"A very violent need for degradation was growing inside me, a fearless degradation, a yearning to feel heroically vile. And it seemed to me that Corrado had sensed that need and was willing to support it without a fuss. "

An adolescent Giovanna overhears her father tell her mother that she is developing the face of Vittoria, his despised and ugly sister who Giovanna knows little to nothing about. Paranoid that she too is becoming ugly, Giovanna starts down a path to discover Aunt Vittoria for herself.

This book was not for me. It was agony to get through, actually. Whenever it was time to start reading again, I was overcome with an internal sense of dread and reluctance to return to Giovanna's world. Yet I did not DNF.

The good: Ferrante's writing is exceptional. Her ability to convey teen angst and the confusion surrounding budding sexuality was spot on. My struggle was more the characters and storyline. I did not connect with either.

Aunt Vittoria is an astoundingly accurate representation of an oppressed woman who becomes the oppressor. She is angry and erratic and aggressive and raw. At times in my life I have been Aunt Vittoria. Perhaps being forced to visit the ugly version of myself is why I did not enjoy my time in her presence.

As Giovanna grows, her character does indeed start to resemble Vittoria. Her role models are sad and amoral people, which does nothing to help guide her through the turmoil of adolescence and deliver her into womanhood a secure and stable adult.

After a few days of reflection, I have decided the soul of this story was sick.