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The Days of Abandonment
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
"She is among the greatest Italian authors of recent years."-Corriere della Sera"Ferrante dissects the personal microcosm so well, and with awesome lucidity and precision shows us the meanderings of a woman's mind, the suffering that accompanies being abandoned, and the awful rumbling of time passing."-El Mundo"Elena Ferrante has given us a startlingly beautiful novel of exceptional and bold strength."-Il Manifesto"Severe and rigorously unsentimental, packed full of passages written with dizzying intensity at a rare and acute pitch. Ferrante is at her best when her writing holds tight to those nagging, niggling obsessions that make up our mental landscapes."-La StampaA national bestseller for almost an entire year, The Days of Abandonment shocked and captivated its Italian public when first published. It is the gripping story of a woman's descent into devastating emptiness after being abandoned by her husband with two young children to care for. When she finds herself literally trapped within the four walls of their high-rise apartment, she is forced to confront her ghosts, the potential loss of her own identity, and the possibility that life may never return to normal.
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Tamra
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Mehso-so

Hmmmmm I‘m not sure how I feel about this one. In some parts I felt like I needed a shower - gritty story emotionally & physically. MC is hard to connect with, probably because she herself has become disconnected from reality. I get how difficult times could do that to a person, but maybe I don‘t want to read about it??? 🤷🏾‍♀️

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cariashley
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

A quick but not easy read. It was painful to observe the protagonist‘s unraveling and the one section in the second half really felt like a horror novel, it was so disturbing. A low pick as I‘m glad I read it, but it gives me a shudder to think about.

32 likes1 stack add
blurb
TheKidUpstairs
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante

Bookriot has a great article on the history of Europa Editions, a great read for anyone joining the #EuropaCollective reading starting later this year! https://bookriot.com/europa-editions/

Deblovestoread Thanks for sharing! 1y
jlhammar Very cool. Thanks for sharing! 1y
BarbaraBB Thanks! 1y
34 likes3 comments
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andioop
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
Pickpick

Sometimes going insane is actually a really valid reaction to the shitty way people treat you

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Kappadeemom
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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I think that I found this one on Listy, so this will be my Sunday read.

34 likes3 stack adds
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vlwelser
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

This was very good. Maggie Gyllenhaal recommended it in an interview with The Economist. Because obviously I listen to their podcasts. If you have read The Woman Destroyed by Simone, I especially recommend this.

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quietlycuriouskate
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

My first Ferrante and it's fair to say I appreciated it more than I enjoyed it. My goodness can she write a bleak interior state! It was deeply uncomfortable, at times painful, to watch Olga go so thoroughly to pieces when her husband leaves her for another woman. Obviously Olga is distressed, but is there also a whiff of a more general assumption, that a woman is nothing without a man's appreciation?
One I'd hesitate to recommend to my daughter.

Cathythoughts Great review! I agree , it‘s strong stuff 4y
sarahbarnes I‘ve avoided her for some reason, but this review makes me want to give her a try. 4y
39 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Vansa
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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#3books #thatIhaventreadbutshould
1. I listened to a BBC adaptation of Katherine Mansfield stories, and each story was a delight. I should read all her work!
2. I've never read Foundation , despite sci-fi being a genre I enjoy!
3. I haven't read this book by Ferrante either, I will this year though!

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GatheringBooks
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

#AboutAugust Day 11: #Abandoned is the theme in this novel which I read 3 years ago while traveling in Europe at the time. As I read it, I thought about the many women friends I love who would appreciate this book‘s honesty. Olga‘s silent rage would remain with me for a long time to come, and one that I‘d probably return to, like a yellowed photograph from another life. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-frt

Eggs Love this photo💗 4y
marleed This photo is great! 4y
Cathythoughts Great picture ❤️ 4y
66 likes3 comments
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ReadingEnvy
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Mehso-so

I had snagged this from @mr.ksgreenville right before staying at home and when I saw it on that LitHub list of contemporary novels under 200 pages, that pushed me into reading it. I'm still reading Ducks, Newburyport and needed something I could finish! Just like Strange Hotel though, there is some overlap in reading two books inside another woman's brain at the same time. ⤵️

ReadingEnvy Olga is almost 40 when her husband leaves her with two children and a dog, and she struggles violently with the emotions and fallout of this unwelcome change. Ferrante can write unpleasantness so well (and claustrophobia, and loss of control) but I think I'd point more readers to her Neapolitan novels before this one. They are also violent but in a different way, and have more going on. This is much more internal journey.

CW - dog death
5y
41 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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GatheringBooks
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Bertha_Mason
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante

This book would make a great giallo movie. I would watch the shit out of it.

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Bertha_Mason
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante

The straights are not okay.

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mkinney10
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Mehso-so

I had high hopes for this one. Overall it was just ok. I preferred the My Brillant Friend series, but glad I read this one finally!

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GatheringBooks
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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#QuotsyJuly19 Day 10: #Courtesy
Visceral, real, filled with rage. This book consumes the reader.

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MrBook
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Sorryyyy for posting these so late 🙈🙈🙈! It was a massively busy non-stop day.

Part 4/10 of today‘s home-library tour! ☺️

Do you own, or have you read, any of these?

#MrBooksBooks

Kimberlone I have the same edition of Atonement! Still one of my favorite books. 6y
Kaila-ann I have a copy of Atonement as well, different version. It‘s still TBR. 6y
Lcsmcat Atonement ! 6y
See All 6 Comments
Zelma Fingersmith and Atonement ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
Emilymdxn Fingersmith and atonement! Fingersmith was so important to me as a teen 6y
Kaye I Saw a Man and Atonement. 6y
61 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Whitwhit
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
Mehso-so

Ok

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Deborah42
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Mehso-so

After her husband leaves her for a younger woman, Olga falls to pieces. Feeling the weight of all the emotions she‘s held back over the years, she explodes into violence and madness. And, then, abruptly, she decides she‘s okay and goes on with her life.

Not entirely sure what I just read.

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erzascarletbookgasm
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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One woman‘s descent into desperation and her world falls apart after being abandoned by her husband. Have not read but the blurb seems to fit the prompt. Definitely #thehoneymoonisover .
#marchintooz @Cinfhen @Lizpixie

Cinfhen Sounds like a perfect fit 💔 7y
Cathythoughts Loved her books set in Naples ❤️💔💔 7y
83 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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Theinfinitelibrary
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Johnny Cash is "helping" me read. It's hard to get in the right frame of mind for this book when you have a cat insistently nuzzling your face. ?

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eclecticreading
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Not sure if it's a good idea to bring this book to work as my break read (as it's bound to be intense) but I've been wanting to read this for so long... #toberead #tbrpile #InTranslation #EuropaEditions #ItalianLiterature

EKonrad Just finished the first book in the Neapolitan series...have you read them? 7y
eclecticreading @Ekonrad I have! Really enjoyed them. How did you find the first book? 7y
EKonrad I liked it...wasn't totally in love but then I realized I had to read the second book because I had to find out what happened to the characters! 😊 7y
eclecticreading @Ekonrad It's quite compelling...couldn't stop reading once I started reading 😆 7y
13 likes4 comments
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GatheringBooks
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

And so I just finished reading this ferocious novel of Ferrante while still on the train from Verona back to Milan. There is a metallic taste in my mouth where Olga bit the key to open the door, I smell the putrid odor of the dead dog, and sense her hysteria when the lines around her life dissolved slowly, her withering away such a stark reality, that I begin to think about the many female friends I love who would appreciate this book's honesty.

BookMusings I totally read this book on the train through Italy too! I think Livorno, Pisa, Luca and back again. 7y
Chachic Train rides are perfect reading time! 7y
34 likes1 stack add2 comments
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GatheringBooks
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Ferrante looks right at home at the Caffé Scala, a sashay away from the Teatro alla Scala, where we will be watching La Boheme on Tuesday evening. My Moroccan coffee was divine.

emilyhaldi Awesome!! 🙌🏻 7y
BellaBookNook I enjoy my virtual travel with you. Enjoy! 7y
31 likes2 comments
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GatheringBooks
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Because traveling to Milano from Munchen on the midnight bus, it's got to be Ferrante.

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brariane42
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

I LOVED this book. Olga is unlikeable, pathetic, and hits too close to home by turns. It's beautifully written, and completely sucks you in. It's a quick read, but it'll stick in your head for days afterward.

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brariane42
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Latest book club book. A woman is left suddenly by her husband and unravels. Not done, but excellent so far. Perfect for Valentine's Day!

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ReadingsByTheC
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Here are my Goodreads stats for the year. I ended up reading more than my challenge goal, which was 45, so that's great. I think I may go for 75 books next year.

Megabooks 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻📚🎊 8y
rachellayown Nice! 8y
DebinHawaii Congratulations!! Great job! 🎉📚👍 8y
22 likes4 comments
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Strangechord
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
Mehso-so

Started strong, then got crazy, weak finish.

2 likes2 stack adds
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Sandwavesandbooks
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Slightly disturbing but well written. I've read the first 3 of the Neapolitan novels (not sure why I keep putting off the fourth) and wanted to try a different Ferrante novel

9 likes2 stack adds
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ReadingsByTheC
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

Wow. This book was so raw and engaging. My heart ached for Olga and I found myself cursing her husband even when I wasn't reading. This is an honest portrayal of a woman going down the rabbit hole of despair, losing herself, and then very slowly pulling herself out. This is not an upbeat book but is definitely worth the emotional investment. Elena Ferrante definitely lives up to the hype. I will be reading the Neopolitan novels very soon.

Gulfsidemusing Totally agree... raw is the perfect word to describe this one. 8y
9 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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ReadingsByTheC
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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I know I'm a little late, but here's my #NovemberTBR. Finally going to tackle A Little Life.

Suet624 Oh boy. Best wishes. Tough one but worth the read. Lots of triggers. 8y
TrishB Emotional trauma coming! 8y
ReadingsByTheC @Suet624 @TrishB I heard it was brutal. I hope I can make it through. Fingers crossed. 8y
10 likes3 comments
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Fab
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

I admire very much the ability of the author to describe the psychology of her characters with a sublime variations from obvious predetermined acts to subtle hint from the incounscious mind. This novel, very different from the more famous series of the Neapolitan novels, is solemnly centered on one female character and the most important interactions are with two men completely different one from the other. Loved it.

rachelm Welcome to Litsy! 8y
Fab thank u ^^ 8y
2 likes2 comments
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AmyWrites
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

Was feeling kind of meh about trying Ferrante until someone told me at my writing conference in Sicily that I MUST read Days of Abandonment...and it did not disappoint. Ferrante is a genius. (Picture taken from the top of Erice at the Norman castle ruins, overlooking the Mediterranean in Sicily).

WordWaller Writing conference in Sicily?? Sign me up!! 😍😍😍 8y
AmyWrites @WordWaller it was incredible. Bread Loaf in Sicily. Absolute magic. ❤️ 8y
15 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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hfpotier
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Went to Half Price Books and finally found Elena Ferrante books.

7 likes1 stack add
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BookMusings
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Listening to Elena Ferrante as I wait for my flight to Venice 😍

Posemn Well, that is just about perfect. Have a great trip! 8y
Cinfhen Safe travels✈️enjoy🇮🇹 8y
Suzze Have a super trip! 8y
melbeautyandbooks Ooh. Have a great trip! 8y
LeahBergen Lucky you!! 😩😩 8y
50 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Brammer
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
Mehso-so

Unfortunately, I had to take a break from Days...it was relentlessly emotionally intense, and I felt myself spiraling in despair, just like the protagonist.

Although it's well-written and I still want to read Ferrante's Neapolitan series, I'm afraid I had to put this selection down.

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Brammer
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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I have heard a lot about Ferrante, so I thought I would start with this before tackling her Neapolitan series--dip my toe in the water, so to speak. Excited to start it!

MrBook Welcome to @Litsy ! We hope you enjoy your stay, I think you'll like it here 😎👍🏻. 8y
4 likes1 comment
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EnidBiteEm
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

This was my first Ferrante ❤️. Olga is unflinchingly raw and honest in examining her thoughts and emotions as she ricochets through turmoil when her husband leaves her; her sense of abandonment of her sanity and her identity, as she is left to care for her two young children, is brutal. I wouldn't want to endlessly dissect my characters in interviews if I was Ferrante, everything is already said. #translatedbooks - Thanks Ann Goldstein.

Delphine That book was also my first Ferrante. And I just loved it. Since I read it, I continue to think about Olga and her feelings... And now I have #mybrilliantefriend in my TBR! 8y
EnidBiteEm @Delphine I'm reading Book 2 of the Neapolitan Novels. I find myself thinking of Elena and Lila and how they feel quite frequently! 8y
25 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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EmmaT
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

Ugh never mind the plot this was like actually being left by your husband. Amazing. One of the greatest most feminist books I've ever read. She's off the chart great.

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chavalah
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

Leah is channeling her inner Olga, the scorned and angry protagonist from this novel. When Olga's douchebag husband leaves her, she spirals into a viscous and cruel depression. At first it was wearying to read about, but that may've had to do with personal stuff going on with me. A pivotal, MRS. DALLOWAYesque moment allows for the character to assess her multifaceted reality. But even at her worst, Olga is compelling due to Ferrante's raw prose.

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Bibliosa
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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"I don't give a shit about prissiness. You wounded me, you are destroying me, and I'm supposed to speak like a good well-brought up wife? Fuck you! What words am I supposed to use for what you've done to me, for what you're doing to me? " I love angry #elenaferrante

4 likes1 stack add
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Bookboss
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

I wanted to try Elena Ferrante, but did not want to commit to the Neapolitan novels, so I gave this stand-alone a try. This is a lush description of a woman falling into despair and distraction after her husband leaves her. The writing is raw and urgent, far from the sentimental style I had expected. Perhaps the cover art of her novels gave me the impression that her writing would be drippily uplifting. This is dark and real. Read with caution.

LorneGuyland I'm on the second Neapolitan novel and loving them. 8y
8 likes1 comment
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BooksForEmpathy
Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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After finishing up the Neapolitan series last fall, it is due time for a little more Elena Ferrante in my life. This one has her (his 😬?) signature style of frank/brutal/vulnerable/ferocious writing and Olga is a character all her own. Enjoying this story so much!

Gulfsidemusing I read this after finishing the Neopolitan Novels, too... in many ways this one is even more raw and intimate. The story is fascinating, though not exactly enjoyable. I couldn't put it down! 8y
GatheringBooks i am reading the last book of the neapolitan series. cant wait to read this one too. 8y
41 likes7 stack adds2 comments
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TheBookAddict
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

It was different from what I usually read. Good different. Very frustrating at times (mostly all the time), not because of the writing, but because of Olga's way of coping, or lack there of, with her husband's treachery. Mario this and Mario that was getting on my nerves, but I understand. 4.5 🌟s

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TheBookAddict
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Another Audible Daily Deal find. This one is about an Italian woman's struggles with her husband's abandonment. Started reading/listening to it today...or yesterday (don't remember anymore). I honestly want to grab her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her and slap her a few times...😔

9 likes2 stack adds
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Kenz
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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"The whole future - I thought - will be that way, life lives together with the damp odor of the land of the dead, attention with inattention, passionate leaps of the heart along with abrupt losses of meaning. But it won't be worse than the past."

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Gulfsidemusing
The Days of Abandonment | Elena Ferrante
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Pickpick

A fascinating, beautifully written novel... arguably even more raw and intimate than the Neopolitan Novels.

16 likes3 stack adds