Book Review: Troubling Love was Elena Ferrante's first novel and she began her writing career talking about mothers and daughters. Taking place after a mother has died, the book is something of a mystery -- as are mothers and daughters. The descriptions and plot are intensely realistic, our narrator recalling the intricacies of her mother's life, until her memories become hallucinations. At that point her mind, and the writing and the reader's understanding, become fantastical, and unclear. Lost within an "aggressive, pleasure-seeking, and sticky realism." Immersed in Naples, the tunnels of Naples where her mother was followed by "peddlers, railway workers, idlers, stonemasons ... often breathing in her ear ... they tried to touch her hair, her shoulders, her arm ... she kept her eyes down and walked faster." Ferrante's powerful, muscular writing is here, fully developed, in her first novel. There are many themes to follow in Troubling Love: one with a significant role is clothing (as on the brilliant cover image). Being about mothers and daughters, this motif really does connect with the well-worn query: "Are you really going out dressed like that?" What is less accomplished is the plot, the continuity. Events tumble over themselves, time stretches and shrinks, the pace changes. Characters don't always seem to act as she's led us to believe. Our narrator has two sisters and both are invisible in a story of family, of mothers and fathers. Despite Ferrante's keen eye and insights, Troubling Love isn't as well constructed as her later novels, it doesn't hang together of a piece, instead hinting at various directions that aren't explored. As if she wanted to do too much, but then sensibly restrained herself. Ferrante's attitudes, issues, thoughts are all here, they're just not as well put together as they needed to be. I wouldn't wish this on her, but I'm curious how she might write the book today. That said, if you enjoy reading Elena Ferrante as I do, this is still Ferrante, it's still her sentences, intelligence, and eye. And hints of the books to come. [3★]
Totally agree with this! Not her best, but the themes and threads are a pleasure to follow, especially if you know they eventually lead to The Days of Abandonment, the Neapolitan Novels, etc. That idea of women escaping their boundaries, trying to hold themselves together, only to lose control again, is present here and one of my favorite themes throughout her work. Excellent review as always!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by again. You're right, as a Ferrante fan there's so much to dissect here, seeing her evolve into future Elena. If nothing else, I just love the energy of her writing style -- just go along for the ride!
Delete