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The Days of Abandonment

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The Days of Abandonment

By: Elena Ferrante
Narrated by: Hillary Huber
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About this listen

An IndiBound best seller, The Days of Abandonment shocked and captivated its Italian public when first published. It is the gripping story of a woman's descent into devastating emptiness after being abandoned by her husband, with two young children to care for. When she finds herself literally trapped within the four walls of their high-rise apartment, she is forced to confront her ghosts, the potential loss of her own identity, and the possibility that life may never return to normal.

©2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.; 2015 Blackstone Audio (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction

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I listened to this following blistering reviews on Mariella Fostrup's book review. The women reviewing it said it was fantastic and closely resembled some of the thoughts and feelings that one has following a break up and infidelity

I enjoyed it. It is darkly funny at points and the writing is such that it reflects the absence of time and interaction that is happening with the protagonist.

The troubling parts are how the children are left to fend for themselves and I think it mirrors what happens in real life very accurately although I have no experience of such.

Definitely worth a credit. Possibly not the type of book for many fantasy readers so only if you fancy something a little more thought provoking

Narration not memorable which, given the story may or may not be a good thing

Dark, troubling and thought provoking

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Very well written and the author makes you emotive about the leading character. Tough subject matter, going into the layers of chaos and despair in this character’s life.

Interesting and gripping sorry tale

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I was was fully immersed in this book from beginning to end and exhausted by the end following the story.
Sadly, for me, the performance felt like it was digitised speech; others might not be as bothered.

rich narrative expertly written

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A fost o carte superba, o adevarata radiografie a sufletului femeiesc.
inca o capodopera literara.

superba

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enjoyed the description of the crisis day . she was literally unhinged unlike the door. i wonder if the door metaphor was intended

the passionate italian cliche.

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I found this such a tough read but only because it so reflected the depth and sometimes horror of a life falling apart and coming back together. It was refreshingly female a and beautifully crafted.

Brutal but beautiful.

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It’s well written and gritty, following the emotional journey of a woman who’s been left. I ended up reading (listening) as it’s been assigned for class and although it’s good, it’s also seven hours of a woman complaining and raging about a man leaving her and still wanting him back, so as well as the emotional disintegration is captured, the bitter woman that doesn’t help herself isn’t very likeable or sympathetic. The ending didn’t really land well as although she’s in a healthier space, it felt a bit too neat and trite and settling. It will suit other audiences better.

Acquired taste

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I found the story too slow. The style of listing and repetition became tedious. Sometime I'll listen to the gap. After the Neapolitan Quartet this was a bit disappointing.

missed out most of the second half

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I like this audiobook for the same reason I was suffering the whole time of listening to it. The story of her suffering was so well written and interpreted by the voice performer. I was certain at some point that she has both anxiety and depression. The detailed lines of her hopeless and helpless make me tremble. Since the beginning I had being waited for her moment of recovery and was glad that she finally find it.

Highly recommended

The days of suffering and the days of reviewing

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There are some pretty devastating scenes in this little novel and it was tempting sometimes to take the more comfortable route by putting it down and not picking it up again. The characters have a lot of depth and complexity. The ugliness of humanity is portrayed through images of cruelty, neglect and self-hatred. But strength and compassion and resilience shine through too.
I'm glad I persevered, but it still felt like I could breathe freely again when the book ended.

A tough one to stick with, but really worth it

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