The Story of a New Name
Synopsis
This is the second installment of Elena Ferrante's series My Brilliant Friend. The volatile yet passionate friendship between Lila and Lena continues, and we get to see their transition from adolescence to womanhood with the backdrop of 1960s Italy. While Lena shows great progression in her education and career as a writer, Lila is stuck in an abusive relationship with her new husband. Her previous invention of the renowned Cerullo shoe is overtaken by her brother Nino, and she gets roped into working a dull job as a clerk at her husband Stefano's grocery store. At the young age of seventeen, she feels left behind by her peers, a shadow of her former, vibrant self. When she appears to have trouble getting pregnant, she and Lena go to spend the summer in the Amalfi Coast with the hopes that it might improve her health. Their vacation doesn't go as planned, however, because Lila is determined to meddle with Lena's affairs. As in the first book, the dynamic between these two characters is constantly at odds, especially with Lila's tendency sabotage Lena's romances. She is bitter, jealous, spiteful, and constantly pushes people away with her behavior before using her beauty and charm to reel them back in. The push-and-pull between the two characters reflects their contrasting identities and how they must find a balance between their ambitions, friendships, and need to conform to patriarchal society. Beneath this epic tale of two soulmates is a turbulent yet tender story about class differences, gender roles, betrayal, and rivalry.
Review
There are so many twists and turns in this book and the relationships are incredibly nuanced. I really enjoyed the variation in setting, from childhood friends Lena Carracci and Lila Cerullo's hometown in Naples to the lush Amalfi coast. Ferrante is terrific with character-driven narratives. There is so much room for analyses in this book. It really made me question the true nature of friendship and female rivalries that go largely unacknowledged in the real world. As a product of social conditioning, it's quite common for women to feel a sense of competition with their female counterparts, which is usually driven by the desire to succeed socially and economically. Ferrante really breaks barriers by offering honest perspectives about this taboo topic. She brings up plenty of meaningful questions and opportunities for self-reflection. Why do we engage in self-destructive behaviors? In what ways can we actively transcend gender expectations? What boundaries should be enforced in our interpersonal relationships? This reads very much like a dramatic soap opera. Each character is deeply flawed, raw, and constantly evolving. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to continuing on with the series.