Elena Ferrante has been known to the globe for some decades now, but it was only this month that her writing debuted in my own world. The Days of Abandonment is one of those books that takes pleasure in making a mess of its main character- to the point that you see them as a real person, with real tribulations. It follows Olga- a recently divorced mother of two who undergoes some serious situational and emotional turmoil during one house-bound summer. 

In a remarkable way, Ferrante’s writing style manages to mimic the disillusioned and dissociative themes of the book, and this results in maximum engagement. However, like with any engagement, you should really know what you’re getting yourself into before it consumes you for 179 pages. Critics weren’t wrong when they warned that your desires to turn away mid-read will be impossible to fulfil. It’s this raw, heavy nature to the book that gives it its soul. Despite my attempts to make reading it sound like walking around with a ball and chain around your ankle, The Days of Abandoment is incredibly refreshing. 

Underlying notes of optimism, and the overall portrayal of the human experience as a complex joy are the qualities to the book that entreated me to sing its praises in this way. Ferrante is very well-stocked, and so you should have little trouble in finding a copy of any of her books- should you now be inspired to explore them. So, dare to immerse yourself in a new book by a renowned author as soon as you can!