The Lying Life of Adults

This is the story of a bracelet and how it's complicated path through interconnected families shines light on multiple relationships build on secrets and lies! ;)Or rather, this is a coming-of-age story where a girl discovers, revolts against and finally tries out for herself - the lies the adults have constructed around her until-then innocent childhood. The catalyst for her transformation is her vulgar aunt Vittoria, whom she apparently starts to ressemble. And Giovanna sets out to discover a part of her family, and a part of her home town, she hadn't known before. It is set in Naples in the 90ies, and yet we don't feel half a decade passed since the adolescent years of the Neapolitan Novels. Older guys still lust after way-too-young girls. We're still in the middle of a tug-of-war between the highbrow world of words and ideas and the low-income world of vulgarity. There are a lot of similarities in setting, in character, and in experiences between this book and Lila and Lenu's early adventures. I wished perhaps Ferrante would have taken us to a place that felt different ([b:The Days of Abandonment 77810 The Days of Abandonment Elena Ferrante https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412532798l/77810.SY75.jpg 75142] feels different!). But nevertheless I enjoyed this, because her depiction of teenage girls that are simultaneously sensitive and bold, cruel and loving, is still a very good yarn. And I close this book with a sense of elation, as Giovanna manages to break free at the end. From the ties that bind her to her family's past (in the very physical manifestation of the bracelet), the idolisation she feels for her crush (NOT letting it happen), and from her aunt by deliberately disobeying her final advice! And then she goes off into the sunset with the secret favorite (Ida) who's been hiding in the sidelines all along!