The Lying Life of Adults

Ferrante has such a natural and commanding authorial voice. It is so easy to slip seamlessly into the Neapolitan world she depicts, the tribal loyalties and just how very different the way of life is in Southern Italy. Beyond the evocative atmosphere created by Ferrante, the title of the novel gives the reader a sense of what to expect. The concern here is not just about the hypocrisy and inexplicability of adult actions to an emerging teenager, but also just how traumatic it is to emerge from childhood into adulthood. The tension is heightened by the disintegration of the narrator's parents' relationship, but also the estrangement and reproachal between the narrator and her aunt. There is a compulsion to read on, and Ferrante shows a clear deftness of touch in being able to sustain the tension. 9 out of 10.

By Elena Ferrante