A review by renreads2much
The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante

emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book took me a long time to get through due to my busy schedule. I mostly read this during my "empty time pockets" when I had the chance. And this was a really interesting way to spend that time. 

  • A lot of feminine grief and rage. Also connected to a small theme of disappointment when relying on men. 
  • Women being unapolegetically vulgar and gross. Lack of shame.
  • What its like to be a single mother and falling under all the new tasks and responsabilities
  • Really depressing. At times uncomfortable to read. Discovering who you are without your signigigant other and learning how to go through the daily motions without them. Then also having to relearn how to be at peace with them when the time is right. 
  • DISGUSTING DESCRIPTIONS OF SEX. ITS NOT HOT. (ITS NOT MEANT TO BE, AND LETS JUST SAY ELENA DID A GREAT JOB AT MAKING ME DISGUSTED)
  • Big theme of destruction to not only others, but also to yourself. Connected to another theme of self punnishment. 
  • Some aspects of Illaria's and Olga's relationship remind me of my mom and I's relationship when I was younger. 
  • Randomly poetic at times. there are some pretty quotes in here. 
    • I'm gonna emphasize on the random. Because there is also some heavy Bojack Horseman level amount of spiraling and monologuing. So sometimes it comes in when you least expect it. But that's kind of the fun part if you ask me.