The Lost Daughter: Elena Ferrante

Having finished the Neapolitan novels I felt a bit bereft and dived straight into this. Many of the themes will be familiar to those who have read Elena Ferrante's novels, but this short, disturbing book distils many of those ideas. What is being a 'good mother', is it possible to be one, and keep a sense of self? Ferrante manages to evoke that sense of inadequacy mingled with frustration and resentment that so many mothers feel when trying to have it all, of advancing a career, looking after young, and not so young children. I loved the circular narrative of this book, and the inexplicable mindless act of cruelty that seemed so random and pointless but underscored everything.

It's an interesting book - barely any actual dialogue (lots of reported conversations). Lots of lovely description and atmosphere. Leda is a complex character who expresses a viewpoint on what it feels like to be a mother (and a daughter) which might not sit well with the disney-esque-view of motherhood, but I liked it's truthfulness and rawness. The ending is totally bizarre - I felt strangely impressed by the confidence of the author to end the book in this way. Hat's off to her. Confident piece of writing.

Ok - I think I liked it. I read it all so I guess I did. I didn’t like the main character- but she was an honest character - not perfect. I don’t think I really liked anyone in the book. But I still finished it - so it had something to keep me reading.

I definitely used the product for reading, it was most suitable for that purpose

Read the reviews & decided it was worth reading .Just didn't get it .The main character Leda was self indulgent & shallow .Little or no plot just basically her emotions .I'll watch the film but will pass on any more of her novels .

Found it difficult to hold concentration for this book so not hard to put down unlike other authors I follow.

Very disappointing read, I had seen interviews with Olivia Coleman and Maggie Gyllenhaal and wanted to see the film, I always like to have read the book first and glad I did as I think the money for a cinema ticket would have been a waste. A friend saw the film and was as equally disappointed with as I was with the book.

A strange subject. A very complicated woman and self centred. Always looking for something beyond her reach, but not knowing what.