Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Tuesday Intro: The Story of a New Name

In the spring of 1966, Lila, in a state of great agitation, entrusted to me a metal box that contained eight notebooks. She said that she could no longer kept them at home, she was afraid her husband might read them. I carried off the box without comment, apart from some ironic allusions to the excessive amount of string she had tied around it. At that time our relationship was terrible, but it seemed that only I considered it that way. The rare times we saw each other, she showed no embarrassment, only affection; a hostile word never slipped out. 
When she asked me to swear that I wouldn't open the box for any reason, I swore. But as soon as I was on the train, I untied the string, took out the notebooks, began to read. It wasn't a diary, although there were detailed accounts of the events in her life, starting with the end of elementary school. Rather, it seemed evidence of a stubborn self-discipline in writing...
The Story of a New Name
(Neapolitan Novels, Book 2)
by Elena Ferrante

I read My Brilliant Friend  a couple of months ago and knew it was just a matter of time before I returned to that poor, bustling neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples. This series of novels explores the complicated friendship between two women at various stages in their lives. Book One ended with the marriage of Lila (at 16) and this installment picks up shortly afterwards. I started last night and don't want to put it down.

Want to know more? Here is the goodreads summary:
The second book, following 2012’s acclaimed My Brilliant Friend, featuring the two friends Lila and Elena. The two protagonists are now in their twenties. Marriage appears to have imprisoned Lila. Meanwhile, Elena continues her journey of self-discovery. The two young women share a complex and evolving bond that brings them close at times, and drives them apart at others. Each vacillates between hurtful disregard and profound love for the other. With this complicated and meticulously portrayed friendship at the center of their emotional lives, the two girls mature into women, paying the sometimes cruel price that this passage exacts.
If you're interested in giving the series a try, the first book is just $2.99. I'm not sure how long the deal will last. But be careful... you may succumb to #FerranteFever, too!


Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.

40 comments:

  1. Oh yes, love the intro and the series. enjoy

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    1. Diane - This second book is really good so far!

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  2. I haven't heard of this one but the intro has my interest.

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    1. Yvonne - It's also interesting because the author's true identity is a mystery.

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  3. Interesting into. Leaves me wanting more!
    Today I'm featuring Letters To The Lost by Iona Grey.

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    1. Kim - She gets right into the story, doesn't she?

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  4. I've been waiting for a copy of the first book from the library for a while now...may have to take advantage of the e-book offer...

    My Tuesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2015/06/first-chapter-first-paragraph-108.html

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    1. Catherine - Those ebook deals sure are tempting! Hope you don;t have wait much longer.

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  5. This one does sound interesting and I'd have wanted to tear into the package too so I can definitely relate to the narrator!

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    1. Katherine - I'd be very tempted to that, too!

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  6. I love that intro! I'd have wanted to read the notebooks too, although I might not have succumbed to temptation. ;-)

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    1. Kay - I'd try not to give into temptation, too. Seems like Elena had no qualms about opening the notebooks!

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  7. This makes me curious on what more inside those notebooks! Thanks for sharing, JoAnn!

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    1. Eryn - I'm guessing Elena wasn't totally happy with what she found!

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  8. Piqued my interest! Dang, I have promised myself and publicly on my blog, that I won't buy any books this month. I'm never making such a promise again, lol. I will have to pass on the special and check it out from the library in a few weeks if they can get book one for me. Thanks for sharing this new to me author.

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    1. Rita - Sorry to tempt you ;-) It is hard sticking to those resolutions though...

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  9. I would be tempted to read the notebooks too! I am very intrigued by stories of enduring friendships.

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    1. Nise' - I tend to gravitate towards friendship stories, although these two seem more like "frenemies".

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  10. Oh, yes, I would also be unable to resist reading the notebooks...I wonder if Lila secretly hoped for that? These two characters sound very interesting.

    Thanks for sharing the "fever," and for visiting my blog.

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    1. Laurel-Rain Snow - Lila is tough to read and it's hard to figure her motivations... although we don't hear from her directly. An interesting series, for sure!

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  11. I am not sure this is for me, but it does sound interesting. I admit I would be tempted to read the notebooks as well.

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    1. Literary Feline - I'd certainly want to read those notebooks, but would try really hard not to, lol!

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  12. The writing pulls me in. I may have to check this one out.

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    1. Suzie - I enjoyed the writing in the first installment. The second one seems even better so far.

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  13. I like the writing and am intrigued with the idea of following the story of these two friends, but I'm not sure I want to go the whole series.

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    1. Margot - I always hesitate with series, too.They are such a commitment!

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  14. I'm very intrigued by this book, and the first one, as I do enjoy stories set around friendship - there are remarkably few of these too. Thanks for visiting my Tuesday post https://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2015/06/02/first-chapter-first-paragraph-june-2/

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    1. Cleo - Sometimes these friends seem more like "frenemies". I recommend checking out the first book in the series, My Brilliant Friend.

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  15. Please excuse me if I repeat myself, JoAnn, but immediately after reading the first one, I purchased #2 and #3. Mesmerizing, excellent writing, fabulous storyteller, and I flew through all three--pop, pop, pop. Trilogies are unusual reading for me, but I'm eagerly waiting the Naples finale this fall which will fmakes this one a quartet. :-)

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    1. JudyMac - The fourth book in the series was one of the most sought after ARCs at last week's BEA ... and I can understand why! So far, the second book is even better than the first. I would have started this one even sooner, but I had those dates with Mr. Trollope and Mr. Hardy ;-)

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  16. Well I think I'm likely to succumb because I'm on my way to check out this series. This sounds exactly like something I could get sucked into. lol.

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    1. Darlene - It will be very easy to get sucked into this series.

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    2. Already am my friend. Listening to the audio. Thanks for the recommendation!

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    3. Darlene - Yay! I just downloaded the audio of this one to make it a read/listen combination.

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    4. Hilary Huber is a really good narrator. You're in for a treat too I think.

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    5. Darlene - I loved her narration of The Three Weissmanns of Wesport and can't wait to add in audio with this book :)

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  17. That is an intriguing quote that you posted. The temptation to open books given someone for safekeeping would be indeed great in many people. As a reader one would of course want the character to break their promise.

    It is interesting that they do so so quickly.

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    1. Brian Joseph - Of course the character must open those notebooks and move the action forward... this is very addicting!

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  18. I haven't read this author, but the synopsis along with the year of the story has me pretty interested.

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    1. Kathy - It's even more fascinating to note that the author's identity is also a mystery! She (he?) is writing with a pen name.

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