. And she shouldn't. In her own words:"I believe that books, once they are written, have no need of their authors.
I won’t participate in discussions a..."
I too can admire her stance. But it does seem contrary to our times. Yes, her identity has created its own buzz which is in some ways contrary to the author's wishes.
I was really this article this morning which in some ways relates to this topic:
The Triumph of Bookchat on the Internet
http://flavorwire.com/566224/the-triu...
Hello Ferrante fans - Look at this! I doubt they can capture the beauty of the books, but they will certainly still be interesting!http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-rad...
